Maybe your family wants to try learning a new language together or your child has taken an interest in Spanish, Mandarin or Italian. Whatever the reason may be, these foreign language programs are a great start.
Learning a language is not only horizon-broadening but mind-growing, and luckily in Chicagoland there are many language options for the kiddos (and you!) to try.
Alliance Française de Chicago
- Address: 810 N. Dearborn St., Chicago
Alliance Française de Chicago offers classes for kids ages 1-16, as well as cultural events and opportunities to take classes on your own and practice with French speakers as well. Chat with one of the teachers before registering and you will receive a free level placement into one of the many classes. Class levels include introduction, beginners, advanced beginners, intermediate, independent and proficient. It even offers hybrid classes.
Asian Language School
This school teaches Mandarin, Korean and Japanese for kids, teens and adults. It offers one-to-one, group classes or virtual classes, depending on your child’s needs. The classes are taught by native speaking teachers and the curriculum is from beginners to advanced.
Casa Italia
- Address: 1621 N. 39th Ave., Stone Park
Children’s Italian language classes run for 30 weeks and are offered by age. The exploratory class is offered to ages 5-7 for one hour. The beginning classes (levels 1, 2 and 3) are offered to ages 8-12 for 90 minutes. The intermediate and advanced classes are offered to ages 12-14 for 90 minutes. There is also a sibling discount available.
Chicago Mandarin Chinese Center
One of the 10 top-rated Mandarin Chinese programs that help master the language systematically. It offers different levels of each – beginner level, intermediate level and advanced level. Check out the Chinese programs for youth ages 4-13.
Chinese Cultural and Educational Association
- Address: 8141 Kedvale Ave., Skokie
All Chinese classes here are held on Saturdays. The classes offered are preschool, beginner, first grade, second grade, third grade, intermediate I, intermediate II, advanced I, advanced II and adult. Be sure to check out the Chinese dance, art and music classes as well.
DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
- Address: 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago
DANK Haus has been providing German lessons to Chicagoans since 1964 and has classes available for kiddos from ages 6 months to 18 years of all levels, as well as adult classes. Make sure to check out the camp on weekdays when the children don’t have school (ages 3-10).
Elena Chicago
- Address: 1648 N. Wood St., Chicago
This program specializes in beginner programs. If you have some fluency already, contact Elena at 773-780-5719, and she will help you decide which class will be best. She offers Spanish coaching via Zoom for high school students looking to get ahead. You can choose to do so one-on-one or with a small group of your friends.
Excellerate Learning Academy Inc.
This language school teaches Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, French, Italian, English, Urdu and Haitian Creole/Kreyol. The classes are for tots, kids, adults and families and are offered virtual or in-person.
Instituto Cervantes
- Address: 31 W. Ohio St., Chicago
This location offers many different language classes based on age and level of proficiency. You can choose on-site classes or do an online course. For kids ages 4-15.
ItalCultura
- Address: 500 N. Michigan Ave., #1405, Chicago
Classes here are offered in person and online and are divided up by elementary student, intermediate student and advanced student. Kids will learn and start speaking Italian on the very first day.
Language Adventures
- Addresses: 824 Waukegan Road, Deerfield; 2035 S. Arlington Heights Road, Ste. 113, Arlington Heights
These world language classes are broken up by different aged adventure classes – toddler, preschool, elementary, preteen, middle school and high school.
L’École Française Chicago
- Address: 1714 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
This location provides private tutoring and semi-private group sessions for children ages 3 and up who want to learn French. It offers in-person, virtual or hybrid classes.
Spanish Horizons
- Address: 2836 N. Southport Ave., Chicago
Spanish Horizons offers in-person classes taught by native-speaking instructors. It offers classes for children, teens, adults and even camps and private lessons. For little ones, Spanish Horizons starts with a parents-and-tots class for kids as young as 6 months old.
The Language Labs
- Address: 5707 S. Cass Ave., Westmont
Choose from Chinese, Spanish or French at this full immersion program. It offers tutors for private or semi-private classes. Be sure to check out its storytimes in many area libraries.
TL Vision Academy
Kids, teens and adults can choose from English or Arabic courses. Teachers teach virtual or on-demand-one/one courses seven days a week and 24 hours a day to fit busy schedules.
