I've taken many classes from GLN and am rating it 5 stars because I love the mission and am pleased with the variety of languages, despite some of the communication issues I've had with the organization. I've taken their a few of their "Foreigner" classes, including Bulgarian, Croatian, Japanese and Turkish and loved them all. I also have continued Japanese to the "Tourist" level (beginner 2). I really wish they had the Tourist level for the other three, but I think there was a lack in demand. I have also taken the Korean "Nearly Native" (advanced) class when it was offered a few years ago. Based on my experience so far, I think the most useful classes have been the Tourist and the Nearly Native classes because everyone is generally in the same boat for proficiency. In Tourist, it can be hard to match the levels of all the students because people vary so much in proficiency after they either compete Foreigner or self study until they think they are at a Tourist/beginner 2 level. It's important to note that the quality of teachers vary immensely! For example: Most of my teachers have tried to implement the immersion approach (my preferred method and also the approach teachers should take according to GLN). BUT I have had one teacher who used mainly English. The majority my teachers have also been very structured and drill grammar and vocab thoroughly. In the Nearly Native class, we also had to write small papers (about a paragraph or two) for homework and had some small debates etc. My friend who is taking the Spanish Nearly Native class has told me that for homework they watch a soap opera and then discuss it in class, among other things. All of my teachers so far have been native speakers, and my Turkish teacher was even a new arrival to the US! She was lovely and spoke very little English. She even invited the class over for Turkish tea and treats one day (pre-pandemic). Unfortunately, I couldn't make it but it seemed awesome. As mentioned before, I have had some communication issues with GLN, BUT eventually they got solved. Pre-pandemic, communication was much better, so I attribute the most recent issues to the craziness of having to move completely online and the sudden influx of new students across time zones. Also, low staff. Please be patient with them. In short: I would recommend GLN mainly to those wanting to start or maintain a language (beginners and advanced students). The high beginner or intermediate level student may not get a lot out of their class due to the varying level of each student and the confusion on what to teach at an awkward post-complete-beginner stage. If you are a looking to volunteer as a teacher with GLN: Please try to use the immersion approach as much as possible and be prepared. I learned so much in the classes where we were given a healthy mix of grammar and vocab, then drilled on them. I learned less when having classes where the teacher tried to wing it. As students, we can tell if you are not prepared. A final PS: If you speak a less commonly taught language, please share your language and culture! I'd love to see Thai, Vietnamese, Danish, or even Afrikaans, for example. read more

I took an intermediate Spanish course at GLN as a refresher. I thought, "This place gets good reviews. I'll give it a try. Even if it's a so-so class, I'll get something out of it." To my surprise, I scored a native speaker who proved to be an excellent teacher. Ale made our classes lively and fun with stories from her native Peru and music videos as translation exercises. I highly recommend GLN to others who want to enter another culture and have fun at the same time. read more

I took a Japanese Tourist class for six weeks. It was easy to sign up for, a very friendly and welcoming environment, a good downtown location for classes, and well organized. I've taken other courses with GLN before as well, and they were equally well-managed. This is a great place to start or continue your language studies. read more

I've taken three classes with GLN, and all of them have been excellent. The volunteer teachers were native speakers, and the classes use the immersion method. And you can't beat the price at under $200 per class. read more

I really enjoyed the class. I had a great teacher. I was less fluent than my peers. The instructor was very accommodating with my needs.

GLN is a great option to learn or practice a language on a budget. I've recommended it several friends, who have also enjoyed it.

Classes are great - took a virtual one for the first time this past semester and it was done so thoughtfully and creatively! Thanks!

This is an insanely affordable way to learn a language! The classes are very informal and I think vary greatly from teacher to teacher, but you will get as much out of it as you put in. I will definitely be taking more classes through GLN! read more

Ok, I was excited. The opportunity to learn a foreign language. All for the low deposit price of $100, plus $10 service fee. As long as you don't miss the class more than 3 times in a semester, you get you money back, minus the service fee. Sounds great, right? Nope, hence the two stars. First, their communication blows. They won't post a phone number and you have to communicate via email only. If you try to call the number on the Paypal listing when rendering payment, good luck. I was never able to get a hold of anyone. Second, the popular languages fill up quickly. And they don't open another section for it. So if you want Arabic, Chinese, or any other "in-demand" language, good luck. Finally, the teachers are hit or miss. The Arabic guy seemed on his game. The Japanese teacher, not so much. Since she's a frosh at GW, I'm guessing her teaching depth is about as deep as a rain puddle. Maybe she'll be better in a few years - but by then, she'll be graduating. Can't they find someone with more experience? The Wife and I withdrew from our classes. $20 not well spent on service charges. I'd steer clear unless you have absolutely no background in your language - I know some Japanese (enough for survival) and I felt like I was light years ahead of folks in there. No thanks. read more

