About Speak!
Helping people speak, connect, and grow
Our Story
Speak! began in Charlottesville in 2004 with Christina Ball, a university Italian professor, and five adult students brought together by a shared curiosity about language and culture.
What began around one table grew into Speak! Language Center, a community of instructors and learners connecting through languages from around the world.
Today, Speak! offers live, human-led learning in more than 20 languages, serving individuals, students, universities, businesses, and organizations in Charlottesville and far beyond. Our programs have changed and grown over the years, but the idea at the heart of Speak! hasn't: language brings people together.
Our Founder with Italian students in the early days of “Ecco Italy” (2004)
Our local teaching team in 2019
Christina with Italian students in 2009
Our 3rd storefront, 2018.
Our current home, since 2024
Inside Speak!
Meet the people behind Speak!
Meet a few of the people who help shape Speak!’s programs, support our students and instructors, and keep our growing language community connected.
Liz Launer, M.A.
Administrative Coordinator
“It’s so rewarding to support our teachers and students from all over the world and help them connect and grow through language..”
Christina Ball, Ph.D.
Founder & Director
“I created Speak! in 2004 because I believed in the power of language to break down barriers and build bridges between people and cultures.”
Franco Perez
Online Academy Director
“For me, teaching a language is about communication, creativity, and connection. I want every student to feel comfortable enough to find their own voice in Spanish.”
Meet Our Instructors
Our diverse community of experienced instructors brings language, culture, and real-world expertise to every lesson. Get to know the people who make learning at Speak! personal, engaging, and human.
The Languages We Teach
Speak! began with Italian, Spanish, and French. Today, our community of instructors teaches more than 20 languages, connecting learners with languages and cultures from around the world.
