Beginning in February, the Libertyville Junior Woman's Club will be holding Spanish classes for children in kindergarten through fifth grade at Libertyville Civic Center.

The program, held Monday afternoons, is a result of the women's club’s quest to raise money for community events and offer affordable language programs to area children.

“I’m a big supporter of learning another language and learning it early,” said Lisa Roti, founder of the program and a member of Libertyville Junior Woman’s Club. “I want to do things with our club where we can generate money by offering a service to the community that we can sell instead of always asking our club members for money. And I thought this would be a good service.”

Roti says that she has looked into Spanish programs for her two children, ages 5 and 8, and was disappointed with the costs of the classes. For example, Language Stars, a national foreign-language program with locations in Libertyville, charges $176 per month, or $1,422 for an academic year if parents pre-pay. The club's classes cost $130 for a 13-week session beginning Feb. 6 and ending April 30.

“We’re hoping to get enough kids that we have enough to pay me an hourly rate, buy supplies, and then the remainder of the money will go towards the community events and programs that the LJWC runs or contributes to, like Libertyville Days,” said program teacher Jen Kallieris.

Kallieris is a veteran teacher who taught at Washington Elementary in Mundelein for seven years. Fluent in Spanish, Kallieris lived in Guadalajara, working at a dual-language school for three months while earning her degree in both teaching and Spanish.

“It’s the second most-spoken language in our country,” Kallieris said. “Learning it early gives them an advantage, because they learn it easier when they’re younger. It can help them if they travel. It’s good for cultural awareness. It will help them when they’re older with more job opportunities.”

Roti, a Copeland Manor School parent, believes that schools should offer Spanish classes starting in kindergarten. Libertyville Elementary School District 70’s foreign language programs begin in sixth grade. Other area districts, Roti pointed out, begin earlier. Rondout Schools, for example, have developed Spanish programs beginning in kindergarten.

“I’m hoping this will spark a dialogue with the district,” Roti said. “We live in a global world today, and whether our kids learn Spanish, French, or Italian, I think it’s important to know another language. As Americans, we fall short on that.”

Kallieris says they will evaluate the need for continuing classes or additional classes depending on the interest and needs of the students after the first session.

A free trial class will be held at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 30, followed by registration opportunities. To pre-register or to learn more, email Uno_Dos_Tres.2012@yahoo.com.