LEWISTON – Area residents are invited to learn more about other cultures and their languages through specially designed classes at Lewiston Adult Education this fall.

“American Sign Language I” will introduce the elements of basic signed English and American sign language. As students learn the language of signing, they will also learn about the deaf culture from instruction Erik Magnussen, a member of the deaf community. Class will begin Tuesday, Sept. 11, and run for 14 weeks.

“Conversational French” is designed for little or no knowledge of the language. Classes will focus on talking about families, food and travel. It is perfect for tourists or anyone with French-speaking friends. The classes will be taught by Claire Gamache and will begin Tuesday, Sept. 18, and run for 10 weeks.

“Introduction to Chinese” will be taught by Qingmei Zheng, a native of Fushun, China. Qing will share about her experiences living and working in China while giving an overview of the written and spoken language. The six-week introductory class will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

“Italian for Travelers” will focus on practical Italian phrases that might be needed by tourists and give people a taste of the Italian culture, customs and routines. Bernard Fortier will lead the class staring Monday, Sept. 10, for four weeks.

“Spanish for the Workplace” is designed for those who provide customer service or have business contact with Spanish-speaking clients. Jerryanne LaPierriere is a language instructor who will introduce participants to some key terms and phrases to help facilitate business interactions. The eight-week course will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Complete details, including times, fees and registration information, is available in the new program brochure, by calling Lewiston Adult Education at 795-4141 or online at www.lewistonadulted.org.