Learning & Tech❯Language

Greece’s Galan Trio performs at Pacific University as part of their Kinesis tour, bringing a program of American composers hailing from the West Coast, including Pacific University faculty member Ryan Francis. Their appearance is underwritten by the Elise Elliot Trust and is presented under the auspices of Greece’s Ministry of Culture.

”Kinesis” is Galan Trio’s attempt to explore the music of contemporary American composers
by bringing their works together in an original, multifaceted concert program. The project
draws from collaboration between Galan Trio and professors of composition from select
U.S. universities, and from the notion of “Kinesis.” Kinesis is an undirected movement of a
cell, organism, or part, in response to an external stimulus. In Greek, Kinesis means
movement, motion. Motion is a fundamental characteristic of all living beings; motion is
what all musicians worldwide have desired during the last couple of years; motion alludes to
continuity, and it’s a promise for the future of “Kinesis” itself.

Ticket Prices: $21 general admission. Free for Pacific students, faculty and staff. Online ticket sales only. Purchase tickets at https://www.pacificu.edu/musictickets.

Hailing from Germany, the three Schumann brothers have been playing together since childhood. Together with their violist colleague, Matthew McDowell, they communicate with an openness and curiosity that has gained them a reputation as one of the most exciting string quartets performing today.

WOLF Italian Serenade MOZART Quartet in G Major, K. 73f IVES Quartet No. 2 BRAHMS Quartet in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents “Back to the Movies” with live accompaniment to the 1926 high seas adventure film, “The Black Pirate,” starring Douglas Fairbanks. Performances are 7-9 p.m. Nov. 19 at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 N.W. 139th St., Vancouver, and 7-9 p.m. Nov. 20 at Joyce Garver Theater, 1500 N.E. Garfield St., Camas. Watch the film with a live score played by the orchestra’s chamber ensemble. Admission is $25. $10 student tickets are available at the door.

Sharon Gan, founder of Heart Strings Mandarin, will lead children and their parents as they sing, move, play instruments, and tell stories in Mandarin, English and American Sign Language. All levels of Mandarin fluency from absolute beginners to native Mandarin speakers are welcome.

Program presented in partnership with Friends of the Tigard Library.

This fall and winter, L’École Buissonnière invites you to a monthly Café Littéraire, a French conversation class rooted in literature, seasonal culture, and thoughtful exchange.
Inspired by French cafés as places of ideas, debate, and imagination, these gatherings offer a slow, intimate approach to the French language.
Each 90-minute session opens a thematic doorway through short literary texts, guided conversation, and gentle creative practices.
The focus is not performance or fluency at all costs, but presence, curiosity, and pleasure in thinking together.
Each month highlights a seasonal cultural moment in France, including traditions that shape language and collective imagination.

Toussaint: Memory & Invisible Connections
La Toussaint : honorer les absents
Explore French traditions of remembrance, the symbolism of flowers and cemeteries, and the ways literature, photography, and seasonal rituals keep memory alive across generations.

Portland Sage Singers are excited to light up your holiday season before the rush. With concerts at the end of November, we get to add Thanksgiving to the expected December holiday highlights. Gratitude will take center stage. This show has every ingredient needed to brighten your spirits. The 100+ member chorus will fill the stage with delight and palpable joy. It will be like putting on a well-worn robe with a brand-new pair of slippers. You’ll be warmed by familiar songs and wowed by the new ones. The chorus will be accompanied by the amazing Synergy String Quartet and our own Sage Ringers bell choir. As has become a calling card for Portland Sage Singers, the evening will be filled with surprises, humor, and some dancing. Help us turn the lights on for the entire holiday season.

DATE: November 22 at 7:30pm, November 23 at 7:30pm

"PORTLAND, OR — On Sunday, November 22, 2026, New York-based pianist, composer, and storyteller David Haney brings the world premiere of The Waters of Non-Existence: Vishnu to Portland, Oregon — an immersive concert work for piano, bass clarinet, bass, and spoken narration. The performance takes place at Augustana Lutheran Church at 4:00 PM and features two of Portland's most celebrated creative musicians: multi-reed master Ike Levin on bass clarinet and bassist Shao Way Wu. The Waters of Non-Existence: Vishnu draws on three ancient Vedic stories of the Hindu god Vishnu — the Preserver, the Dreamer of Worlds, the God who enters human life in moments of cosmic need — and reimagines them within a contemporary New York City setting. The result is an evening of music and mythology that contemplates what it means for the divine to live among us: in the streets, in the subways, in the silences between notes. The concert is drawn from Haney's new album, The Waters of Non-Existence, released in June 2026 on Ravello Records / PARMA Recordings — a work that has earned national press attention and critical praise since its release."

