About PLA

We’re a small, independent language school in downtown Berkeley. We started in 2014 with French and Russian classes and have added more languages over the years. Today we teach adults in our Shattuck Avenue classrooms and live online.

Our groups usually have 3–6 students. You’ll practice speaking and listening, work on grammar and vocabulary, and have time to ask your teacher questions. We also spend time on pronunciation, everyday expressions, and the culture behind the language. Most group terms meet for one hour a week over six weeks.

People come to us for travel, family, work, or simply because they enjoy languages. You can start as a complete beginner or join at a higher level if you’ve studied before. If you’re unsure where to start, tell us a little about your experience and we’ll help you choose a class.