Habla usted español (Do you speak Spanish)? Parlez-vous français (Do you speak French)?  

Glacier Academy of Languages is being formed to help people who answer “no” but would like to learn.

The Whitefish academy, which opens Feb. 4, will offer classes and immersion summer camps in Spanish, French, Italian and Russian.

There are classes for all ages and levels, from a Mommy and Me class for toddlers to a Conversational Level class for adults.

Glacier Academy of Languages is the inspiration of Whitefish residents Jean Amidon, director of curriculum and business, and Catherine Owens, director of marketing and business. They both have varied experiences with learning a second language and wanted to provide opportunities to the community.

Amidon and Owens both speak Spanish.

In addition to traveling to Spanish-speaking countries, Amidon volunteered in a bilingual school her children attended in Washington before moving to Whitefish two years ago. She also taught English as a second language to Spanish-speaking adults. She saw the benefits firsthand of her children attending a bilingual public school where the day was split between each language.

“Their minds just absorbed it,” Amidon said.

With most local school districts offering foreign language classes beginning in high school, Amidon and Owens said it was limiting the chance to get a head start in practicing and becoming fluent in a language at an early age.

Owens attributes her Spanish fluency to immersing herself in the language during a trip to Spain as a teenager.

“In this day and age it’s very important for children to grow up bilingual and we thought this would be an opportunity to start laying the train tracks for language,” Owens said.

“We’re truly the only country where our children are not growing up speaking two languages. One of my daughters is adopted from Russia. She came here when she was four. She will begin taking Russian again. The foundation is already there, we’re just putting that train back on the track.”

There are currently five teachers: Sally Anne Corcoran, Patti Faustini, Kate Whitcomb, Caitlin Caltabiano and Jana Ostrom. More languages will be added based on interest and the ability to find teachers.

Glacier Academy is seeking someone to teach Mandarin Chinese.

“At the moment, very qualified teachers are coming to us, either they’re fluent in the language [they’re teaching] or it’s their native tongue,” Owens said.

Sessions include eight classes at a cost of $120 ($15 per hour). A registration fee of $25 covers the cost of materials.

A language is best learned in a class with an instructor rather than through audio recordings, Amidon and Owens said.

“The actual interaction [of conversation] takes a lot of concentration,” Amidon said, noting that conversations in class aren’t always scripted like recordings. “Even if a question is repeated in class, it may be in a different tense.”

Owens added, “You’re then told if you’re doing it correctly or not.”

Meeting other community members learning the same language is also a plus.

“I see this as truly a community project,” Amidon said. “I’m hoping these groups of people may go out to dinner and speak in Spanish or watch a Spanish film together.”  

Their long-term goal is to bring the program to surrounding communities.

An open house is planned from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at Whitefish Foursquare Church, 233 Kalispell Ave. People will be able to tour classrooms, browse curriculum and meet with staff.

For more information visit www.glacieracademyoflanguages.com, call 212-2273 or email [email protected].

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].