Online group classes in eight languages, small by design, built around a working schedule.
Fall is when people actually start things. Not January — January is when people declare things. September is when the calendar resets, the travel slows down, and a two-hour commitment twice a week suddenly fits.
ICLS fall group classes begin September 28, online, in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and English.
The details at a glance: Twice a week, two academic hours per session, convenient evening time on weekdays (usually 6-7:40pm ET). Term runs for 10 weeks. Classes average 4–8 students, capped at 12. Fully online. Tuition: $475 (less than $12/per academic hour of instruction).
The approach is communicative, which in practice means you are speaking in the first session — not reading grammar tables until week six. Instructors bring native-level proficiency in the language they teach.
Small enrollment is the mechanism, not a marketing line. In a class of eight, you speak roughly four times as often as in a class of thirty. That ratio is most of what separates a language you studied from a language you can use.
Weekend classes are being held this fall! These classes are for the upper intermediate and advanced language speaker of: German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, and Vietnamese.
Private and semi-private training runs from 2 to 18 hours per week, or full-time, with the curriculum built around a specific goal — an ILR level, a posting abroad, field-specific vocabulary, a hard deadline. It starts with a needs assessment rather than a placement test.
Many organizations have professional development funds that cover language training and go unspent every year. Federal personnel and contractors: ICLS has trained government staff since 1966 and offers GSA rates. Organizations that serve multilingual communities — healthcare systems, NGOs, agencies — can have programs built around actual job functions rather than a generic syllabus.
ICLS has taught in Washington, D.C. since 1966: 85+ languages, 250+ instructors, ACCET-accredited.
Fall classes start September 28. See the schedule and enroll →
Are these classes really fully online? Yes — all fall group classes meet online, so you can join from anywhere.
How big are the classes? They average 4–8 students and are capped at 12, so you're speaking every session, not sitting in a lecture.
What if I'm not sure of my level? You can take quick online assessment here.
How much does it cost, and can my employer pay? Tuition is $475 for the whole 10-week session. Many employers cover it through professional-development funds, and ICLS offers GSA rates for federal personnel and contractors.
When exactly do classes meet? Twice a week for two hours, Mon-Wed or Tue-Thu. The session runs 10 weeks beginning September 28.