Jump to: Reviews | Alternate Calendars for a Happier New Year
Surgically grafting on an extra tongue might sound like a clever shortcut, but there’s an easier, less tooth-crowding way to follow through on your New Year’s resolution to expand your language skills. Today’s Groupon gets you six hours of language classes plus a private, one-on-one tutoring session at Multilingual Chicago in Logan Square for $45 (a $133 value). Languages currently available include Spanish, French, Italian, that creepy made-up language only your identical twin understands, and Mandarin Chinese—more will be added throughout the year (at least four people are needed to add a course).
Multilingual Chicago grew out of parent company Workforce Language Services, which has been helping employees in local corporations such as Palmer House Hilton and Chipotle learn new languages for five years. Dr. Jill Bishop founded both companies after earning her PhD in linguistic anthropology from UCLA and teaching at UCLA, Kendall College, Triton Community College, and Profesor Xavier’s Escuela Para Jovenes Supertados Mexicanos, among several others. This family-oriented language school offers a range of classes for all skill levels, including parents, young professionals, and kids of all ages. Instructors think outside the textbook to accommodate all learning styles and keep classes fun. Class activities can include watching films, listening to songs, reading newspaper and magazine articles, conversing, writing short letters, playing games, performing skits, and pushing flash cards against your forehead really hard. The same goes for Multilingual Chicago’s kids’ courses for babies through adolescents, which emphasize music, movement, and art so that kids stay entertained while they learn.
Multilingual Chicago classes take place in the beautiful, recently restored Orbit building, which boasts brightly colored walls, exposed brick, and local art. The surrounding Logan Square neighborhood has Polish, Ecuadorian, and Mexican restaurants for extracurricular practice. These, along with incorporated cultural events, help make the classes as authentic and hands-on as possible. Buy multiple Groupons as gifts; the classes make great family activities, so call to schedule your class today. A few classes in Arabic will get your flabby tongue in shape in time for swimsuit season.
Reviews
Satisfied customers praised Multilingual Chicago’s classes with enthusiastic testimonials:
- Our 2.5 year old takes a Spanish class here and she loves going. The space is great, with a café-like space for students to hang out. There’s always coffee (really good coffee!) and snacks for the kids. The teacher, Anna, is great with toddlers and gets them to really engage in class. It’s a great addition to the neighborhood. – Multilingual Chicago testimonials
- The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I missed my first class, but they were able to provide a free makeup class so I wasn’t slowed down. My instructor really makes learning enjoyable and my classmates are easy to work with. It’s been a lot of fun! – Multilingual Chicago testimonials
- I am very impressed with the owner, the facility, parking, and the value of these lessons. Multilingual Chicago rocks! – Multilingual Chicago testimonials
Groupon Says
Alternate Calendars for a Happier New Year
Tomorrow is the last day of the year—if you're using the normal Gregorian calendar. Here's a look at alternate calendars that provide a new structure for those tired of Gregorian tyranny:
- Roman Calendar: This lunar calendar was used until it was reformed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. Caesar did away with the moon-cycle-based calendar, believing that it gave unfair business advantages to werewolves. Also, the old calendar neglected to sufficiently acknowledge important dates in history, such as Caesar's birthday and the time he found that really cool leaf.
- French Republican Calendar: Though this calendar was introduced in 1793, it marked 1792 as Year One, meaning the calendar came into use beginning with Year 2. By skipping its first year of existence, the French created an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, resulting in a parallel universe where dinosaurs still roam the earth and banks are open until 7:00 p.m.
- Mayan Calendar: This calendar's structure is commonly misinterpreted as predicting the end of the world in 2012. In fact, the calendar just continues on the back and contains photos of shirtless firefighters.
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