Second Language, LLC
Frequently Asked Questions

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1. How does it work?
You contact us, we ask you your first language, what you know of the desired language, the reason why you want to learn, what days and times you want lessons.
We select the instructor who we feel is most suitable for you, and who is available when you want lessons.
We arrange a no-obligation meeting of you, the instructor, and us.
The instructor evaluates your current level with the language.
You evaluate the instructor.
You and the instructor come to an agreement on methodology, dates, times, places.
If you decide to start taking lessons, you pay Second Language, LLC, by check or credit card.
We schedule the day and time of your first lesson.
You start learning to speak your language.

2. Je ne comprends pas l'anglais
Nous contacter.

3. Desgraciadamente, ¡no comprendo el inglès!
Contactenos.

4. Δε καταλαβένω αγγλικά!
Γράψετέ μας.

5. What are your prices?
Prices.

6. Are there any hidden costs?
No. There is no "enrollment fee", "registration fee", "signup fee", or "materials fee". There is no sales tax on language lessons.
Some courses require that you buy a book, generally costing about $25.

7. Can I just take one lesson and see how I like it?
No. Because it requires at least 2-3 months of solid effort before most people realize any progress in learning a language.
Our instructors would like to know that you are committed to learning the language.
It's hardly possible to know how well you will do after one hour.

8. Prices are going up all around me. I don't want to sign up because I'm afraid that you will raise prices when I want to sign up for my second 12 hours.
If you have taken lessons from us, you can re-enroll at the same price within a period of 6 months from the last date on which you took lessons from us.

9. How long is your one hour lesson?
60 minutes.

10. What's the schedule of classes?
For private instruction (one-on-one instruction), the schedule is what you, Second Language, and the instructor agree upon, the same time, the same day each week.

11. I don't see any price for the language that I'd like to learn.
Contact us here: Contact.

12. How do I pay?
Checks payable to Second Language, LLC.
Credit cards.

13. Why do I have to pay first?
Our prices are lower than those of other language schools, and we pay our instructors promptly. All other language schools require payment at the start.

14. I want to pay after each lesson.
We must have your payment by the start of your first lesson.
See question 13.

15. I want to wait until the end, then send a check.
See question 13.

16. Can I just buy 4 hours?
If you are going to leave the country in 4 days and don't have time, we will give you 4 hours of lessons. See Prices.

17. Can I get a refund?
For private instruction: if you cancel after paying, the fee for lessons that you have not taken is eligible for a refund, minus a $19 cancellation fee.
For group classes, there is a $14 cancellation fee for each student.
Unused lessons expire after one year.
Please note that other language schools do not give refunds, and they expire your hours if they are not taken in one year.

18. What is your policy regarding payments, cancellations, refunds?
See this page containing our full policy.

19. Where is your office?
Manchester/Vernon Location of Second Language, LLC.

20. How long will it take to learn a language?
It depends on,
- your ability. Have you learned other languages? Were they easy?
- How much effort are you willing to put into learning? Will you do homework, try to speak the language, read books on the language, listen to audios, and watch TV in the language?
- how different your first language is from the language you want to learn.
For an English speaker, this is a list of languages in roughly increasing order of difficulty (in our opinion):
Italian
Spanish
Portuguese
French
German
Latin
Greek
Polish
Russian
Chinese
Hungarian
Turkish
Japanese
- your motivation, your effort, if you try to hear, read and speak the language outside of class.

21. I need to learn Russian by next week so that I can give a presentation on nuclear physics. Can you help?
Surely, you jest!

21A. I'm a nurse. I know no Spanish. Will I be able to speak fluently with my patients after 12 hours of private lessons?
Hardly anyone will be able to speak any language fluently after 12 hours of instruction. We can not predict how well you will learn your language because we don't know if you will do homework, try to speak the language, read books on the language, listen to audios, watch TV in the language, and make learning the language your major preoccupation. (See question 20)

22. Why are prices higher in some parts of CT?
Because there are fewer instructors in some parts of CT or because an instructor would have to drive a longer distance.

23. I took lessons from you 5 months ago. I'd like to take some more lessons, but your prices have gone up.
If you have taken lessons from us, you can re-enroll at the same price within a period of 6 months from the last date on which you took lessons from us.

24. I have to work late tonite. My lesson is at 6 PM I can't make the lesson. I sent email at 4 PM. Why are you going to charge me for the hour?
Because you informed us too late. 24 hour notice is required, by phone, not by email.

25. The weatherperson is talking about a blizzard.
Contact your instructor and us and cancel. Listen to WTIC 1080 radio or watch WFSB Channel 3 News for cancellations.

26. Will I have to pay for the lesson that was cancelled because of the blizzard?
No, but contact your instructor and us and cancel early in the day. Instructors have been told to cancel when bad weather is expected.

27. Where do you hold classes?
Private one-on-one instruction, small group classes are normally held in Manchester/Vernon, but are sometimes held at the student's office, or may be occasionally be held at the instructor's office, a public library, or a coffee shop, if you and the instructor are in agreement on that.

28. I live in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Can you teach me English?
Reserve a flight into our airport: BDL (Bradley)
Choose one of the many hotels near Second Language, contact us to tell us when you will arrive, your hotel, and how long you will stay; we will create a program for you, for example: 3 hours each day, Monday - Friday.
You will need to pay your program in full before you begin.