Get ready for a celebration of two of the most iconic acts in music history. Experience Queen's legendary rock anthems and ABBA's irresistible pop classics, including “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Dancing Queen,” and more, in a unique Candlelight concert. This concert experience is a tribute. It is not associated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the artist, their heirs or their official representatives.

Performed by the Listeso String Quartet

Practice speaking Spanish in a group setting, led by a Spanish-speaking volunteer.

For adults 18+

To participate in Conversation Circles, you should have enough command of the language to be able to:

• Introduce yourself
• Discuss topics related to your life
• Express ideas and ask simple questions
• Follow discussions on a variety of topics
• Confidently participate in the discussion

You do not need to converse completely error-free in Spanish and you may have some gaps in your vocabulary. Conversation Circles are not formal language classes.

Need help getting started or building your skills? Check out these Language Learning Resources, free with your library card!

Trẻ em từ 0-6 tuổi (đi kèm với người lớn) sẽ cùng nhau đọc sách, ca hát, và vui chơi với những hoạt động giúp các em phát triển kỹ năng ngôn ngữ và đọc viết.

Chỗ ngồi tham dự có giới hạn và sẵn sàng phục vụ trên cơ sở ưu tiên cho người đến trước.

Được thực hiện nhờ tài trợ gửi đến The Library Foundation.

Spanish Language & Culture in Northern Spain

What can Asturias teach us about Spain’s history, culture, and identity?

Join us for an immersive summer program in Oviedo, Spain, exploring the rich history, art, literature, and contemporary culture of Asturias. Through cultural experiences, course discussions, and exploration of northern Spain, you’ll examine how Spanish identity has evolved from pre-Roman times to today.

Along the way, you’ll strengthen your Spanish language skills, building fluency, vocabulary, writing, and confidence while engaging with authentic Spanish-language materials and everyday life in Spain.

Designed for students ready to go beyond the typical study abroad experience, this program is ideal for students interested in Spanish language, literature, history, art, culture, and international studies.

Program Dates: June 27–July 30, 2027
Course: SPAN 301, 302, 303 (12 credits)
Prerequisite: SPAN 203 or equivalent proficiency

View Program Details

Learn about the process of becoming a citizen. Prepare for your citizenship interview. Study United States history and government for the examination. Classes are taught in English.

Registration information call 503.379.1598, ext 105, or email [email protected]

Come join Blueprint for a trip into two worlds: distinguished masterpieces and Disney!Featuring Topaz ensemble, the first half includes both classic and modern classical standards, including…• Purcell’s Hear My P

Tired of your abuela giving you the side-eye when you forget a word? Or maybe just looking for a low-stakes way to dust off your English skills? Whether you're a "No Sabo" kid or a fluent pro, we've got a spot for you!

LULAC Southwest Washington is teaming up with Dandelion Teahouse & Apothecary for a night of zero-judgement conversation. We're swapping the textbooks for board games and tea.

Here's the vibe:

-Practice your Spanish (even if it's just the basics!)

-Practice your English (o si hablas Español y quieres practicar tu Ingés)

-Play games & make friends in a cozy atmosphere.

Come for the practice, stay for the community. Si sabes, sabes!

Cupo para 15 niños, edades 3-5, padres y cuidadores. Niños con diferentes estilosy habilidades de aprendizajese reúnen en un ambienteseguro y con mucho apoyo. Niños que necesitan apoyosvisuales/de comunicación,una rutina más predecible omateriales adaptados debidoa una discapacidad motorason bienvenidos.Preinscríbase en [email protected]; podemosenviar materiales a casaantes de cada reunion

Limited to 15 children, ages 3-5, and their parents and caregivers. Kids with varying learning styles and abilities come together in a safe and supportive environment. Children who may need visual/communication supports, a more predictable routine, or adapted materials due to a motor impairment are welcome. Pre-register at [email protected]; we can send materials home ahead of time.

#worldlanguagestorytimes

Acclaimed Athens-based chamber ensemble Galan Trio visits Lewis & Clark College as part of their US tour for a performance on Friday, November 6, 2026 at 7:30pm in Agnes Flanagan Chapel.

How do you celebrate the birthday of Adolphe Sax? With plenty of saxophones, of course!

