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.

Our Classes: Fall 2025

We are gearing up for our first full school year! Choose a class time below for more information and to register. You can also see a list on our registration platform here.

Which class should I choose?
Stargazers — for complete beginners who want an initial introduction to the language
Backpackers — for students ready to set off on their language-learning journey
Globetrotters — for those who already speak and/or understand the language

If you want to take a class, but the available times don't work for your schedule or if the class is full, please fill out our waitlist form here. If there are enough interested students, we may be able to add more sections.

Spanish Classes for Kids

Omniglots Tots!

Ages 2–5 years with an adult — Next 6-week session begins September 19

This lively class will expose little ones to the Spanish language through stories, songs, nursery rhymes, and games. Parents will also benefit from the opportunity to engage with each other in Spanish, learn new vocabulary, and ask questions about the language. Although languages can be learned at any age, early exposure helps children distinguish and differentiate sounds, setting them up for success later on. This class will introduce your child to the sounds of Spanish!

Fridays | 5:45–6:15 p.m. Saturdays | 9:15–9:45 a.m.

Stargazer Workshops

This series of thematic workshops is designed for children with little or no experience with Spanish. Each 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 of the Spanish-speaking world. Children can try one 6-week workshop or take them all!
*The youngest students must be attending kindergarten in fall 2025 to take this class. Children who are not yet in school should sign up for our toddler/parent classes.

Los colores del arcoíris (Colors of the Rainbow)
September 18–October 25

Grades K & 1 | Thursdays | 4:00–4:45 p.m. Grades K & 1 | Saturdays | 11:00–11:45 a.m.

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)
September 23–October 29

Grades 2–4 | Wednesdays | 4:00–5:00 p.m. Homeschool (ages 7–10) | Tuesdays | 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Little Backpackers

This small school-year class is designed for young learners who are committed to learning Spanish. Classes meet for 40 minutes twice a week and are limited to 4 students. Students will explore the language through art projects, picture books, songs, pretend play, nature exploration and more!

*Students must be attending kindergarten or first grade in fall 2025 to take this class. Children who are not yet in school should sign up for our toddler/parent classes.

Grades K & 1 | Tuesdays & Fridays | 4:00–4:40 p.m.

Backpackers

Walking pickup available from Sowams School

These small classes are for students who are committed to learning Spanish. We will continue with the fun, project-based model of our introductory workshops but with a more structured sequence of vocabulary and grammar development (roughly aligned with ACTFL Novice Level or A1 of the Common European Framework).

Globetrotters

This fun and relaxed class is an opportunity for children who already speak and/or understand Spanish to play and interact with others in an immersion environment. We will do art projects, perform plays, play games, take nature walks, and more. Students will be encouraged to use Spanish as much as possible while teachers model the language, enrich their vocabulary, and help them develop biliteracy. This class will be conducted entirely in Spanish. Students do not have to be fluent, but some experience with Spanish is required. This class is not appropriate for complete beginners.

Grades K–3 | Saturdays | 10:00–10:45 a.m.

Kids Classes

Portuguese | Greek | German | American Sign Language

Portuguese

Backpackers

This small class is designed to introduce children to the basics of the Portuguese language through games, art projects, and group activities. Students will learn essential vocabulary, be introduced to elementary grammar, and practice having basic conversations. They will also learn about Portuguese culture and Portuguese-American heritage.

Grades 2–5 | Thursdays | 5:15–6:15 p.m.

Globetrotters

This fun and relaxed class is an opportunity for children who already speak and/or understand Portuguese to play and interact with others in an immersion environment. We will do art projects, perform plays, play games, take nature walks, and more. Students will be encouraged to use Portuguese as much as possible while teachers model the language, enrich their vocabulary, and help them develop biliteracy. This class will be conducted in Portuguese. Students do not have to be fluent, but some experience with Portuguese is required. This class is not appropriate for complete beginners.

Grades K – 3 | Wednesdays | 5:15–6:15 p.m.

Greek

Backpackers (Beginners)

This small class is designed to introduce children to the basics of the Greek language through stories, games, and group activities. Students will practice reading and writing using the Greek alphabet, learn essential vocabulary, be introduced to elementary grammar, and practice having basic conversations. They will also be introduced to popular Greek stories and myths.

Grades 2 – 6 | Fridays | 4:15–5:15 p.m.

Globetrotters

This after-school class is for children who already speak and/or understand Greek. Students will learn about Greek language and culture, practice reading and writing in Greek, and enjoy the company of other Greek-speaking children. This class will be conducted in Greek. Students do not have to be fluent, but some experience with Greek is required. This class is not appropriate for complete beginners.

Grades 1 – 5 | Fridays | 3:10–4:10 p.m.

German

Backpackers (Beginners)

This small class is designed to introduce children to the basics of the German language through songs, games, and group activities. Students will learn essential vocabulary, be introduced to elementary grammar, and practice having basic conversations. They will also be introduced to popular German children's books and characters.

