I took a Bangla "tourist" class with GLN. I was so excited to find an adult Bangla class! I'd been looking for one since 2011. I think my skill level was a bit beyond the beginner class, but they only offered beginner and it was excellent to be able to refresh my skills. I was especially glad to get to hear and speak in real time. There weren't as many visuals or handouts/learning aids as I prefer, but I took notes for myself to learn from. The cost of the class was very reasonable. Overall, when time allows, I'll happily enroll in another class with GLN. GLN is offering a great service. read more

The other negative reviews are largely correct. GLN uses these class as opportunities for new language teachers to gain teaching experience while offering a low-cost option for students. Great concept, terrible execution. If your class does not have enough students (or in some cases, an instructor to teach it), they will simply stop communicating with you. They will ignore your requests for information or refunds. You will spend weeks moving your schedule around and waiting for information. DC has a lot of competent, busy, intelligent people who will support this type of thing, but they are careless with their time, money, and resources. I don't doubt some classes are great, but some classes are truly terrible (if they take place at all). read more

As a volunteer teacher I was provided everything I needed to succeed: teaching space with a whiteboard and a monitor, a volunteer to resolve technical difficulties, a template of the class website, training, etc. It was a very rewarding experience to see my students progress and tell me that they are forming a sense of confidence about the language after just 6 lessons. read more

GLN helps me to expand my Global Language capacity to connect with people, culture, and the World with an interactive amazing technique of "No English Challenge" for "Target Language." I love learning with GLN as it's fun and effective. I highly recommend anyone to experience the different languages, people, and cultures at GLN, the unique language diversity and real connections. Thank you so much! Kathy read more

Big yikes. Really poor communication. Seems like a good system when it works well, but if it breaks down -- good luck.

GLN provides an amazing experience to learn new languages and practice with your fellow students and instructor. It also gives you the chance to learn about new cultures and experiences you might otherwise have had. My teacher Kevin was the most mature, professional and hard working young man and I was incredibly impressed by his skill. I hope he becomes a teacher one day. read more

I have taken a handful of classes with them thinking the more classes I take the better my skills would get. But ultimately found that this place is only good for taking 1 or 2 classes, as you can't progress up by the way the classes levels are designed. The summer classes are half the length but the same price which they even defended in an email as I guess people must have complained about that. I've given them specific feedback in every evaluation I've filled out but they stick to their format. My last class I got stuck with a horrible teacher, I mean personality wise she was nice enough, but the way she structured her class wasn't conducive to learning. I could see that everyone else in the class shared this frustration. I filled out a mid-year evaluation explaining what wasn't working and also emailed the teacher to give some suggestions. Nothing changed. Communication with the administration of GLN is non-existent. They are literally the worst. I would caution taking a class with this company after seeing how they run its operations. read more

s/out to the person on reddit who recommended this to me. took a 12-week intro course with GLN online during the spring semester. 24 hours of classes (2 hours a week) for $200 and then you get a $100 stipend if you come to at least 10/12. Incredible value, especially considering that I learned something in my classes and had a great time! would definitely recommend if you're looking for a place to learn languages (they also offer a huge variety), meet diverse people who are interested in different cultures, and not break the bank. read more

Such beautiful atmosphere , wonderful teachers and their curriculums, effective communication, kind and thoughtful program. highly recommended! read more

I've taken multiple classes with GLN in various different languages including Swedish, Bosnian, Russian, Polish, Arabic and Yiddish. I've studied languages in a few other places as an adult including cultural language centres and a learning lab at my graduate school. I've lived abroad in places where I was surrounded by many languages. GLN is a really unique learning space in DC that draws upon the type of vibrant intercultural environment that I'm always drawn to. It is a not-for-profit with a global mission. Everyone is equal and every culture is valued at GLN. This means that GLN offers a diverse variety including rarely taught languages and languages from all over the world. I personally find it exciting to look at the class list and see what quirky languages have popped up each semester. Where can I go with languages this time? I'd describe my travel style as "Lonely Planet-meets-Conde Nast Traveler" and I find that GLN fits in really well with that frame of mind because of its commitment to native speakers and its focus on allowing them to really share their cultures. GLN is a great resource to create that traveling feeling even when you are at home in DC. I've enjoyed it so much that I have volunteered in various aspects of the organization where there is a real sense of community. Many people move between various aspects of the organization as students, teachers, volunteers and class hosts. It's a great place to learn languages from around the world. read more

