We offer Spanish classes to teach you the fundamentals of Spanish conversation. Classes are highly conversational, dynamic and fun. Whether you are a total beginner or you want to get back into Spanish after taking a break, we have the classes for you!



“Virginia Talley is the best Spanish teacher EVER! You would think someone with a Ph.D in Spanish might make things complex or difficult to understand. She is the opposite. She makes everything fun, and brings it down to my exact level. And because she has taught hundreds of people she knows exactly what we are trying to say (no matter how ineloquently we sputter it out!). Her lessons are creative, fun, and engaging. She makes everyone feel safe to try . On top of her warm and inviting nature, her knowledge of Spanish language and culture world wide is astounding. What a fabulous learning experience!”

— Julie V., Durango, CO








My name is Virginia Talley and I am the founder of the Language House.

My first trip to Spain in 1997 completely changed my life. I was 19 years old and I had the good fortune of walking the medieval pilgrimage, El Camino de Santiago, across northern Spain with Sewanee’s summer study abroad program. From that point on, I was completely hooked on Spanish language and culture, and I could not wait to go back to Spain. I returned my junior year to live with a family in the Basque Country and to study in Sevilla.

I went on to complete my Master’s and Ph.D. in Spanish language, literature, and culture at the University of Virginia. My curiosity for learning more about other cultures led me to study and live in Southern France, Chile, and Argentina.

Following my passion for teaching, I spent four years as a Lecturer of Spanish at the University of Richmond, in Virginia, and seven years teaching middle school and high school at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, Texas. I taught at Austin Community College with high school and adult learners for two years before opening the Language House in 2019. My love of teaching, travel, and Spanish and Latin American culture has been a natural fit for leading numerous trips to Spain and Argentina over the past eleven years. Nowadays I am super excited to devote all of my time to teaching my students about Spanish language and culture!