I had a very good experience taking classes with GLN. You can't beet the price and I appreciate their mission of offering language opportunities for very fair prices. They could definitely use a technology upgrade, but that is part of being a non-profit spending all its money on its core mission. Their absence policy seems very strict, but it makes sense when you think about it, they don't really have the staff to evaluate all your excuses, so they keep to a strict 2 miss limit. This keeps people coming to class, and even if you lose your deposit the classes are cheaper than other language schools. read more

I took French Beginner Level I this semester and it was great! My teacher was a French native and made class interactive and fun. On a scale of 1-10 I'd say that my classmates' knowledge of French ranged from 0 (no French) to about 3 (some French knowledge, possibly a few classes in high school) and I'm positive that we all learned something. Our instructor spoke primarily in French and even if you don't have any knowledge of the language, you'll pick it up with gestures, pictures, and the little bit of English used in class. More than anything, I built a strong foundation and am excited to take French Beginner Level II to expand my French language skills even further. As far as the donation of $150, that's a drop in the bucket in comparison to other language classes offered in D.C. If you're unable to donate $150, it's not mandatory either and you'll get it back as long as you don't miss more than three classes. read more

I found out about GLN through Yelp! I signed up for the 6 week summer Native Spanish class.Best decision I made.Although the class was huge,the teacher was great.She was responsive to all emails,connected with everyone in the class and provided a lot of resources we can use outside the class.I will definitely be taking another course come fall and would advise others interested in language learned to sign up for GLN! read more

I took the Entry level course for Russian with Olga. I enjoyed the class and found it to be a great value. I have two small issues with the program which kept me from giving 5-stars. First, we signed up for the Russian class in Rosslyn because it was the only one mentioned. But after, GLN posted a second Russian class in Farragut West which would have been far better for me to attend due to where I work. I could not switch over. Second, we did not have enough work outside class to help with retention leaving it to you to do it on your own. But it is difficult when you aren't sure you are pronouncing things correctly or even saying something similar to the correct word. That said, this is of great value and I plan on using it again. read more

My wife was a Spanish student at GLN and I taught Hebrew and studied Arabic. What a terrific cause, affordable language classes that are fun, interesting and productive. It is a completely different experience than your average language school, not just because its only 80$ a semester, but rather the focus that is on building conversation skills from day 1. In my Hebrew class, most of the students already taken a class in the past, but those classes were mostly grammar. On my class they spoke, and spoke, and spoke, and by the end of it, they were able to engage in simple conversations with new people. Sure, the teachers are non experienced for the most part, and not all of them are great, but the organization's "no English" approach fits perfectly with beginner teachers, and ensures that you'll get something out of it, even if your teacher is not a natural. The big bonus is the people you meet, everyone are interesting individuals who want to learn. Really worth the money. read more

Pretty awesome class. I took Portuguese level 2 (tourist) and had the absolute best instructor, Elise. Where else can you get weekly language classes for 3 months in DC for under $100? The program and the mission are fantastic. This was my first immersive language experience, so it was daunting to only be spoken to in a language I don't know, but your brain picks up the gist of things pretty quickly. I was surprised that after a few minutes, I could understand what was being communicated. I really have no complaints or suggestions for improvement. This was a fun and valuable opportunity, and I'm glad I found out about it! read more

I'm fan! It's a great opportunity to learn a foreign language! I've taken both Chinese Beg. I and am enrolled in Portuguese Beg. I now, which have both been great. It's essentially free - it's $100 (for GW affliated students) and $150 for others; however, you get your deposit back if you don't miss more than 3 classes a semester. They've definitely improved this year over last year. Their communications are good and I believe that they have got a lot of the kinks out. I'd say that a lot of the experience depends on your teacher. It's definitely not formal (no textbooks or anything), but it's great at getting immersed in the language and learning a lot of the customs and traditions (our last class we learned "dating" techniques haha and how to sing a Brazillian song). I'd encourage all to join! read more

I took a Hindi class at GLN. it's one of the only places I could find a course in DC, and it was a great experience! It was very financially accessible, and a good way to learn some basic language skills while meeting other interesting people. read more

I took my first class this summer and it was a wonderful experience. Our teacher, Belen, was very engaging and dedicated. The class was always full of fun and I enjoyed every single minute of it. I will highly recommend taking a language class with GLN. This non-profit organization has a noble mission to apply language skills to change the world to a better place. Rather than mastering a language, it aims to train people to use language as a tool to solve world's problems, which I really admire. read more

Can't say enough good things about how important their work is, and how fun my first class was. Looking forward to many more!

