Culture Chameleon Language Institute
I started an LLC called Culture Chameleon Language Institute in 2021 because I saw a need for nonacademic language classes for adults who wanted to learn conversational French or Spanish. I designed curriculum for 60 hours of live virtual instruction for three different levels of French. My research-based curriculum was inspired by adult learning methodologies which I studied in my master's program at the University of Washington, nine years (at the time) of teaching experience, and my own language learning experiences. I hired a Puerto Rican Spanish teacher as an independent contractor and coached her as she developed a curriculum for Spanish. I had students from ages 22 to 76. I closed my business in 2023 as I had pivoted into corporate instructional design.
Branding
The name "Culture Chameleon Language Institute” was inspired by my cross cultural experiences growing up as an American in France and Germany, and living in Costa Rica and Mexico as an adult. A culture chameleon is someone who can easily adapt to a new culture.
I made the logo in Canva and chose a tropical color palette to represent cultural diversity. I wanted colors that were bright and fun. At the time, I did not know as much about 508 and WCAG compliant design as I do now. While I like the design, I regret not choosing a higher contrast color for the text in the logo.
Materials and Deliverables
I spent an average of ten hours developing materials per one hour of live instruction. This number is fairly high for education, but low for corporate instructional design. Materials for education are often a more simple design, made with tools that are cheap or free. I was designing and developing materials at a fast pace and would iterate on them each time I taught the class based on student feedback.
Each of my three courses had a syllabus, a new student survey, a final assessment (also used as a placement test for higher levels), and an end of course evaluation. The courses ran twice/week for ten weeks. Each week had:
A PowerPoint with the lesson.
Google slides with activities for the learners to do in pairs during breakout rooms.
A handout with the grammar lesson (in lieu of a textbook).
Vocabulary on Quizlet.
Assessments in Google forms.
Listening activities that I picked out from TV5 Monde.
Marketing and Business Operations
As a small business owner I was my own designer, website administrator, accountant, social media manager, and marketing specialist. I hosted my website on Squarespace where students could sign up for courses and pay through Stripe. I used Google Workspace and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to drive traffic to my website. I made reels on Instagram, ran a business page on Facebook, and ran ads on Meta. I used LegalZoom to stay on top of legal documents for my LLC. I used Intuit's Quickbooks for bookkeeping, sending invoices, and paying my independent contractor.
Testimonials
The best part of my business was seeing the impact it had on my students. I had all five star reviews on Google. All of my students improved their French speaking skills and spoke more confidently by the end of my classes. Several of my students became friends with each other and continued to practice French outside of class. Below are a few testimonials from my website and Google, both of which I deactivated when I closed my business.
“As a frequent traveler to France, I took this course because I wanted to expand my French language learning to include casual conversation as well as learn more about the culture of French speaking countries. I studied French in Junior High and High School, but that was more book learning with a focus on grammar. Every time I visited France, I had no problem reading menus and signs, but I always fumbled over my words when speaking and could never understand what a native speaker was saying to me!
This course did cover grammar, but it didn’t stop at that. We applied what we learned immediately through conversation, games, and Q & A. Elyse spoke French to us from day one, immersing us in the language. Being in a small group provided a very safe environment for fumbling to find the words as we we all practiced together. I gained confidence week by week and even though I am far from fluent, I am much more comfortable using what I know, making mistakes, and definitely have increased my level of understanding.
I recently had the opportunity to put my new learning to practical use while visiting Paris. I still fumbled to find the correct words, but thanks to this course, I felt so much more comfortable and was able to respond to impromptu questions with ease. My brother (who was there with me) was very impressed. He has limited understanding of French, but he noticed my confidence. That to me is the key for learning a language—use it with confidence—mistakes and all!”
-Sue
“This is a great course! Having married into a French family, I was looking for a French class that would teach me practical French to use in France, not just “book” language, without the pressure of a college course. I wanted something casual but that would also help me have disciplined structure to truly help me speak and write French. This class was perfect! It was packed with all the things I needed to learn like grammar, vocabulary, speaking and writing, but using colorful graphics, fun activities and games that made the class easy to engage in and learn from. The hour goes by quickly and there is a lot covered each class using a variety of resources and catering to various learning styles. My French has improved in such a short amount of time, and I have come away with so much more understanding of the language and ability to use it. I also enjoyed getting to know my classmates in this time and learning together. I’m looking forward to continuing onto the next level course! I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to learn or improve a language!”
-Serena
“I have been studying French for a couple years but have not had much opportunity to carry a conversation with other French speakers. I took this course in order to expand my French vocabulary and practice speaking in French. It was really fun to learn with a group of people who share my passion for studying language. The variety of activities gave me lots of experience on different topics and in different contexts. The organization of lessons into specific categories helped me study more efficiently. This course also connected me with a number of helpful resources to continue my learning in the future.”
-Nathan
“I decided to sign up for the class as a way to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone. I had never taken a French class and only traveled to Paris once before. The class was structured very well and easy to follow along. I have decided to plan another trip back to Paris and I can't wait to put the things I learned in the class to use first hand! Having a small class size really allowed us to get to know each other well and form a bond, sort of a small-knit French community and allowed partner exercises and practicing to be very valuable in my studies. I work a full time job, so the classes, twice a week for one hour via Zoom were very manageable with my busy day job. I enjoyed the class very much and would highly recommend it to any person who has no previous knowledge of French, or had it in the past and needs a refresher, or someone who just wants to expand their language skills and challenge the mind."
-Sarah