Facts About PLA
Polyglottist Language Academy, located in Berkeley, California, has been a trusted provider of language classes for students in Oakland, Emeryville, Albany, San Francisco, and the wider Bay Area for many years. Since transitioning to online learning during the pandemic, our classes have become accessible to everyone—whether you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area or anywhere around the globe. No matter where you are, from Oakland to the farthest corners of the world, you can join us to unlock your language learning potential!
When PLA began in 2014, we only offered French and Russian. In a few years time, we expanded to more European languages, such as Italian and Spanish. Today, Polyglottist Language Academy offers 15 languages: Spanish, French, Korean, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, German, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Japanese, English (ESL), Russian, Tagalog, Arabic, Thai, and Dutch.
The word Polyglottist is a synonym of “polyglot” which describes someone who speaks multiple languages. The origins of this word are Greek: polyglōttos, from poly-(many) + glōtta (language). In accordance with our name, our school emphasizes the learning of multiple languages
Our Mission
At Polyglottist Language Academy, we are passionate about fostering a love for language learning in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world. Mastering a second language not only unlocks new opportunities but also bridges cultural gaps, creating meaningful connections. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, we proudly offer a diverse range of language courses, filling a crucial gap in local language education. From widely spoken global languages to niche dialects, our programs are designed to empower learners and open doors to new possibilities.Our Approach to Language Learning
The world of language learning is being revolutionized by the growth and expansion of technology. Yet, the key principles to learning a language remain the same. Time, practice, passion, inspiring teachers and dedicated classmates remain essential to the complicated process of acquiring a new language to this day. Polyglottist Language Academy seeks to bridge the growing gap between traditional and modern language learning methods by offering a traditional language learning environment, where one of our passionate and knowledgeable instructors guides you through a foreign language. We embrace the modern here at PLA, offering a vast repertoire of online classes and using online resources and technology to bolster learning in our digital classroom.
Our Expert Instructors
Polyglottist Language Academy proudly boasts a team of 25 highly qualified instructors dedicated to delivering top-tier language education. Our diverse team includes:
Advanced Degrees: 3 instructors with PhDs, 3 PhD candidates, 16 with MA degrees, and 3 with BA degrees.
Specialized Expertise: All instructors hold degrees in the languages they teach, as well as in fields such as linguistics, literature, history, or pedagogy.
Extensive Experience: With an average of 10 years of teaching experience, our instructors are seasoned professionals.
Global Representation: Our team hails from 17 countries, including Belarus, Brazil, China, Colombia, Eritrea, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam, and the U.S.
Native Speakers: 21 of our instructors are native speakers, ensuring authentic language instruction.
Academic Engagement: 8 instructors are actively involved in academic research, contributing to advancements in language education and related fields.
At PLA, we believe that a passionate, highly qualified, and globally diverse teaching team is the key to fostering exceptional language learning experiences.