Join the PSU Saxophone Studio for a spirited evening honoring the saxophone’s inventor. Featuring a saxophone octet, two quartets and student soloists, this celebration explores a variety of musical styles—from the lyrical to the lively—with plenty of saxophone personality.

Bring your friends, bring your family and help us celebrate the man who started it all!

Learn more about Portland State University's bands.

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents “Back to the Movies” with live accompaniment to the 1926 high seas adventure film, “The Black Pirate,” starring Douglas Fairbanks. Performances are 7-9 p.m. Nov. 19 at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 N.W. 139th St., Vancouver, and 7-9 p.m. Nov. 20 at Joyce Garver Theater, 1500 N.E. Garfield St., Camas. Watch the film with a live score played by the orchestra’s chamber ensemble. Admission is $25. $10 student tickets are available at the door.

30 phút bao gồm những câu chuyện thích hợp với độ tuổi, những trò chơi ngón tay, và các hoạt động khác bằng cả tiếng Việt và tiếng Anh.

30 to 40 minutes of age-appropriate stories, fingerplays, and movement activities in both Vietnamese and English.

#worldlanguagestorytimes

The Camas Public Library hosts a monthly English Conversation Group on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 12:30-2 p.m. Attendees will practice speaking, listening and expressing one’s self confidently. Attendees will enhance their language skills in a supportive and engaging environment. For more details, visit CamasPL.org/TSITP.

ASL Game Night at Sign Language Cafe is always an evening of connection, fun, and inclusivity. Gather for an immersive experience that celebrates the Deaf and signing communities. This family-friendly event offers an array of card and board games, including options created by Deaf artists, providing a unique opportunity to explore creative contributions from within the community. Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite games to share, fostering a diverse and exciting environment.

The cafe setting provides an accessible and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for families and individuals alike to engage in spirited competition, learn new games, and make lasting connections. In addition, the Sign Language Cafe offers a space for Deaf and hearing individuals to communicate and collaborate seamlessly, supporting community bonds through shared interests.

Attending and participating in ASL Game Night, you’ll contribute to a culture of inclusivity and support both CymaSpace’s mission and the wider Deaf community. Join and connect over your favorite games, and help build a more inclusive Portland.

Andrea’s Spanish School will offer Online Spanish Conversation Classes, Levels I and II, from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays Oct. 21, 28, Nov. 4 and Nov. 11 via Zoom. Practice speaking Spanish with a native speaker in a small group of four to seven students. Sessions are built around real talk, not grammar drills. There is no homework and no tests. The cost is $25 per session. Sign up at learnspanishvancouver.com.

Portland Sage Singers are excited to light up your holiday season before the rush. With concerts at the end of November, we get to add Thanksgiving to the expected December holiday highlights. Gratitude will take center stage. This show has every ingredient needed to brighten your spirits. The 100+ member chorus will fill the stage with delight and palpable joy. It will be like putting on a well-worn robe with a brand-new pair of slippers. You’ll be warmed by familiar songs and wowed by the new ones. The chorus will be accompanied by the amazing Synergy String Quartet and our own Sage Ringers bell choir. As has become a calling card for Portland Sage Singers, the evening will be filled with surprises, humor, and some dancing. Help us turn the lights on for the entire holiday season.

McLoughlin Hall Classroom (M255) Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 12 – 1pm Spanish Club meets every Tuesday in McLoughlin M255 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Open to anyone interested in Spanish conversation about language and culture.

An evening of chamber music featuring Hamilton Cheifetz, Julia H. Lee, and guest artists performing works by Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann. This event supports PSU’s String Ensemble Community Outreach program, which arranges student performances at prisons and retirement communities.

This concert includes one intermission.

Hailing from Germany, the three Schumann brothers have been playing together since childhood. Together with their violist colleague they communicate with an openness and curiosity that has gained them a reputation as one of the most exciting string quartets performing today.

Program: Monday, November 9
WOLF Italian Serenade
MOZART Quartet in G Major, K. 73f
IVES Quartet No. 2
BRAHMS Quartet in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2

Program: Tuesday, November 10
HAYDN Quartet No. 67 in F Major, Op. 77, No. 2
Samuel BARBER Quartet in B minor, Op. 11
TCHAIKOVSKY Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit focm.org.