29. I live in Ashtabula, Ohio. Can you teach me English?
See question 28.

30. I am coming for an all-day session. Do you have a cafeteria?
No, but we have a snack vending area, and there are several restaurants in the area:
- fast food restaurants very close by: Subway, D'Angelo's, McDonalds, Burger King.
- normal restaurants within 2 miles: Angellino's, 99, Rein's Deli Restaurant, Friendly's, Denny's, Elmo's.
Restaurants near Second Language.

31. I am coming for four weeks of intensive language lessons. Are there any hotels or motels nearby?
Yes. Quality Inn is very close, and there are other motels near Second Language.

32. I can't afford lessons. Do you have any suggestions?
Visit our other site. It's full of links to books, CD's, software and other sites that help you learn languages.
Check with the major international language schools and ask them their prices. (They don't post their prices, we do.) Then give us a call.
You can find many individuals who are willing to teach you privately at a greatly reduced rate. Try one or two, then give us a call.
Many towns offer "free" lessons in English as a Second Language. Taxpayers pay for these lessons.

33. I know Spanish. Will Italian be easy?
Yes.

34. I know Russian. Will Portuguese be easy?
Probably, because you had the motivation and determination to learn Russian, so you should have no trouble with Portuguese.

35. Do you have enough parking?
Yes.

36. Are you on a bus line?
Yes. Bus Line "84" (formerly the "Z" line): Hartford/Rockville. Bus stop right in front of the building. Get off at Quality Inn, Vernon. Bus Company: Schedules and maps. Scroll to 84 Tolland Street --Rockville.

37. When did the business start?
January 5, 2005.

38. When did you open your office in Newington?
January 1, 2006.

39. When did you open your office on the Manchester/Vernon line?
January 1, 2009.

40. When did you close your office in Newington?
December 31, 2008.

41. Where do the teachers come from?
Most were born in the country of their first language. Many have taught at language schools, many have CT certification. If an instructor was not born in the country whose language he/she is teaching, we tell you. We will gladly show you the instructor's resume, CV and/or biographical sketches.

42. The price is too high. Can you do better than that?
No. Two reasons:
1. Our prices are lower than those of other language schools.
2. Because our expenses and taxes are fixed and beyond our control.

43. Where are the course descriptions? We do not have course descriptions for private, one-on-one lessons because you and the instructor meet to decide on the subjects which you will learn and what books, if any, you will use. You and the instructor will decide whether to use a book as a basis of your course.

44. Can you guarantee that I will learn the language?
No. It depends on your ability, motivation and willingness to make the required effort. We guarantee that you will get effective instruction from excellent teachers.
Neither we nor the major international language schools guarantee the results of language lessons.
The outcome depends on many factors: learner's age, experience with other languages, closeness of first language to second language, motivation, effort, exposure to speakers of the language, exposure to radio, TV and newspapers in the language, willingness to study between lessons, learning style and basic ability.
I would be laughed at if I went into a dance studio and asked if they would guarantee that I would learn to Tango.

45. What does "LLC" mean?
Limited Liability Company. Registered with the State of Connecticut. Some have asked if it means "Likes Learning Chinese".

46. I got very confused while driving and trying to find addresses near you. Why is that?
Because the names of streets change without warning.
We are on RTs 30/83, Hartford Turnpike. However, 200 feet from us, (South of us) the street's name changes to Tolland Turnpike, because you have crossed the line into Manchester. Just to confuse matters, Tolland Turnpike turns to the left 0.9 mile from us, while the street you are on is renamed Deming St.
In the other direction, (North of us) RTs 30 and 83 end their marriage and RT 30 goes to the right, and keeps the name Hartford Turnpike, but RT 83 continues straight, and gets the name Talcottville Rd.
You won't have much time to look for street name signs anyway, because the split happens at the former Vernon Circle, a very busy intersection.
Don't trust any GPS that tells you to exit I-84 at exit 67. That will take you to Hartford Turnpike in Tolland, about 6 miles from us.

47. What languages do you speak?
The director does quite well in French, Spanish and Italian, and needs more practice with German and Greek.

48. Will you get a student visa (Form I-20) for me?
No. We do not help with student visas of any kind.

49. Do you give college credit for your courses?
No. We do not have an academic orientation. We do not give exams and grades. We teach to speak, read, write and understand, as requested by the student.

50. My GPS took me 6 miles away from your office. Why is that?
Because it is a mechanical device incapable of knowing if it is doing something stupid.
If your GPS takes you to I-84, exit 67, it's wrong.

51. I don't want to learn grammar. Can you just teach me conversation?
No. Speaking a language without grammar makes it sound ridiculous.
These are a example of english without corrects grammars. He is much distractive and noone won't understanding you.

52. Why is my teacher teaching me simple things first? I want to go right to the useful stuff
Because everyone must learn the simple things first. You have to start with words, like "cat," "dog," then move on to simple sentences such as "I see the dog." It will take some time before you can say things like "Hand me the scalpel. Making incision ... Performing craniotomy. Clamp that blood flow. "
Or
This is how you calculate trajectory for an object in elliptical orbit around a celestial body..."

53. I saw a book in a bookstore named "Speak Russian in 7 days." Will I speak Russian in 7 days with that book?
No. They should change the name of the book to "Say a few words in Russian in 7 days." There are laws about truth in labelling.