Personal Enrichment   

This class is a continuation of "Beginning French Language and Culture 1." Whether you’re preparing for travel, interested in French culture, or simply looking to exercise your brain, this class will help you get started on your French language journey.This French for beginners class is designed for adult learners with little or no prior experience in French, as well as those who have studied French in the past and wish to refresh their skills.Through interactive lessons focused on pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and cultural immersion, students will begin to understand and communicate in French. Class activities include listening and speaking practice, short readings, and shadowing native speaker examples.

Required Book: Please puchase  French Workbook for Dummies 1st Edition by Laura K. Lawless

Age range: 16+

 In what could be the most enlightening webinar you’ve ever taken, our instructor and professional voice coach will show you how you can actually begin using your speaking voice for commercials, films, videos, and more. Most people go about it the wrong way. In this introductory class, you will learn about a unique, outside the box way to break into this creative, fulfilling, and potentially lucrative industry. Voice-overs can be managed on your own terms, on your own turf, in your own time, and with minimal overhead!  Age range: 18+

Want to level up your essay-writing skills for college? Join English Essay 101 Writing Camp with a professor from Las Positas College! This camp will walk you through the main types of college essays so you’ll feel confident and ready for your first college-level writing class. You’ll learn how to write summary/response essays, create strong thesis-driven essays, and tackle exploratory or research essays like a pro.

Age range: Those 14-18 and over are welcome!

This course is for learners who have completed Beginning Korean Language & Culture 4 or have a foundation in basic conversations. You will be introduced to the future tense and practice using honorific endings to speak politely in different situations. We will also learn practical language for shopping, including asking for prices and sizes. Culturally, you will explore how to buy things in Korea and learn common units of measurement. This course will help you expand both your language skills and cultural understanding in fun, everyday contexts!

Age range: Ages 17+

Required books: 

• Sogang Korean 1B Student's Book
• Sogang Korean 1B Workbook

Are you interested in taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), living or studying in Japan, or working in the animation and gaming industry? This class is for the academically inclined individual not afraid to take a deep dive into the complicated world of Japanese grammar, reading, and writing. We will cover both hiragana, katakana, and an introduction to Kanji. Let’s study Japanese!    

Instructor Belardino: The instructor is half Japanese, lived in Japan for almost twenty years, is credentialed, and is a certificated language teacher. She is also a member of the American Association of Teachers Japanese and the California Association of Japanese Language Teachers.    

Required Book: GENKI 1 Textbook and Workbook 3rd Edition 

The textbook introduces the Japanese language in a manner that is extremely easy to understand. If you have any sort of disability, please let the instructor know, and she will be more than happy to accommodate your needs.

Age range: 13+

Please note: This is a live remote class. You will meet on zoom during the scheduled days and times. The instructor will email the zoom link and important information before the first class meeting. Any sort of recording, either via Zoom or third party software, is strictly prohibited for this course. Thank you for your understanding. Her goal is to transform the “remote” environment into a safe, engaging, space where students can freely ask questions, and have an enjoyable learning experience. She does request that all students who sign up for her classes turn their cameras on to optimize the virtual learning experience.

This course invites youth 13+ to step into the world of Kickboxing and Muay Thai (Thai Kickboxing) Fundamentals—an empowering space to learn, grow, and train safely alongside an inclusive community. Not only will you leave this class with confidence having learned the basic techniques for striking (punching, kicking, knees, elbows), movement, and defensive maneuvers, it is also a fun introduction into combat sports and a great workout. You will learn the mechanics as well as advantages and disadvantages for a variety of striking from close, mid, and long range. You will also practice techniques on heavy bags and through partner drills, as well as improve balance and coordination. Sparring is optional but highly recommended. Any experience and fitness level welcome! You can pace yourself based on their your fitness level and comfortability. 

Materials provided or required: Loaner gloves and shin guards will be provided. You may provide your own gear if desired.

Location: This course is being held at Wu Xing Do Martial Arts & Fitness in Pleasanton.  

Age range: 13+

This course invites youth 13+ to step into the world of Kickboxing and Muay Thai (Thai Kickboxing) Fundamentals—an empowering space to learn, grow, and train safely alongside an inclusive community. Not only will you leave this class with confidence having learned the basic techniques for striking (punching, kicking, knees, elbows), movement, and defensive maneuvers, it is also a fun introduction into combat sports and a great workout. You will learn the mechanics as well as advantages and disadvantages for a variety of striking from close, mid, and long range. You will also practice techniques on heavy bags and through partner drills, as well as improve balance and coordination. Sparring is optional but highly recommended. Any experience and fitness level welcome! You can pace yourself based on their your fitness level and comfortability. 

Materials provided or required: Loaner gloves and shin guards will be provided. You may provide your own gear if desired.

Location: This course is being held at Wu Xing Do Martial Arts & Fitness in Pleasanton.  

Age range: 13+

This course invites anyone 13+ and their families to kickstart their fitness! Whether you join us to pursue your individual fitness journey or take this class as a family, this course is designed to help you identify your fitness goals and develop a plan of action. This class combines cardio, strength training, and mobility and welcomes all experience and fitness levels. Exercises can be customized to fit your unique goals. You will also receive support in developing a realistic plan for diet and movement outside of the class. Perfect for individuals----teens, adults, and seniors----and families that know they want to do something but not sure what to do. Get support in planning for and achieving your goals!

Location: This course is being held at Wu Xing Do Martial Arts & Fitness in Pleasanton.  