Ever wondered about the origin of the modern Norwegian language? Like most Scandinavian languages, it derives from Old Norse, and modern Icelandic is almost the same as Old Norse. The Old Norse Conversation Group practices speaking Icelandic and talks about culture, grammar and vocabulary, some history and current events. We are not a language class. We are more of a social gathering where Icelandic and Norwegian language origins are explored in an informal and entertaining setting. We meet every 4th Thursday of the month from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Norse Hall in the downstairs dining area. Anyone interested is welcome to join us. For more information and to join our email list, please contact Nord Njordur F. Winnan at [email protected].

One-year-olds (with a favorite adult) enjoy songs, movement activities, rhymes, books and playtime. This action-packed program engages new walkers in language-based activities. Attendance is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Multnomah County Library storytimes are supported by gifts made to The Library Foundation.

Free ESL classes. The level of the series is determined at the first class. No registration required. For more information, call 503.577.9984.

Browse more English learning classes. Hosted by Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette.

Portland Cantonese Play + Learnonce a month on saturdays | 10:00 am - 12:00 PM | free | SCHThe mission of Portland Cantonese Play + Learn is to connect Cantonese-speaking families by providing a nurturing environment where young children can develop strong language skills and deepen their connection to Cantonese culture. Through interactive language lessons, cultural activities, and community engagement, we empower families to celebrate and preserve their heritage while fostering bilingualism in the next generation.Join us for a once-a month gathering, complete with a language activity, storytime, crafts + open play!Dates:October 18November 22

Designed for adults with little to no prior knowledge of English. This class focuses on the English alphabet, basic phonics, numbers and survival vocabulary. Preparing students for Beginner ESL Class.
No class on September 16 or November 11.

The Pyxis Quartet’s Portland School III continues an ongoing conversation about what it means to compose from this place. Featuring works by Tomas Svoboda, Charles Rose, Nicole Buetti, and Jennifer Wright, the program also marks the premiere of Habitat, a new short film by animator Zak Margolis and composer Nancy Ives – the first chapter of House of Scordatura’s Animated Oregon anthology. An evening about Portland’s creative inheritance, and where it’s headed.

McLoughlin Hall Conference Room (M226) Thursday, November 12, 2026, 1 – 2:30pm French Club meets every Thursday from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm in McLoughlin M-226. Open to anyone interested in speaking French and discussing language and culture.

Join Adventures in Spanish in the Community Room on Wednesdays at 10:15 for stories, songs, and movement in both Spanish and English. Due to limited capacity, registration is encouraged for the 4-week session, and drop-ins will be admitted as space allows.18 seats available for children age 0-5. No storytime on Nov 25.

Join PSU professor and violinist Tomás Cotik and pianist Shinmyung Rho for an evening celebrating some of the most captivating works in the French violin repertoire. The program features the elegance and imagination of Claude Debussy’s Violin Sonata, the lyrical charm of Lili Boulanger’s Nocturne and Cortège, the expressive intensity of Francis Poulenc’s Violin Sonata, and two beloved works by Maurice Ravel: the Violin Sonata No. 2 and the dazzling virtuoso showpiece Tzigane. Spanning the late Romantic and early modern eras, these works reveal the remarkable palette of colors, textures, and emotions that characterizes French music, showcasing its refinement, imagination, and brilliance.

Learn more about Portland State University School of Music & Theater's Strings area.

Contact Erik Brakstad, (503) 449-0818 or [email protected]

Trẻ em từ 0-6 tuổi (đi kèm với người lớn) sẽ cùng nhau đọc sách, ca hát, và vui chơi với những hoạt động giúp các em phát triển kỹ năng ngôn ngữ và đọc viết.

Chỗ ngồi tham dự có giới hạn và sẵn sàng phục vụ trên cơ sở ưu tiên cho người đến trước.

Được thực hiện nhờ tài trợ gửi đến The Library Foundation.

Free citizenship classes provided by SOAR Immigration Legal Services. Classes are designed to prepare you for the US naturalization interview and exam. Study US history and civics lessons (128 questions on citizenship exam); improve your English speaking, listening, writing, and reading; practice for the naturalization interview; and review the N-400 application. Classes are taught in English, with resources in Spanish and other languages.

For proficient learners interested in advanced grammar and vocabulary in practical exercises.

An evening of chamber music featuring Hamilton Cheifetz, Julia H. Lee, and guest artists performing works by Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann. This event supports PSU’s String Ensemble Community Outreach program, which arranges student performances at prisons and retirement communities.

Contact Erik Brakstad (503) 449-0818 or [email protected]