I took an Arabic class through GLN and I'm impressed with how much i learned during the course.... and the price is unbeatable! I highly recommend taking a language class through GLN. read more

I had an awesome experience with GLN. I was enrolled in their French Foreigner class and really like the instructor's (Angelica) teaching style. We covered what I think were the most useful basics of French, and got lots of time to practice in class. I feel a lot more competent in French now. In my opinion, the people who will benefit from this class are those who have had some exposure to French, and also those who know Spanish well. I think students with no prior knowledge of French struggled and found the pacing too fast. read more

These language classes are so inexpensive, and so recreational in nature, that no one should hesitate to just put out the I don't remember, two hundred bucks or so it cost. They then refund back about half if you show up for most of the classes! It's one two-hour class a week for about three months. Classes are offered at convenient times and places, on weekends and near metro. These weekly classes are a fun and inexpensive way to supplement your primary efforts in a stress-free, welcoming, and warm environment. If you're using a computer program like Rosetta Stone,these classes will provide a good return on your investment, and if you'd rather blow it off one week you're free to do so, because this is adult learning. I took a foreigner (beginner) class in DC and our excellent teacher came by train every week from Baltimore, which is extremely admirable, considering that GLN is a volunteer network and that the teachers are all volunteers. GLN is inexpensive and yet they depend on our support. It is a good cause. read more

I enjoyed my six-week Italian Tourist class this summer! I had taken Italian Foreigner during the winter/spring semester of 2017 and, while it wasn't ideal that it took this long for the next level to be available, I realize that there may be a shortage of Italian instructors out there. Andrea was the instructor this summer and he was great! Very nice, encouraging, made sure to correct us which I appreciated, and created a comfortable environment. It's definitely different participating in a language class virtually, but I'm glad I took the course and look forward to taking more in the future, be they virtual or in person. read more

I just took French Tourist and had a great experience. Our teacher was awesome -- well organized, engaging, friendly and funny. I look forward to my next class at GLN. read more

Spanish tourist class is an excellent value for the money. One has to work outside of class though with supplemental usage and activities to really get the most from this. Our instructor missed the first day of class but offered a make-up session afterwards which did not exactly fit in with my schedule. Note there is some extra effort involved if you want your deposit back in that you actually have to apply for it within a strict deadline or you could lose it. Overall, I recommend the classes. Every instructor could be a little bit different but for the small amount of money involved, it is hard to find a better deal. read more

Just completed a third GLN course in a third language. This time we were on a compressed summer schedule via Zoom due to the pandemic. Our teacher was always prepared, enthusiastic, supportive and proficient with the technology. I highly recommend GLN for introduction to new languages and wonderful teachers and fellow students. read more

Incredible value. The teachers are native speakers and really engaging. I took first level Italian and my class was nice and small -- just 6 of us most days. I learned SO MUCH and the environment was really warm and welcoming. I highly recommend GLN! read more

GLN is an amazing institution that is making a big difference. I took the first level of Spanish class that they have. My background was 7 years of Spanish from middle school to college but have gotten very rusty over the years. GLN's class was the best reset I needed to bring back my skills. My teacher was awesome - you could tell Martin truly cared about helping us learn more about the Spanish language and the various cultures of Central and South America. The payment system is also a very good one as well, GLN is a great idea if you're on a budget. Make sure to save some time to study your classroom notes/materials to get the most out of your experience. I look forward to taking another class with GLN in the future. Thank you! read more

Great, relatively informal language classes for a wide variety of languages. Took Mandarin Chinese and really enjoyed it. 性价比高！

GLN is a fantastic service and a great value. I highly recommend GLN as a way to start learning a new language. For $80, you get 11 weeks of 2-hour classes taught by a fluent teacher. My introductory Spanish class was taught by a very organized, prepared, and engaging teacher who worked hard to make sure all students spoke each week. The vocabulary proceeded in a logical fashion and built on itself. However to really retain the content, you have to practice using the web-based exercises. 2 hours a week is never going to beat an everyday class (the way my college taught languages). But this is the best way I know to get busy young professionals from all walks of life to learn a new language efficiently. Try GLN and spread the word! read more

Mandarin Nearly Native's teacher was really dedicated. She crafted our curriculum based on all of our interests. Recommend due to the cost and flexibility. This is a good course if you want a regular refresh and/or to keep up with the language. read more