See all

Love Love Love The GLN. I took their Russian Foreigner Class this past spring and it was a wonderful experience. My teacher was kind, patient, and super knowledgeable. She covered material that we would use in everyday conversation. My class size was also super small so each student received ample one on one time with the teacher and had the opportunity to practice aloud. I cannot wait to take my next course! If like me you have been meaning to learn that new language, I cannot recommend GLN enough. Don't wait, sign up the moment you are done reading this review! read more

I have taken the first level of Arabic with GLN, and after an entire semester of immersive learning, I can confidently say that my skills have increased significantly. I recommend GLN 100%. Not only for how affordable and accessible it is, but for the high quality of the instructors. I will be sure to return in the future! ! read more

I took Chinese - Nearly Native this past semester. GLN is the best deal out there that I've seen for language classes. I paid $200 for six classes and then if you attend 5 out of 6 you get a refund of your $120 deposit. So that's basically $80 for 6 classes. The Chinese - Nearly Native class was 2 hours every Sunday from 2-4pm. It was a really small class size--only 3 students total. This was great because everyone had a lot of time to speak and improve. It was pretty focused on conversation/dialogue. Our teacher was a native Chinese speaker and we got to discuss a lot of topics from chinese culture/society trends, Taiwan-China relations, to travel/holidays. The setup might be different for an intro level class/a different language, but ours was basically a 2-hour discussion on topics of student interest and incorporated some articles, videos, etc. Would highly recommend taking a class with GLN. I will be back next semester! read more

GLN provides an affordable option to learn and get a feel for a language and culture. I had some knowledge of Spanish but wanted to brush up, so I took Spanish Foreigner this fall. After the class, I now feel like I have the basics down and learned more about Argentinian culture from our teacher. Our teacher, Sofi, was younger than most of our class but was super helpful with correcting our vocab and modified our classes depending on our suggestions and what we wanted to learn. Like anything in life, you really get out of the class what you put into it. You need to put in the time to study outside of class. I will say their website is a bit outdated, and the signing up process can be wonky, but if you follow and read all the instructions it's no huge problem. Be sure to fill out the survey at the end of the class as soon as you get it. I was really happy with how quickly I got the deposit, which by the way, is a huge perk. Excited to see their spring class list, and hopefully either take a higher level Spanish class or a different language! read more

Affordable prices and they offer a stipend if you don't miss more than 1-2 classes per semester. I've taken 2 courses so far and all the teachers are super helpful and responsive, they are really here to help you! Class size might be big but that's the only downside. read more

A great and affordable way to keep up your language skills and learn new languages. The teacher we had for French, Elsa, really put a lot of effort into the class and made it rewarding and fun. read more

I can only speak to the upper level Chinese classes at GLN, but those have been awesome! I've taken...4, I think? I've thoroughly enjoyed them all! Although the teachers are volunteers, they are enthusiastic and dedicated to encouraging students to build confidence and utilize the target language (Celine and Sylvia in particular have been fantastic!). It's a great way for people like me (out of college, working enough that it's hard to commit time to language classes, not willing or able to take classes in person) to maintain and continue improving the language skills that they worked on in college, or to start learning a new language! The cost of the classes is amazingly low, and the fact that they offer half of it back as a stipend towards their next class is an unbelievably good deal. Speaking honestly, I have encountered some logistical challenges with GLN. I would be remiss in failing to mention them; however, I understand that GLN is a small non-profit that works due to the generosity of the volunteer teachers. The fact that sometimes things get confused or mistakes happen is understandable, and I think it's more than balanced out by the accessibility and affordability of the classes. Overall, I think that GLN is an amazing resource for adults who are busy, but want to learn or maintain a language without breaking the bank. read more

