<cal1>Languages
<cal2>Greenspring Village’s “English As a Second Language” (ESL) program provides instruction to assist employees who want to improve their language skills. ESL classes meet twice a week. Volunteers who wish to enroll are asked to pay a $20 registration fee to be refunded at the completion of the course. Follow-up ESL courses for students who wish to continue are now in the planning stage. Greenspring Village, developed and managed by Erickson Retirement Communities, is headquartered in Catonsville, Md. For more information, check out their Web site address: www.ericksonretirement.com.
Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes offered by Hogar Hispano of Catholic Charities at 24 locations in Northern Virginia begin registration in January. The cost is $40 per semester, textbook included. Call 703-534-9805 Ext. 222 or visit www.ccda.net for schedule.
<cal1>Dancing
<cal2>Israeli Dance Class. Tuesdays, 8-10 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. Beginners, intermediates and advanced. $5/session/JCCNV member; $6/non-member; $4/student or senior. Reservations not required. 301-982-0937.
Tap-dance lessons for Fairfax County Senior Citizens 55 and older will be held at Little River Glen Senior Center, Barker Court, located just off Route 236 and Olley Lane in Fairfax, on Wednesdays. Free. Call 703-370-1466.
Learn the Social Dances — ballroom, Latin, swing, night club, country western and polka — in Cy Richardson's group classes on Tuesday nights at the Oaks Community Center, 5708 Oak Leather Drive, Burke. Six-week sessions (8 hours) are $52 per person. Free make up class. Singles and couples welcome. The next session of Ballroom I and Latin Dances begins Jan. 6. Call Cy at 703-250-5360.
<cal1>Seniors
<cal2>Mature Operator's Driver Improvement Program (MOPDIP). This eight-hour class for Virginia residents 55 and older covers safe-driving information. The course is sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and is presented by certified Fairfax County Auxiliary Police officers. On completion of this course, drivers are eligible for the Virginia state mandated insurance premium reduction (check with individual insurance carriers for the amount). The classes take place the second Saturday of each month, except December. The next class will meet on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Franconia District Station located at 6121 Franconia Road. Subsequent seminars are scheduled for Feb. 14 and March 13, at the same time and location. Call 703-924-6588. The fee for this course is $10 per person for books and materials.
<cal1>Knitting/Crochet
<cal2>The Yarn Barn, located at 9413-C Old Burke Lake Road, is offering classes in knitting, crocheting and basket weaving. For more information contact Penny Sampson, at 703-978-2220 or 1-800-762-5274. The Web site is www.geocities.com/theyarnbarnonline.
$5 Project Help Workshops: Wednesday mornings, 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday evenings, 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday mornings, 8 to 10 a.m.
Beginning Knitting. Five lessons. Thursdays 6 - 8 p.m. $70 plus materials. Learn how to create knitted garments. Participants learn to cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, cable, bind off, pick up stitches for neck and seam pieces together. Dates: Jan. 8-Feb. 5
Beginning Crochet. Five lessons. Saturdays, 1-2 p.m. $70 plus materials. Learn crochet to embellish knitted garments or create crocheted items. Participants learn to chain, single crochet and double crochet as they crochet a granny square and a woven-effect scarf. Dates: Jan. 10-Feb. 7.
Triangle Adventure. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $45 plus materials. Learn to create a garment or afghan constructed with knitted triangle motifs, joined as they are knit. Prerequisite: beginning knitting or equivalent skills.
<cal1>BOATING
<cal2>Recreational Boating Safety. Learn the "rules of the road" for vessels on waterways, navigation techniques and more. Safe boating classes are offered by the Northern Virginia Sail and Power Squadron, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safe boating through education. Courses are conducted by certified Virginia State and United States Power Squadron. Visit www.usps.org/localusps/nva. Classes are offered on Monday, Feb. 23, at Robinson Secondary School, 5036 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, and Tuesday, April 27, at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. Register with the Fairfax County Park Authority at 703-222-4664. Materials are $39.