 Age range: 13+

In this multi-week workshop, you’ll explore the full journey of mural painting—from bold brainstorming and imaginative design to large-scale painting and final installation. Discover the fundamentals of compelling visual design and build real-world skills as you paint alongside experienced instructors. Let your creativity stretch across the wall!

 Each week, we will focus on a different aspect of creating a mural from start to finish:

• pursuing mural painting opportunities for publicly and privately owned spaces
• creating a strong, effective design with stakeholders in mind
• integrating the principles of design with thematic needs
• creating and revising designs with your client
• preparing the wall
• keeping the mural site clean
• transferring your design to the wall
• painting the mural itself
• photographing the mural
• clear coating the mural to protect from damage/degrading
• organizing a ribbon cutting we will join in on to celebrate our completed mural.

Materials included!

Location: The in-person portions of this course are held off-site at Casa Jam in Fremont, and the mural will be painted at KIPP King Collegiate in San Leandro.

About your instructors: Jared and Justin have 14 years of combined education and mural painting experience. They are local artists and co-owners of Cassa Jam, an art studio and store that focuses on building an art community in the Bay Area.

Age range: 14+

Parents are welcome to join their kids!

Attention Coaches, Instructors, and Athletes! Be prepared with sports-related CPR and First Aid skills!  This course can provide you with the vital knowledge you will need to respond with confidence when something goes awry on the field or in the gym. We will cover CPR basics, including how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for adult, child, and infant, care for a choking individual and use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED). In addition, students will learn how to recognize and treat sudden illness, wound care, treatment of anaphylactic shock (use of epi-pens), and how to respond to mechanical and head injuries. Students will be given the opportunity to work through specific scenarios and by the end of the course, should have a good understanding of basic level of care.  While similar to a standard CPR and First Aid course, this class focuses on situations and scenarios for sports and physical activities. Successful completion of this course will earn the student a nationally recognized BLS CPR Certificate and a First Aid Certificate. Whether you have no experience or just need a refresher, this class will work for you! This course is ideal for coaches, instructors, and anyone who participates in sports leagues or trains in martial arts.

By the end of this class, you will learn how to... 

• Assess situations to understand how to provide care
• Perform CPR with or without an AED
• Recognize and treat sudden injury or illness
• Care for Head Injuries and Mechanical Injuries

Age range: 12+

Attention Coaches, Instructors, and Athletes! Be prepared with sports-related CPR and First Aid skills!  This course can provide you with the vital knowledge you will need to respond with confidence when something goes awry on the field or in the gym. We will cover CPR basics, including how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for adult, child, and infant, care for a choking individual and use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED). In addition, students will learn how to recognize and treat sudden illness, wound care, treatment of anaphylactic shock (use of epi-pens), and how to respond to mechanical and head injuries. Students will be given the opportunity to work through specific scenarios and by the end of the course, should have a good understanding of basic level of care.  While similar to a standard CPR and First Aid course, this class focuses on situations and scenarios for sports and physical activities. Successful completion of this course will earn the student a nationally recognized BLS CPR Certificate and a First Aid Certificate. Whether you have no experience or just need a refresher, this class will work for you! This course is ideal for coaches, instructors, and anyone who participates in sports leagues or trains in martial arts.

By the end of this class, you will learn how to... 

• Assess situations to understand how to provide care
• Perform CPR with or without an AED
• Recognize and treat sudden injury or illness
• Care for Head Injuries and Mechanical Injuries

Age range: 12+

Discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of the East Bay Hills and Mount Diablo Range in this California Naturalist course. Through a blend of online classes with guest lectures, and in-person field trips, participants explore the region’s diverse habitats—from oak woodlands and chaparral to serpentine grasslands—while learning about its geology, ecology, and deep cultural significance to Indigenous peoples. Participants who complete the course are certified as UC California Naturalists and are eligible for 4 undergraduate units through UC Davis.   

Within the framework of the UC Environmental Stewards, this course combines science, service and place-based learning.

You will engage in:

• Science curriculum exploring the geology, soils, hydrology, vegetation communities and wildlife of the East Bay Hills and Mount Diablo;

• Field trips and hands-on investigation at local natural areas in the East Bay hills and Mount Diablo to directly observe and document ecological patterns;

• Guest lectures and community science projects that link you to ongoing conservation, restoration and citizen-science efforts in the region;

• Project-based learning that empowers you to design or participate in stewardship activities—whether monitoring a sensitive species, mapping habitat change, or assisting a local land-trust initiative.
   

By the end of the course, you will not only have gained a strong foundation in the natural history and ecology of this unique California landscape, but you will also be prepared to take an active role in natural resource conservation, education, and restoration.

Age range: 14+

Have you thought about watercolor painting but do not know where to start? This course if for beginners, or those who would like to refresh their basic watercolor skills. With the guidance of local artist Thomasin Dewhurst, you will practice the art of watercolor painting, the techniques, materials to use, composition, plus aspects of both realism and more expressive painting. Your instructor will include demonstration as you learn. Students completing this course will have the skills to better paint on their own, or even participate in more advanced workshops and art events, such as Paint Livermore.

Prerequisite: This course follows Watercolor for Beginners 1; students from this class or those with some drawing and painting experience are welcome. 

Materials: The materials fee of $10 includes all of the tools and supplies that you will need during the course. This is due to the instructor the first day of class. Cash or check only.

Age range: 16+