I've taken an in-person and virtual class thanks to covid-19. Both were great with native speakers of the language (Spanish). We got a lot of practice and they were great about making games and situations for us to get experience speaking and responding. The virtual class could be a little awkward, but overall it was pretty close to in-person. read more

Do not come here. Even if you're lucky enough to find a teacher who knows what he/she is talking about, the service is completely uncommunicative and takes days to respond to questions. I took Level 1 French here (foreigner) with Richard and it was a disappointment from the start. The course offered no structure, no syllabus, no supplemental materials. Classes didn't build off one another, and topics were never revisited. French was thrown at us even though we had no understanding of half of what was said and our Professor was completely ill-equipped to answer some of our most basic questions about the language. I should have stopped coming after my second class when I realized he didn't remember how to count above 60. I finally stopped coming because as a working professional I realized I was wasting two hours of my day learning nothing. I got more out of using Babbel. Save your money and invest in going to a better class with more invested instructors! read more

If you're looking for a cheap way to begin learning a language, GLN is really the place to go. The price is unbeatable, and they usually have numerous time slots available for the high-demand languages. As always with learning a language, you get out what you put into it, but I had no previous French language experience, and feel like I have a decent grasp on the beginner level stuff now after just one course. I would definitely recommend GLN to anyone looking to either pick up a new language, or continue learning one. read more

I started taking Spanish classes through GLN in June 2020, and I've already learned so much. The Spanish Frequent Flyer class with Mariela this fall was one of the best classes I've ever taken-- I learned so much about language AND culture. Both classes I've taken were on Zoom, but they were still highly engaging and I looked forward to them each week. Highly recommend GLN classes! read more

l took GLN's online Arabic (tourist level) with Abdelsalem. The summer course was affordable. Abdelsalem is a dedicated teacher- he prepared thorough slides and provided ample time to practice speaking. I learned more than I was expecting within the 6 weeks. I look forward to taking Arabic language further next summer! read more

I've taken two semesters of Portuguese classes with GLN in the past two years and I can't get enough. The structure of the program is perfect for someone like me - a young professional living and working in DC who is interested in increasing language skills but doesn't want to spend hundreds of dollars to do so! The classes are group-based and meet weekly for 6 or 12 weeks for 2 hours each meeting. I learned Portuguese while I was a student and then lived in Brazil for a year after graduating. These meetings are the perfect opportunity for me to stay connected with the language and speak with others on a regular basis. Claudia has been my course instructor twice now and there are not enough good things to say about her! She really enjoys teaching and is a joy to be around. I cannot recommend her Portuguese courses with GLN enough. My only caveat when recommending GLN to others is that I have never participated in a course where I did not have any familiarity with the language I wanted to learn (i.e. I've never taken a GLN course as a "beginner"). I imagine the group-based meetings would be a little different and potentially more difficult if you were learning that language for the first time, but I haven't tried it (yet! I would love to take a French class soon!) and don't know. If you already have some experience with a language and want to get some regular practice in a casual environment at an affordable price and have a lot of fun doing it, I cannot recommend GLN enough. If you are a new language learner I recommend GLN, too -- at such an affordable rate, why not take the chance? read more

I've studied four different languages with GLN since 2005 and I've always enjoyed the experience and made new friends. This year's virtual classes are an excellent addition to the program, and I hope they continue to offer this option, which allows us to connect with teachers and students around the world! read more