Grades 2 – 5 | Mondays | 4:00–4:50 p.m.

Globetrotters

This fun and relaxed class is an opportunity for children who already speak and/or understand German to play and interact with others in an immersion environment. We will do art projects, perform plays, play games, take nature walks, and more. Students will be encouraged to use German as much as possible while teachers model the language, enrich their vocabulary and help them develop biliteracy. This class will be conducted in German. Students do not have to be fluent, but some experience with German is required. This class is not appropriate for complete beginners.

Grades K – 6 | Mondays | 5:00–5:50 p.m.

American Sign Language

Backpackers (Beginners) — Grades K through 5

Taught using games and interactive activities—and without reading and writing—this class introduces children to the most essential signs for getting started with American Sign Language. Students will emerge from this class with a new way of expressing themselves and a better understanding of Deaf culture. We are still working on hiring a new ASL instructor. If you're interested in this class, please send an email to info@omniglotsri.com, and we'll let you know when we've found a teacher.

Adult Classes (ages 14+)

Spanish | German | Korean | American Sign Language | Italian | French

**Fall classes start the week of September 29!**

Spanish

Introductory Workshop: September 30–October 30

This 5-week workshop is designed for complete beginners who have very little or no knowledge of Spanish. We will cover the basics of pronunciation, verb conjugation, common vocabulary, and essential phrases for communication. (If you took Spanish in high school, this class will probably be too easy for you. Consider taking the beginner level class instead.)

Tuesdays & Thursdays | 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Beginner

Whether you want to communicate with a neighbor, interact with coworkers, travel to a Spanish-speaking country, or converse with new in-laws, this class is for you. With content tailored to meet students' individual needs, this class is ideal for those who've had some experience with Spanish but are still learning or need a refresher. If you took high-school Spanish 20 years ago or if you've been using Duolingo for a couple years, this class might be for you. Complete beginners should start with our Introductory Workshop. (Not sure which class to sign up for? Email us at info@omniglotsri.com)

Tuesdays & Thursdays | 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Conversation (Intermediate/Advanced)

Practice your Spanish conversation skills in a relaxed, small-group setting. This class is for students who already have a solid foundation in Spanish and would like to improve or refresh their listening, reading, and speaking skills. Grammar and vocabulary will be taught according to students' needs and interests.

Join the Waitlist

German

Conversation (Intermediate/Advanced)

Practice your German conversation skills in a relaxed, small-group setting. This class is for students who already have a solid foundation in German and would like to improve or refresh their listening, reading, and speaking skills. Grammar and vocabulary will be taught according to students' needs and interests.

Wednesdays | 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Korean

Hangul Workshop: October 4–November 1

In this 5-week workshop, students will learn to read and write Hangul—the Korean alphabet—giving them the tools they need for further study of the Korean language.

Saturdays | 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Beginner

This class is for adults and teens who've already had an introduction to Hangul and who want to continue learning Korean. Whether you want to communicate with a neighbor, travel to South Korea, or start understanding your new favorite K-Drama without subtitles, this class is for you. With content tailored to meet individual needs and goals, this class is ideal for those beginning with the language as well as those who have some experience but need a refresher.

Tuesdays & Thursdays | 12:30–2:00 p.m. Saturdays | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Italian

Conversation (Intermediate/Advanced)

Practice your Italian conversation skills in a relaxed, small-group setting. This class is for students who already have a solid foundation in Italian and would like to improve or refresh their listening, reading, and speaking skills. Grammar and vocabulary will be taught according to students' needs and interests.

Join the Waitlist

French

Conversation (Intermediate/Advanced)

Practice your French conversation skills in a relaxed, small-group setting. This class is for students who already have a solid foundation in French and would like to improve or refresh their listening, reading, and speaking skills. Grammar and vocabulary will be taught according to students' needs and interests.

Join the Waitlist

American Sign Language

Introductory Workshop

This 6-week workshop is designed for complete beginners who have little or no knowledge of ASL. We will cover the basics of fingerspelling, essential vocabulary, sentence structure, and nonmanual features (e.g., facial expressions and body position). We will also discuss Deaf culture and etiquette.

Join the Waitlist

Beginner

This class is for students who already have a foundational knowledge of ASL and are looking to continue building vocabulary and practice communicating in an immersion environment. (Complete beginners should start with our Introductory Workshop.)

Join the Waitlist

Workshops for Travelers

Are you heading on a trip to another country? Are you thinking all the time you've spent on Duolingo just isn't enough? Contact us to schedule a crash course for travelers who want real-life practice using the language before they set off. We will focus on survival vocabulary, cultural differences, and the everyday interactions you might have on your trip. Email us at info@omniglotsri.com to discuss scheduling a workshop for your group!

Private Tutoring and Small-Group Classes

If you are interested in private tutoring or a small-group class for personal, professional, or academic reasons, please contact us at info@omniglotsri.com, and we will try to set you up with a teacher!

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.