If your New Year’s resolutions include learning something new, here are two series of language classes in West Seattle – both starting soon – that might help you meet that goal:

“LEARN TO SPEAK OUR COUNTRY’S UNOFFICIAL SECOND LANGUAGE”: That’s how instructor Brenda Howald describes the Spanish classes she’ll be teaching starting January 4 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Her series runs Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-8 pm, through March 10. Depending on the sign-ups, she’s tentatively planning to offer beginning and “low intermediate” level classes, with both conversation and grammar. She’s taught Spanish privately in West Seattle and on Vashon, and to employees of the King County Library System; she also notes she has “taught English as a Second Language to students from all over the world.” Pre-registration is required, so if you’re interested, call her at 206-501-1971.

“THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY CHIEF SEATTLE”: That’s the phrase the Duwamish Longhouse uses in its class announcement to describe Lushootseed, which will be taught in a series of six Saturday sessions, every other week, 1-3 pm, starting January 9. The announcement explains, “Language is the gateway to the culture. Learn some of the sounds, words, simple sentences & phrases. The instructor is Michael C. Evans (didahalqid), and the class is limited to the first 20 who register. Lots more info here, along with the e-mail and phone contact information for registration.