Omniglots

What's an Omniglot?

You've probably heard of a polyglot (a speaker of many languages), but what's an omniglot? A speaker of all languages! Our mission is to bring as many languages as possible to as many learners as possible, matching eager students with local teachers. We want to celebrate the linguistic diversity of the Ocean State and create a community of language lovers.

We currently offer classes in Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, German, ASL, Korean, and Italian at our school in Barrington, RI. We also have tutors available for French, Arabic, and Hindi.

Kids Classes

Our classes for kids are divided into three categories: Stargazers, Backpackers, and Globetrotters.

Stargazers — for complete beginners who want an initial introduction to the language
Our Stargazer Workshops are designed for children with little or no experience with the language. Each thematic, project-based workshop will introduce and reinforce basic skills (counting, alphabet, etc.) within a different context and with distinct vocabulary. We will read books, listen to music, play games, create art, and learn about different cultures and traditions. Children can try one 6-week workshop or take them all!
Click here for a list of classes.

Backpackers — for students ready to set off on their language-learning journey
Our Backpackers classes are offered at a variety of levels to support students as they proceed along their language-learning journey. Classes meet in small, stable groups and follow a fun, project-based curriculum. Age-appropriate activities include games, art projects, nature exploration, pretend play, theatre, music, and literature.
Click here for a list of classes.

Globetrotters — for those who already speak and/or understand the language
Our Globetrotters classes are an opportunity for children who already speak and/or understand another language to learn and interact with other speakers in an immersion environment. Younger students will focus on expressing themselves and enriching their vocabulary, while older students will work toward biliteracy. This is a great opportunity for kids to build community through their shared language and culture.
Click here for a list of classes.

Adult Classes

We also have a variety of classes for adults! Click here to learn more.

Our Teachers

Spanish, German

Laura Healy started Omniglots because she wanted a place for Barrington kids (including her own!) to learn languages. She has a master's degree in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard, and she teaches in the writing program at the Harvard Extension School. As an undergraduate at Brown, Laura studied translation, and she translates poetry and children's books from Spanish into English. Before the pandemic, she and her family spent three years in Germany, where she learned about European language pedagogy and different approaches to raising multilingual children.

Spanish

Julitza Ovalle is a passionate bilingual educator who currently teaches Spanish in early childhood at The Gordon School. She recently received a bachelor's degree in Modern Languages from Rhode Island College, where she is currently pursuing an MAT in World Language Education. Raised in a lively Dominican and Puerto Rican household, Spanish was her first language and sparked her lifelong love for language and culture. Julitza is passionate about working with young children and loves creating fun, engaging experiences that help them build confidence as bilingual learners. Outside the classroom, you can find her exploring with family, traveling, and shopping.

Korean

Amrita Adak recently graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in Neurobiology, Language, and Trauma and a minor in Education. She grew up in a trilingual home, where from an early age she was nurtured with a deep love for languages, linguistic reflection, and cross-cultural appreciation. Having moved between countries many times, she understands both the joys and confusions that can come with navigating different cultural customs and languages. Amrita has experience teaching ESL, Hindi, and Korean to students of all ages. During her free time, she likes to crochet sweater vests for her friends and their pets.

Spanish

Emmy Douglas earned a PhD in English with an emphasis in the translation of medieval languages from the University of Arkansas. She also has degrees in Spanish, French, and creative writing/translation. She loves learning languages because it helps her communicate with more people and affords her the opportunity to discover new perspectives. She has nineteen years of teaching experience, and when she’s not in the classroom, she is spending time with her family at music concerts or at home playing with their dog.

German

Jana Bloechl grew up in Germany and worked as a social worker there before moving with her family to Rhode Island. She received her master's degree in Social Work from the University of Applied Sciences of Münster and her bachelor's from Cologne University of Applied Sciences. She is looking forward to using her experiences as a social worker and as a mother of two bilingual children to help expose others to the benefits of using multiple languages in their lives.

Portuguese, French

Henry Robbins is a senior at Brown University studying History and Portuguese and Brazilian Studies. Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, he was introduced to multilingual environments early on—he vividly remembers visiting his grandparents in Portugal and hearing as many as five languages spoken around the dinner table. He has studied both French and Portuguese in depth, and after graduation, he will pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching in Social Studies at Brown. He hopes to carry the skills he develops at Omniglots into his future career as a teacher.

Our Philosophy: Three Keys to Language Learning

Motivation

We encourage our students to always keep in mind why they are studying a language, and we strive to keep our classes fun and meaningful so that the class itself becomes something to look forward to.

Exposure

Learning a language is not something that happens overnight; it requires repeated exposure over time. We take every opportunity to expose our students to the languages they're studying, both inside and outside of class.

Application

We are always looking for ways for our students to apply the language they've learned in ways that are meaningful to them. Getting students to a point where they can use the language — watching a foreign film, interpreting for a neighbor, writing a love letter — is our ultimate goal.