I had a great language experience here. I took advanced farsi, I can't say my reading skills improved but I did engage in a lot of conversation (for me anyways they still called me the quiet one in class). I think the emphasis of the classes is to get a conversational understanding. The classes are staffed by volunteers, so it's a crap shoot on how good your teacher is but ours carried himself as a professional. There are no textbooks, or other materials required, so I can see how this could be a difficult way for beginners new to a language to learn. Our teacher had us read alot of articles in farsi in wikipedia (pronounced "Viki-pedia" by Iranians). That's what I learned, iranians can't say their "w" sound. Here's how the program works: You register at allotted times throughout the year (before a semester), pay a $150 deposit (usually through paypal) and if you miss less than 3 classes, at the end you get a survey to fill out and a form to reclaim your deposit. It's easy. I hope to take Portuguese next, since my mom likes yelling at me in her language, I might want to understand what she is saying or maybe not. read more

I taught GLN's Frequent Flyer ESL course during the Spring 2018 semester, while concurrently taking a Spanish course. My experience teaching there was an exceptional one. I had some previous exposure to teaching ESL while serving as a volunteer in Ethiopia and was considering changing my career to teach full-time. The Orientation for new teachers that GLN holds at the beginning of each new semester convinced me that I wanted to change my career to be centered around language. Each instructor had an opportunity to lead us through a Communicative Language Teaching experience in his/her native language. I have since attended these Orientations just for fun and exposure to a whirlwind of languages in such a short time. The GLN is consistently ranked the best "language" course, because it understands that "language" is not learned when you are not enjoying yourself, when you do not understand the culture, or you feel bogged down by form. While GLN recognizes that both form and function are necessary to the mastery of language, they really emphasize the agency of the learner and teacher to enjoy the language learning process. The founder of GLN says it best. "Language is not all or nothing" and it does not need to be seen in such a way as Fluent/Not Fluent. There is a gray area in between, which the world would be better off to embrace. There is value to being able to say "Hello, how are you doing today?" in Farsi, Urdu, Amharic, Tamil, Swahili, or any other language you may not be expected to know completely. Anyways, the GLN is awesome and you should get involved with them if you have the availability. 'Nuff said. read more

I took my first class at GLN in the Winter 2015 semester after hearing a recommendation from a friend. I was really interested in taking Spanish classes, but wanted to do so at an affordable rate. $200 upfront with the potential to receive $120 back (if attended 10/12 classes) was perfectly aligned with my budget. I ended up taking both Spanish and Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian Foreigner at the same time. These courses focus on conversation, not on grammar. Each class was set up with themes: Families, Colors, How to tell time, etc. Each week built on the following week's lesson, so we could practice speaking about many different topics. We would usually play games, or learn about the culture through food or music, which made each class a different fun, engaging, session. I have recommended this school and could recommend it to anyone who is interested in exploring a different culture once a week :) read more

Global Language Network - Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian outing :) - Adult Education Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've taken 3 classes with GLN so far, 2 awesome ones and 1 okay... It is hard during the pandemic but the teachers are great - Thank you so much!!! read more

I've taken two GLN Spanish classes, and they're really fun. I particularly loved my level 1 instructor, Adriana - it was very obvious why she's chosen to train other language teachers. It's really affordable, and I love that you receive most of the class fee back for good attendance - it encourages people to stick with it and make the most of the experience. I'll be back for more Spanish classes...and maybe some other languages, too! Maria read more

I taught Spanish and took Portuguese classes with the Global Language Network and had an incredible experience. My students were kind and eager to learn and my teacher was inclusive and knowledgeable. The GLN concentration to use language learning as a means to learn about cultures and better communicate around the world is inspiring. read more

I took Urdu with Fazia and it was awesome, loved the class and speaking Urdu much better!

