Reviews
Hundreds of resources to help you teach yourself
Classes/Conversation
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
Yiddish, Bookstores/Libraries, Museums/Cultural, Organizations, Classes/Conversation, Conferences/Lectures, Kids
The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, right here in Chelsea in New York City, has the largest collection of Yiddish-language materials in the world! Founded in 1925 in Vilna, Poland, it relocated to New York City 15 years later. Its mission is “…
Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League)
Irish, Organizations, Classes/Conversation
Founded in 1893, this organization promotes the Irish language in Ireland and globally. Its primary goal is “to reinstate the Irish language as the common tongue of Ireland.” Conradh na Gaeilge has more than 200 branches. The overwhelming majority of…
Irish Arts Center
Irish, Museums/Cultural, Organizations, Classes/Conversation, Kids
The Irish Arts Center has been around for more than 40 years. This cultural organization is “dedicated to projecting a dynamic image of Ireland and Irish America for the 21st century, building community with artists and audiences of all backgrounds,…
Goethe-Institut New York
German, Tests, Bookstores/Libraries, Museums/Cultural, Classes/Conversation
The mission of the Goethe-Institut is to “promote the study of German abroad and encourage international cultural exchange,” as well as “foster knowledge about Germany by providing information on its culture, society and politics.” There are events, exchange programs, classes,…
Arabic Language Meetup Groups
Arabic, Classes/Conversation, Social
Meetup.com, launched in 2001, brings together people in a community around all types of interests: politics, food, language, and more. Type in your zip code here to see whether there is an Arabic Language Meetup group near you. In early 2013,…
Chinese Language Meetup Groups
Mandarin, Classes/Conversation, Social
To find a Chinese Meetup group in your area, type in your zip code on the far right of this page. If the results are overwhelming (Chinese includes a lot of dialects, after all!), then try starting at the page…
Craigslist
General, Websites, Classes/Conversation
I used Craigslist for language purposes just once, to find an Italian conversation partner in late 2009. He was a very nice guy, and the exchange, while short-lived, was pleasant and productive. While writing this review about three years later, in…
Italian Cultural Institute in New York
Italian, Museums/Cultural, Classes/Conversation
Visit the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di New York for a wide range of events: film screenings, musical performances, lectures, etc. There is also a library, which as of this writing was under inventory and not available to…
Queen Sofía Spanish Institute
Spanish, Museums/Cultural, Classes/Conversation, Kids
Founded in 1954, this organization “promotes the understanding of Spanish culture, past and present, and its influence in the Americas through a variety of programs.” These include exhibitions, lectures (including medical ones!), book presentations, symposia, classes, and more. It is housed…