What Does Polyglottist Mean and How did the Polyglottist Language Academy start?

Jun 1

Introduction:

In a world that’s more connected than ever, being able to speak multiple languages isn’t just an impressive skill—it’s a life-changing tool. Whether you're preparing for travel, diving into international business, or seeking deeper cultural connections, learning a new language can expand your horizons in unexpected ways. But not all language schools are created equal. Some focus on a single language or a rigid curriculum. Others are too large, too impersonal, or too focused on exams and memorization.

At Polyglottist Language Academy, we do things differently. Our approach is rooted in both passion and curiosity—a belief that language learning is a human endeavor, not just an academic one. We’re proud to offer small group and private classes in multiple languages, including French, Mandarin, Italian, Japanese, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, etc. But more than that, we offer an atmosphere of exploration, cultural immersion, and cross-linguistic connection.

Our origin story isn’t one of polished business plans or corporate strategies. It began with a love of language, a bit of academic disillusionment, and the unexpected courage that can come from not knowing exactly what lies ahead.

If you’re wondering whether Polyglottist Language Academy is right for you—or if you're simply curious about how a language school rooted in the humanities came to life—this story is for you.

The Origins of Polyglottist: From Dissertation to Discovery

I founded Polyglottist Language Academy while working on my doctoral dissertation in French literature at UC Berkeley. My research focused on animals in 16th-century French texts—an exploration that merged philosophy, literary analysis, and cultural history. But as many academics in the humanities know, the job market in this field has been stagnant for decades.

At the time, I hadn’t taken a single business course. I acted partly out of ignorance and partly out of desperation. But as strange as it sounds, that ignorance turned out to be a kind of hidden superpower. When you don’t know the rules of the business world, you also don’t know what’s “impossible.” You simply take the next step, one after another, until suddenly, you find yourself running a school.

In many ways, launching this school reminded me of a trip I once took to the Amazon jungle in my twenties. Biology had never interested me in school, and I knew virtually nothing about the rainforest's ecosystem. But that lack of knowledge kept my fears at bay. I had seen the jungle through the lens of adventure films—romanticized, cinematic, and survivable. Just like in business, I stepped into the unknown, unsure of what challenges would come next but motivated by curiosity and hope.

Why "Polyglottist"?

The word polyglottist comes from Greek roots: poly- meaning “many,” and glōtta, meaning “language.” It’s a synonym for "polyglot," a person who speaks multiple languages. That idea—of learning not just one language, but many—has always been at the heart of our school’s mission.

Unlike many language schools in the Bay Area that focus on just one language and its culture, I wanted to create a place where students could study multiple languages under one roof. Language learners are often curious about other cultures, other sounds, other perspectives. Why limit that curiosity to just one linguistic path?

From One Language to Five

In the beginning, it was just me, teaching French and Russian to a handful of students. Then, people started asking about Italian and Spanish. So, I reached out to colleagues in other language departments at UC Berkeley and asked if they’d be interested in joining me. Many said yes.

We didn’t expand rapidly. In fact, we added just one new class per semester. But that slow, steady growth allowed us to maintain quality, build a close-knit team, and design courses with care. Five years later, we now offer classes in five languages with a dedicated group of instructors who bring their academic training, cultural knowledge, and teaching experience to every lesson.

And we’re not done yet. One of our upcoming goals is to launch classes focused on literature and culture, taught in the target language. We’ll begin this summer with Italian workshops—a small but meaningful step toward deepening the learning experience for our students.

What Makes Us Different

Small Group Sizes: Our classes are capped at 3–6 students to ensure you get maximum speaking time and personalized attention.
Multilingual Focus: We encourage students to explore more than one language and support cross-linguistic learning.
Cultural Integration: Language doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We integrate customs, history, and real-life context into every class.
Academic Depth: Our instructors come from top universities and bring scholarly insight to the classroom—without the ivory tower distance.
Supportive Community: Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced learner, you'll find a warm, intellectually curious environment.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to already know a language to enroll at Polyglottist?
A: Not at all! We offer classes for complete beginners as well as intermediate and advanced learners. You’ll be placed in a group that matches your level.

Q: What languages do you offer?
A: We currently offer French, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. More may be added in the future based on student demand.

Q: Are your classes online or in person?
A: Both! We offer in-person classes in the Bay Area (including Berkeley and Oakland) as well as live online classes for students in cities like San Jose, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Reno, and Portland.

Q: Can I study more than one language at your school?
A: Absolutely. Many of our students study multiple languages, and we’re happy to help you build a custom learning plan.

Q: Who are the instructors?
A: Our teachers are highly qualified professionals, many of whom have advanced degrees and university-level teaching experience. They’re also passionate, approachable, and deeply committed to student success.

Q: Do you offer cultural or literature classes?
A: Yes! We are starting to roll out literature and culture workshops, especially in Italian, with more languages to follow.

Learn with Us at Polyglottist Language Academy

Whether you're dreaming of traveling to Italy, connecting with your Chinese heritage, reading Russian novels in the original, or simply challenging your brain in new ways, Polyglottist Language Academy is here to support your journey. Our mission is rooted in the belief that language learning is for everyone, and that one language often leads to another.

👉 Join our classes today and start your own multilingual adventure with us—right here in Berkeley or from anywhere online.

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