CULLMAN, Ala. – The downtown branch of the Cullman County Public Library System is offering free ongoing Spanish classes for beginners and people of all ages. These classes, held every other Friday at 11 a.m., help residents explore a new language and culture. The next class will be June 5.
Alejandra Peña teaches the classes, which first took place at Sportsman Lake Park. They later moved to the library to provide a more consistent and accessible location.
Library Aide Raegan Lindsey said the library started the program after seeing more people in the community wanted to learn Spanish.
“There’s a lot of interest in the community, and it just makes it a little bit more accessible to anyone,” Lindsey said.
The classes are set up to be easy for beginners and flexible for anyone new. Lindsey explained that you do not need any Spanish language experience, and people can join at any time without worrying about falling behind.
During a typical class, attendees learn basic vocabulary and practice talking about topics like animals, days of the week and seasons and how to write dates in Spanish. Lessons also include cultural topics or holidays to help everyone better understand Spanish-speaking cultures. Although the classes are mainly for beginners, Lindsey said people who already know some Spanish can still benefit by practicing conversations and learning more. Anyone who wants more advanced lessons can set up one-on-one sessions with Peña.
The library said the program has received a positive response, with steady attendance and interest from people who want to learn a new language.
“We would love to see it grow and get into more people because anybody can benefit from it,” Lindsey said. “It just opens the door for any age to kind of learn a new culture and a new language.”
Besides learning about culture, Lindsey pointed out that studying a new language can also help improve memory and thinking skills. Library officials hope more people will join the classes as they learn about the opportunity and find time in their schedules.
The downtown Cullman County Public Library is located at 200 Clark St. NE. Find more info at www.cullmanlib.org or www.facebook.com/cullmancountypubliclibrarysystem.