Having received copious raving reviews about GLN, I had no hesitation of signing myself up for for a summer session to take their Level 1 Spanish for Foreigners class. Their program offers a plentiful amount of languages spanning across all levels. And better yet, it's all at a totally affordable cost! I'd like to add that the quality of instructors was also superb. A few areas for improvement: - The way GLN labels the level of the course can be a bit confusing, so be sure to read their course descriptions before registering. E.g. Foreigners = Level I. Tourist = Level II, and so on. If I were them, I'd take a note to make this more clear - I didn't find out the location of the class until the day of so it would've been nice to get a notice a few days in advance - The signup and reimbursement process is a bit lengthy (if you've purchased tickets to Burning Man before, it's the same process). Here's the low down on how it works: 1. Subscribe to their mailing list to receive email updates on when class registration is live 2. Create an account prior to registering 3. Sign up for a course in their GLN mainframe and process your payment. Note that you'll be receiving your $100 reimbursement via Paypal 3-4 weeks after you've completed your course 4. You'll receive communications from your instructor one week before your first day of class. He/she may post material in this portal, or just email them to you read more

I've now taken four semesters of Spanish language classes with GLN, and I've gone from knowing zero Spanish to being conversational in the language. GLN is amazing - they offer evening classes once a week in convenient locations with fun teachers who are language natives at incredibly affordable prices ($200 for 10 weeks of classes, and half back if you attend all but 2 classes). I've a huge fan of the organization and their mission to expose people to language and culture! read more

I am a fan of the GLN. I have taken 2 classes with them so far, one last spring and one this summer, and have been very happy with both classes. I think they are definitely making improvements in communication and in teacher training from what it sounds like previous reviewers experienced. People have to keep in mind that it's a non-profit organization that runs on little/no funding and relies on donations to make improvements - of course they are hoping you will donate your deposit! There is no obligation to do so, however, and I got my deposits back quickly after both classes. Also, they rely on using donated space at GW - there is only so much space the school is willing to donate for use, and only so many people volunteering to teach, so they can't just offer extra classes all the time. It's frustrating when a class fills up, but things like that happen with other organizations/schools too. As for the teaching method, I agree that immersion is not for everyone. But both instructors I have had (in 2 different languages) also did some explaining as well as immersion-style teaching and it seemed to work well. I agree with their philosophy of getting people to speak and to use the language rather than relying on using English, and I have learned a lot in both Beg I classes I have taken so far. In one language, I can now get the gist of simple articles and stories in that language, even if I don't understand every word, and in the other language, well, I never expected to get to that level so I'm happy with what I learned and confident that I can now speak very basic things, which is what I expected. I will be taking 2 language classes with GLN this fall (a Beg II class and a Beg I class in a new language) and I am really looking forward to them both! read more

I took English as a Second Language and it was a really good experience. I got to know a lot about USA and made good friends. The classes are fun and the students can participate in the class agenda, way to work, activities, etc. Which is really valuable. The ESL class was small which was a good thing because you can get personalized attention and focus in your areas to improve. The class is mainly a spoken class so it's great for practicing the different interactions, telling stories, giving opinions, etc. I highly recommend GLN! read more

I took Spanish with The Global Language Network and loved my class! My teacher, Adriana, was great and made the class really fun. We practiced talking to each other a lot which made me more comfortable speaking the language. I would highly recommend GLN to anyone trying to learn a new language!! read more

GLN is pretty cool. They offer a lot of languages for a very affordable price. I took Russian Nearly Native. The format is pretty informal, but that made it welcoming. read more

If you're looking to start learning a new language, brush up on your language skills from the past, or just learn the basics for an upcoming trip, this is a great place to go. The classes are fun, filled with interesting and diverse people, and the teachers (esp. Erika - spanish) are excellent and allow some customization for the class based upon what the students want/need to learn. A stress-free way to learn a new language and culture in your spare time. Definitely recommend! read more

I really enjoyed the 6-week French foreigner class with Ami. I have some experience in Portuguese and Spanish, but none in French. Ami did a great job of facilitating conversations, giving us simple but helpful homework, and enabling us to actually speak French for the majority of our classes. I certainly feel more confident speaking French after thaking this class and now would like to take the 12-week class. I also really enjoyed my classmates! Everyone seemed engaged and like they wanted to learn. read more

FANTASTIC - I took an Arabic class here and it is by far the best language experience I've had in the city. In this class we focused on communicating and actually using the language (speaking, using slang, listening to TV shows, news broadcasts, and interviews, etc) instead of just focusing on grammar. Each class's theme was different which kept things interesting. We covered some history, politics, TV shows, religion, poetry, etc. and touched on the basics of a variety of dialects. Homework was encouraged but not mandatory, so you could still balance a busy work week if needed. My teacher was fantastic too, she made each class fun, encouraged participation, and provided an incredible amount of resources. If you've ever taken an Arabic class, you know how hard it is to find a class that teaches useful, spoken Arabic (including slang and dialects) and not just MSL/fusha. I will definitely be taking this class again. read more