What You'll Get
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
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Dec 31, 2010. Amount paid never expires. Limit 1 per person. May buy multiple as gifts. Limit 1 person per use. Must call to schedule initial visit. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Multilingual Connections
Led by linguistic anthropologist Dr. Jill Bishop, Multilingual Connections’ international staff of instructors immerses students in one of more than a dozen foreign languages, including French, Arabic, Spanish, and Mandarin. The immersive classes are intended to incorporate fun as well as language, with activities ranging from role-playing exercises to music. Before class, students can sip on coffee, tea, or wine while browsing WiFi in the center's cafe.
The instructors at Multilingual Connections delve even further into each language’s respective culture by always making time to converse about specific foods, holidays, and folk traditions. The woman-owned business works to connect pupils—which have included children, athletes, and politicians—to the rest of the world with classes as well as translation and interpretation services in 75 languages.