Beyond Words
Language, culture, travel, and stories from the Speak! community
Join Our Teaching Team
Speak! Language Center is growing! We’re looking for engaging English (ESL), Spanish, French, and ASL instructors for in-person teaching in Charlottesville, Virginia. Teachers of other languages are also welcome to apply.
Spanish Student Spotlight: Jeanna Grimes Ogbar
“Our classes feel like more than language learning but also a cultural exchange. Franco prepared me for a much better trip than I would have had before taking classes.”
Jeanna Grimes, Senior Associate Director of Virtual Philanthropy
Learn American Sign Language Online: New ASL Classes at Speak! Language Center
Speak! Language Center is expanding what it means to “Speak!” with personalized online American Sign Language classes. Meet our ASL instructor and explore private, semi-private, and custom group lessons for beginners and experienced signers.
ITALIAN STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: ANN LAWRENCE GRASTY
“The things I learned from my instructor, Noemi, simply couldn’t be learned through an app”
Ann Lawrence Grasty, Executive Director, University Annual Giving & Stewardship
GERMAN STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: ANNIKA
“Learning German has taught me that no matter how different a language is, we are all human.”
Events: Speak! Salon Birding in Panama
Join us for a lunchtime Speak! Salon as local birder and naturalist Allen Hale shares how a single birding trip to Panama grew into a lifelong passion.
Since first visiting Panama in 1998, Allen has returned more than 37 times, exploring the country's remarkable landscapes, birdlife, history, and culture. During this engaging presentation, he'll reflect on three decades of adventures, discoveries, and friendships formed through birdwatching in one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots.
The talk will be brought to life with beautiful photographs by Allen and local photographer Stephanie Gross, who accompanied him on one of his Panama expeditions in December 2024.
Spanish Student Spotlight: Donna and Jim Horn
“We are excited to continue working with John and Christina and feel that they are on this journey with us!”
Student Spotlight: SUSANNAH
“These types of human connections that were the highlights of my trip would have been impossible without Stefanie and Speak!“
Spanish Student Spotlight: Jeff – From “Jefe” in 8th Grade to @CaminoJefe on the Trails
“It has been interesting learning about Franco’s home country and the various places he has lived while we worked together.”
Japanese Student Spotlight: Mark
“Learning Japanese feels like expanding my mind—it makes me see the world differently.”
Mark Floryan, Computer Science Professor
Spanish Student Spotlight: Erich
“The regularity that Speak! offers has made the difference. It keeps me accountable and focused.”
Erich Purpur, UVA Library
Spanish Student Spotlight: Brynn
“Studying on my own was easy to do passively. In-person lessons make it impossible to hide behind fear or doubt.”
Spanish Student Spotlight: Full-Time Nurse Kat Mirate
“Our Spanish class is one of the highlights of my week. Nattachya’s joyful energy makes learning fun, even on my hardest days.”
Kat Mirate, Nurse at UVA Health
Spanish Student Spotlight: Sandra Mirkil's Love Affair with Argentina
“Speak! Is a treasure to me. The different Spanish classes and teachers and the German instructors are all excellent.”
Join our Teaching Team!
Are you passionate about teaching languages and culture? Do you love helping adults and professionals gain the skills and confidence to connect across borders?
Speak! Language Center is growing, and we’re excited to invite local teachers in Charlottesville and Central Virginia to join our talented team.
Speak! Wins Best Learning Center in C-VILLE Weekly’s Best of Cville 2025
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news: Speak! Language Center has been voted Best Learning Center in Charlottesville by C-VILLE Weekly’s Best of Cville Awards!
Italian Student Spotlight: Anne Pfister
“A big part of the course is based on an overview of Italy and its culture.”
Spanish Student Spotlight: Sharice Welch, UVA’s McIntire School
“The individualized attention from Franco in the one-on-one classes is really great; he is able to tailor the classes according to my needs.”
Sharice Welch, UVA McIntire Admissions
Partner Program Spotlight: English for Healthcare
Speak! partnered with UVA’s Pipelines and Pathways Program and Human Resources to support four newly-hired international employees with tailored English language instruction.
From Paris to C-Ville: Allison Zinder on the History of the French Restaurant
I’ll never forget a dinner I enjoyed in Paris with Allison Zinder. I was traveling with my best friend and our daughters, and on a hot summer evening in 2016, we met Allison for a classic French bistro meal at one of her then-favorite brasseries - Le Petit Lutetia.