Earlier this month, I wrapped up my first semester of French Foreigner (equivalent to French Beginner I - best for someone with no/limited experience with the language). The class sizes are fairly intimate, ~10 people, so it's not intimidating and everyone gets a chance to participate and receive individual attention. Our professor, Erick, was knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. I walked away from this class comfortable introducing myself in French, describing my hobbies, and vocabulary: days of the week, names of months, numbers 1-100, etc. Highly recommend giving GLN a chance! read more

Please read if you are taking their courses and counting on receiving the rest of your money. The class I took certainly worthed 80 bucks. I enjoyed it and attended all sessions. But .... Based on GLN policy, if you attend all sessions, they are supposed to refund the rest of your payment which is about $120 but they did not. Instead, they sent me a lengthy email asking me to donate money to GLN (picture attached). At the bottom of the 17 lines email, in half a line they vaguely referred to filling a form. GLN is a language school and explaining such a simple process should be easy right? read more

Global Language Network - Does this look like a refund email to you? - Adult Education Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Though there were some technical difficulties, my Russian teacher was great and I learned a lot during the few weeks of the course. For just $200, it was worth it. read more

GLN is a wonderful organization, and one of the many reasons that I am proud to live in DC. I volunteered as a GLN teacher for almost ten years (!) and it was a very rewarding experience, one that I would recommend to everyone. WHAT YOU DO: - As a volunteer teacher you are in front of a group of mostly tired mostly young DC people who are eager to learn your language - You plan your own lessons and engage with them in your native language for about two hours a week - Classes are taught at different locations throughout DC. In my experience all were metro-accessible WHAT YOU GET: - The tremendous satisfaction of knowing that someone understands your culture/country better because of an effort you made - The all-around happy feeling that others care about your culture and language - Experience teaching and doing public speaking - A bunch of new friends. Two of the students from my first class ten years ago were invited to my wedding last year because we are still friends - The opportunity to think more critically about your own culture/language WHAT YOU DON'T GET: - Attitude from anyone, ever. GLN staff are super patient and super supportive. In the very long time I was there they never made me feel bad for anything. - Boring books and quizzes. The students are mostly there to learn to speak, so there are no expensive materials for you/them to purchase. - Money. It's a volunteer position, what did you expect? I'm sure you have a resolution to be a better person this year. If so, this is a great way to act on it. IN CONCLUSION: Become a GLN teacher. Just do it (or, "Hazlo" en espanol.) read more

I took their intro French class (Foreigner). The mission is admirable and the price can't be beat--I really couldn't afford an in-person course anywhere else. However, an entire intro class squeezed into 6 sessions was really overwhelming, and more of a supplement for my own study then a standalone course. Basically--if you're serious about learning a language and you have the dough, go somewhere else. If you're on a budget or just trying to get your feet wet in a new language, GLN is where it's at! read more

I've taken both a larger beginner course and smaller advanced-level course for two different languages now with GLN and I think both met my needs really well! This has been such a great opportunity and motivator for developing my foreign language skills, especially for the relatively low price! Definitely recommend! read more

I've taken two semesters of Mandarin Frequent Flyer courses, in person last summer and online because of covid this summer. Overall, the organization is well organized and timely in communications. Additionally, you're not gonna find a better value for classes in the area. The quality of class largely depends on the instructor and engagement of fellow students. The transition to zoom classes was smooth and almost preferable to commuting across town. They do offer many locations and time slots for in person classes in normal times. Would definitely recommend as a way to keep up language skills and review. I can't speak to the beginner level classes. read more

Alejandro was an excellent Professional Spanish teacher and shared his Mexican culture.

So glad the GLN is offering online classes during the pandemic! While previously it was difficult to physically attend an in-person class due to commute distance and time after work- I am now able to take classes from home. I took a 6 week Spanish course, which went so well, I decided to sign up for another course. I'm currently taking 6 weeks of French. Our French instructor, who is a first time GLN teacher, taught a good first course, but we were inexplicably unable to access the zoom login to our second class and were unable to contact the instructor. We ended up missing a whole class. It seems that the success of each class is directly related to the instructor's planning, communication and comfort with technology. But I still endorse the GLN and the language learning services it provides! read more