“Learning German has taught me that no matter how different a language is, we are all human.”

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.

“We are excited to continue working with John and Christina and feel that they are on this journey with us!”

“These types of human connections that were the highlights of my trip would have been impossible without Stefanie and Speak!“

“It has been interesting learning about Franco’s home country and the various places he has lived while we worked together.”

“Learning Japanese feels like expanding my mind—it makes me see the world differently.”

“The regularity that Speak! offers has made the difference. It keeps me accountable and focused.”

“Studying on my own was easy to do passively. In-person lessons make it impossible to hide behind fear or doubt.”

“Our Spanish class is one of the highlights of my week. Nattachya’s joyful energy makes learning fun, even on my hardest days.”

“Speak! Is a treasure to me. The different Spanish classes and teachers and the German instructors are all excellent.”

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.

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!

“A big part of the course is based on an overview of Italy and its culture.”

“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.”

Speak! partnered with UVA’s Pipelines and Pathways Program and Human Resources to support four newly-hired international employees with tailored English language instruction, equipping them with the essential skills for success in their roles as Patient Safety Companions.

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.

“Tatiana has a lot of experience teaching Ukrainian to English speakers, and it shows.”

“Lessons with Anne have given me the confidence that I can learn a new language.”

“I like that I can ask a question about a topic I'm unclear about and instantly have it explained to me.”

“Speak! Language Center has the perfect format for practicing your target language”