The Haitian Creole Language Institute of New York

🌱 New to Kreyòl?

You’ve never studied Haitian Creole before, but you’re ready to start — whether it’s for travel, family, work, or just because you’ve always wanted to. Our Elementary track builds you up from zero, one real conversation at a time. You’ll be using Haitian Creole with confidence surrounded by an encouraging community!

→Start with Elementary Level I

🏡 Reconnecting with your roots?

You grew up hearing Kreyòl at home — from your parents, your grandparents, your community — but never quite learned to speak it yourself. Our Heritage Learners track meets you where you are, honoring what you already understand and helping you finally speak it with confidence.

→ Start with Kreyòl pou Dyaspora Level I

We can’t wait to have you join our community! In the meantime, check out these FAQs. These are some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive.

Commonly Asked Questions

Are you interested in a more self-paced study at the Kreyòl Institute? Check out our Kreyòl Language Partner Subscription Program! This is the perfect way to learning at a pace that works for you.

Kreyòl Language Partner Program

Ki sa k ap bouyi?

Beauty, Love, & Strength

Event flyer with a red watercolor background and gold rose line-art illustrations. Text reads: "Kreyòl Institute Presents. Haitian Spirituality Series. Beauty, Love & Strength with Mètrès Riva Précil. What the Èzili Cohort Can Teach Us. Thursday, August 6. 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST. Reserve Your Virtual Spot. Explore the Èzili cohort — their rituals, practices, teachings, and what they represent." A pink torn-paper strip runs along the bottom of the flyer.

Zodiac Signs in Kreyòl

Free Kreyòl Phrase Guide

Full-length Courses in Haitian Creole / Kreyòl Ayisyen

HCLI provides a structured environment that promotes disciplined learning, all while having fun and being in community with other Kreyòl language learners. Our courses are primarily synchronous and use research-backed & original materials that help students progress quickly in their language learning. At HCLI, we maintain a close cultural connection to Ayiti while engagin in #RevolutionaryTeaching techniques.

Culturally Relevant Programming

Our focus at HCLI is teaching Haitian Creole using a cultural lens. We provide our students with culturally relevant programming that allows them access to different aspects of Haitian culture – from music & dance to spirituality & food. HCLI programming is also often open to the public, giving students an opportunity to create even more connections to the Haitian community beyond the HCLI space.

Full Service Kreyòl Language Firm

HCLI is a full service language firm with over a decade of experience that offers a wide range of services such as translation, legal interpretation, dialect coaching, voiceovers, cultural training workshops, and more. We pride ourselves on providing native-level work while keeping updated with changes in the Kreyòl language as it evolves daily. Our focus is entirely on Kreyòl Ayisyen.

Focus on Heritage Learners / Dyaspora Ayisyen

While HCLI has something for anyone who is looking to learn Haitian Creole, we pride ourselves on providing space dedicated to Heritage Learners of Haitian Creole. This is a space created particularly with the Haitian Diaspora in mind. We know the importance of being part of a community with others who have gone through a similar experience and we honor how that helps folks on their language learning journey.

We can’t wait to have you join our community! In the meantime, check out these FAQs. These are some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive.

Commonly Asked Questions

Learn Kreyòl in a supportive space, with a research backed curriculum that contains original content, and with options that give you access to a whole community of Kreyòl language learners! Join the HCLI community now. Isn’t it about time you knew how to say more than “sa k pase”??

Do you want to keep up with what’s happening at the Kreyòl Institute? Sign up for our mailing list now to get regular updates on our classes, programming, events, and more!

Mailing list sign up

Meet the HCLI Team: Kiyès nou ye?

Learn Kreyòl in a supportive space, with a research backed curriculum that contains original content, and with options that give you access to a whole community of Kreyòl language learners! Join the HCLI community now. Isn’t it about time you knew how to say more than “sa k pase”??

Some Quick Facts About Ayiti!

# Akademisyen ki genyen nan Akademi Kreyòl la

# of letters in the Kreyòl Alphabet

# of people who speak Kreyòl worldwide (in the millions)

# of years Ayiti has been independent

We can’t wait to have you join our community! In the meantime, check out these FAQs. These are some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive.

Commonly Asked Questions

Ban m zòrèy nou!

Learn Kreyòl in a supportive space, with a research backed curriculum that contains original content, and with options that give you access to a whole community of Kreyòl language learners! Join the HCLI community now. Isn’t it about time you knew how to say more than “sa k pase”??

🌱 New to Kreyòl?

🏡 Reconnecting with your roots?

We can’t wait to have you join our community! In the meantime, check out these FAQs. These are some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive.

Are you interested in a more self-paced study at the Kreyòl Institute? Check out our Kreyòl Language Partner Subscription Program! This is the perfect way to learning at a pace that works for you.

Beauty, Love, & Strength

Zodiac Signs in Kreyòl

Free Kreyòl Phrase Guide

Full-length Courses in Haitian Creole / Kreyòl Ayisyen

Culturally Relevant Programming

Full Service Kreyòl Language Firm

Focus on Heritage Learners / Dyaspora Ayisyen

We can’t wait to have you join our community! In the meantime, check out these FAQs. These are some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive.

Learn Kreyòl in a supportive space, with a research backed curriculum that contains original content, and with options that give you access to a whole community of Kreyòl language learners! Join the HCLI community now. Isn’t it about time you knew how to say more than “sa k pase”??

Do you want to keep up with what’s happening at the Kreyòl Institute? Sign up for our mailing list now to get regular updates on our classes, programming, events, and more!

Meet the HCLI Team: Kiyès nou ye?

Briana Philemy

Wynnie Lamour-Quansah

Glenda Lezeau

Darnelle Champagne

Nerlande Pierre-Louis

Learn Kreyòl in a supportive space, with a research backed curriculum that contains original content, and with options that give you access to a whole community of Kreyòl language learners! Join the HCLI community now. Isn’t it about time you knew how to say more than “sa k pase”??

Some Quick Facts About Ayiti!

# Akademisyen ki genyen nan Akademi Kreyòl la

# of letters in the Kreyòl Alphabet

# of people who speak Kreyòl worldwide (in the millions)

# of years Ayiti has been independent

We can’t wait to have you join our community! In the meantime, check out these FAQs. These are some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive.

Ban m zòrèy nou!

Learn Kreyòl in a supportive space, with a research backed curriculum that contains original content, and with options that give you access to a whole community of Kreyòl language learners! Join the HCLI community now. Isn’t it about time you knew how to say more than “sa k pase”??