Many of us have been there.
You took high school Spanish, or French, or German. As the years flew by, though, your foreign language skills grew rusty. Now, you’re struggling to understand the basics.
But Indianapolis is an international city. Maybe you want to refresh that middle school Spanish, or just chat with your neighbor who communicates using American Sign Language.
Don’t know where to start? We compiled a list of some places and spaces you can go to learn or practice another language in Indianapolis.
From free conversation groups and online tools to paid classes that will pay off, there’s something for everyone.
Keep in mind this guide is designed for people who speak English as their first language. If you want to learn English, check out our guide to free adult education in Indianapolis.
Join a conversation circle
One of the best ways to learn a new language is to have conversations.
Indy Reads hosts Spanish conversation circles on the second Sunday of every month at its bookstore, 1066 Virginia Ave. The event is free and people of all speaking abilities and ages are welcome.
Indianapolis Public Library also offers free Spanish conversation circles and has hosted French and Haitian Creole conversation circles in the past. Keep an eye on the schedule to see when the next groups will meet.
Take a class
If you’re wanting something a bit more structured, there are language classes for adults across Indy.
Indianapolis Spanish Place offers Spanish classes for speakers of all levels. If you register early, classes are $290 for nine weeks.
Classes are held Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings in-person at Indianapolis Spanish Place’s office, 7440 Shadeland Ave., Unit 202.
There are also virtual classes for each level. If you’ve taken Spanish before and want to sign up, take the free placement test online.
IndyFrench provides French classes for adults. Instructor Anne-Cécile Carre said in a voicemail message the school is on summer break through July 10, so check back after that date if you’re interested in registering.
The German American Klub of Indianapolis holds beginning and advanced German language classes for adults.
The classes are held Tuesday evenings at 8602 S. Meridian St., which is the club’s headquarters and also home to the Edelweiss Restaurant.
The beginner class is from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and the advanced class is from 7:30-8:30 p.m. It’s $5 per class, and people can drop in as they like, but make sure to check the website for cancellations before attending.
Vincennes University offers ASL language classes through its ASL and Deaf Studies program.
In addition to its associate degree track, Vincennes offers a certificate of program completion, where students complete three ASL courses and two classes on Deaf culture and community.
This is designed for adults who either want to work with the Deaf community or gain a deeper understanding of language and culture, program chair Bonnie Conner told Mirror Indy in an email. Students can also take ASL classes as part of a nondegree program.
The Indiana Association of the Deaf is offering virtual ASL classes for beginners. For the most recent session, tuition was $250 for eight weeks. To find out when the next session starts, email Joanna Witulski at outreach@iadhoosiers.org.
Learn online
No shade to Duolingo, but if you’re wanting to try something different, check out these free online resources.
With an Indy library card, you can access Mango Languages for free, a language learning app that focuses on conversation. The app includes over 70 languages, from Arabic to Urdu. You’ll need to enter your library card number to create an account.
Through the Indiana State Library, Hoosiers also get free access to Rosetta Stone, which includes a curriculum for 24 languages.
You can get the full version — all five levels — for nine languages, such as Spanish, Mandarin and Italian. Users get access through level three for 15 other languages, which include Farsi, Tagalog and Japanese.
To register, you’ll need to log on through the state library database and create an account.
Your library card also gets you access to ASLdeafined, an online database for learning ASL signs and grammar. Like with Mango, you’ll have to enter your library card number and create an account to get started.
The Indiana School for the Deaf also has a series of short videos teaching how to sign common ASL terms, as well as other online resources for learning sign language.
And more!
On occasion, the library hosts bilingual storytimes in a variety of languages, including ASL and Spanish.
The state’s Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education also offers a monthly Zoom storytime in both English and ASL. If you can’t make it, the storytimes are recorded and posted to YouTube.
And, if you’re ready to level up on your Spanish, try joining the library’s Spanish book club in collaboration with Mujeres Contectadas. The August book is “Mujeres de ojos grandes” by Ángeles Mastretta.
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Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, on most social media @clairerafford or on Signal 317-759-0249.
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