Training the next generation of global leaders.
From Chicago to the world.
We need a new model of seminary.
Affordable. Ecclesial. Rigorous. City-focused.
How It Works
I.
We Need a New Beginning
Global City Seminary is a new concept in theological formation to fit the global urban age.
Everyone knows that the current seminary model is broken.
Brick and mortar.
Over-centralization.
Rising costs.
Impersonal delivery.
All these are shattering the old model.
The new model in some ways isn’t new.
It returns to the local church.
It leverages seasoned leaders.
It reduces costs.
It works in partnership.
It practices apprenticeship.
It accesses the city as a training ground and mission field.
The heart is the local church. The world is the passion.
About Us
I.
Our Team
Tai Schell
Spanish and Italian Tutor
Cantonese and French Tutor
Jamie KokotGerman and French Tutor
Founder, German Tutor
Emmett MarshDallas MorenoWe start with a conversation. Your goals, experience level, and pace shape the structure of your instruction. From the outset, you are immersed in the language as it is naturally spoken.
→ Book an Intro Call
Languages
Learn the language as its spoken.
Native-led language instruction focused on real dialect and rapid comprehension.
II.
GermanDon’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
FrenchDon’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
SpanishDon’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
ItalianDon’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
MandarinDon’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
CantoneseDon’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
JapaneseDon’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Student Reviews
“French had always felt academic to me — useful in theory, but difficult in practice. At Common Tongue, the shift to native-led conversation changed everything. My instructor focused on real phrasing, tone, and context, especially in professional settings.
Within a few months, I was contributing confidently in cross-border meetings instead of relying on prepared notes. The fluency feels natural now — not rehearsed. Common Tongue helped me move from studying the language to actually using it.”
“I stopped translating. I started contributing.”
Channing Lee
Writer
“I started with no background in Portugese. Within weeks of working with a native instructor, I was understanding patterns and responding without translating in my head. The focus on real dialect and natural conversation helped me stop translating in my head and start responding instinctively.”
“With Common Tongue, I went from zero to conversation in weeks.”
Eleanor Parks
Executive Chef
“I joined Common Tongue because I wanted to connect more deeply during my travels in China. What surprised me most was how quickly I began understanding the rhythm of spoken Mandarin. The immersion style made the language feel intuitive rather than overwhelming.
By the time I arrived, I wasn’t just ordering food — I was having conversations. Here, they teach you how to actually speak, and that makes all the difference.”
“Here they you how people actually speak, and that makes all the difference.”
Sophia L.
Creative Director
“I grew up hearing German at home but never felt confident speaking it myself. Mother Tongue helped me move from textbook German to real conversation.
Working with a native educator helped me understand not just vocabulary, but nuance — tone, expression, and the meaning behind certain phrases. It’s given me the confidence to participate in conversations with my family in a way I never could before.”
“Mother Tongue helped me move from textbook German to real conversation.
Reese Platt
Product Manager
Find your native voice.
Book a class with one of our expert tutors today.
For learners building conversational confidence and core comprehension. By the end of Foundation, learners develop confident conversational ability in everyday settings and improved real-time comprehension.
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12 private sessions (60 minutes each)
Recommended cadence: 1–2 sessions per week
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What’s Included
Personalized fluency assessment and learning roadmap
12 native-led immersive sessions
Focus on spoken dialect and foundational rhythm
Guided conversational practice from week one
Custom lesson summaries after each session
Direct educator messaging between sessions (light support)
For professionals, heritage learners, or serious students seeking natural, high-level fluency. Learners achieve fluid, natural communication with greater cultural accuracy, tonal control, and conversational confidence in dynamic settings.
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24 private sessions (60 minutes each)
Recommended cadence: 2 sessions per week
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What’s Included
Comprehensive fluency diagnostic and custom curriculum
24 native-led immersive sessions
Advanced dialect coaching and contextual phrasing
Business or cultural specialization (optional track)
Structured immersion exercises between sessions
Ongoing educator feedback and performance tracking
End-of-program fluency evaluation