Class action

WHEELY FUN Get cycle-savvy at West Town Bikes.

LANGUAGE
It’s not too late to learn a second tongue.

France on a dime
Pretend you’re in France without straying far from home. Alliance Français de Chicago allows you to pick and choose from classes in French cooking and lectures about French art, in addition to learning the language. Classes meet weekly for nine weeks or twice weekly for four and a half weeks. 810 N Dearborn (312-337-1070). $265 for members, $295 for nonmembers.

Olympic dreams
Take Olympics fever a step further and learn Chinese at the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute. Immerse yourself in traveler’s Chinese for the first six-week session, then graduate to the second session, where you’ll start conversational Chinese with character reading. 2145B S China Pl (312-842-1988). $150 per session.

From no se to comprendo
The nonprofit Instituto Cervantes specializes in teaching Spanish language and culture and offers classes to students ranging from beginners to those bordering on fluency. Class sizes max out at 14, and online-class options are available. 31 W Ohio (312-335-1996). $335–$423 per 30-hour session.

ARTS & CRAFTS
Channel your creative spirit with these hands-on workshops

Hidden gems
Instead of eyeing expensive, handcrafted baubles, learn how to make your own jewelry with wire technique and beadwork at Caravan Beads. 3361 N Lincoln Ave (773-248-9555). $25–$110.

Sew cool
Still haven’t learned how to hem a pair of pants? The Needle Shop gets you comfortable with a needle and thread. You’ll find workshops covering skills as basic as learning how to use a sewing machine, plus more complex classes in creating bags, purses, throw pillows and curtains. Or learn how to screen print your own unique graphic tees. 2054 W Charleston (info@theneedleshop.net, theneedleshop.net). $70–$100.

Picture perfect
Improve your point-and-shoot skills with the half-day Photo Excursion program through the International Center for Documentary Arts. You’ll learn how to capture frame-worthy photographs by practicing candid shots. 1303 W Chicago Ave (312-226-5902). $89.

SPORTS
You can only go so far on that treadmill. Get out of the gym.

Be-your-own bike mechanic
Between gas prices and snail-slow CTA routes, bikes are smart and speedy. From recognizing bike parts to simple cable adjustments, your ride will be road-ready thanks to West Town Bikes’ one-night bike-basics classes. 2418 W North Ave (312-343-9774). $10 suggested donation.

Swell time
Those folks paddling along in Lake Michigan aren’t crazy—they’re getting sunshine, exercise and beautiful views of the city’s skyline (all without paying for a yacht, suckas!). To join them, learn proper technique with Kayak Chicago’s introductory course. 1501 N Magnolia Ave (630-336-7245). $85.

FOOD AND WINE
If take-out is on your speed dial, try one of these sessions.

Becoming Iron Chef
A class at the Chopping Block is in order for all would-be cooks. The shop’s Building Block series serves up oodles of cooking basics and kitchen skills to adapt at home. 4747 N Lincoln Ave, 773-472-6700; or the Merchandise Mart Suite 107 (312-644-6360). $75.

Fire it up
While you have to trek out to the ’burbs for this class, you won’t mind once you taste the results. Master the art of grilling from an authority in this neck of the woods, Weber Grill. Its Schaumburg restaurant serves up a four part grilling series that demonstrates the basics to working with rubs and brines and grilling on the road. 1010 N Meacham Road, Schaumburg (847-413-1277, webergrillrestaurant.com). $75.

Cheers to you
So you can’t tell a merlot from a Malbec—no worries. The kind folks at Bin 36 lead a variety of classes that will get you comfy with different blends and regions, from newbies to advanced sessions. 339 N Dearborn (312-755-9463). $36 and up.

Find more learning options outside of the classroom at timeoutchicago.com/careerguide.

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