diff --git a/i18nilize/src/internationalize/localize.py b/i18nilize/src/internationalize/localize.py
index 7aca8ac..9d15a02 100644
--- a/i18nilize/src/internationalize/localize.py
+++ b/i18nilize/src/internationalize/localize.py
@@ -1,16 +1,28 @@
-from src.internationalize.helpers import get_json
-    
-# Input:
-#   - file_path: path of json file
-#   - language: chosen language to translate to
-#   - word: chosen word to translate
-# Output: translated word based on chosen language
-def get_translation(file_path, language, word):
-    data = get_json(file_path)
-    for translation in data["translations"]:
-        if translation["language"] == language:
-            new_word = translation.get(word)
-            if (new_word == None):
-                return f"'{word}' not found in {language}"
-            return new_word
-    return f"'{language}' not found"
\ No newline at end of file
+import json
+import os
+
+
+class Localize:
+    languages_dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), "languages")
+    translations_map = {}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def load_language(cls, language):
+        """
+        Load the translation file for a specific language if not already loaded.
+        """
+        if language not in cls.translations_map:
+            file_path = os.path.join(cls.languages_dir, f"{language}.json")
+            if os.path.exists(file_path):
+                with open(file_path, "r") as file:
+                    cls.translations_map[language] = json.load(file)
+            else:
+                raise FileNotFoundError(f"Translations for {language} not found.")
+
+    @classmethod
+    def translate(cls, word, language):
+        """
+        Get translation for a word in the specified language.
+        """
+        cls.load_language(language)
+        return cls.translations_map[language].get(word, f"Translation for {word} not found")
diff --git a/i18nilize/tests/test_localize.py b/i18nilize/tests/test_localize.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..557118d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/i18nilize/tests/test_localize.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+from src.internationalize.localize import Localize
+
+# to test:
+# in i18nilize directory, run python -m tests.test_localize
+
+class TestLocalize(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        Localize.translations_map = {}
+
+    @patch("os.path.exists")
+    def test_load_language_already_in_map(self, mock_path_exists):
+        Localize.translations_map["french"] = {"hello": "bonjour"}
+        Localize.load_language("french")
+
+        mock_path_exists.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_load_existing_language(self):
+        Localize.load_language("spanish")
+
+        self.assertIn("spanish", Localize.translations_map)
+        self.assertEqual(Localize.translations_map["spanish"], {"hello": "hola", "thanks": "gracias"})
+
+    def test_load_non_existing_language(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(FileNotFoundError) as context:
+            Localize.load_language("japanese")
+
+        self.assertEqual(str(context.exception), "Translations for japanese not found.")
+
+    def test_translate_valid(self):
+        self.assertEqual(Localize.translate("hello", "spanish"), "hola", "Translation error: is the translation missing from the language file?")
+        self.assertEqual(Localize.translate("thanks", "french"), "merci", "Translation error: is the translation missing from the language file?")
+
+    def test_translate_invalid(self):
+        self.assertEqual(Localize.translate("asdf", "spanish"), "Translation for asdf not found")
+
+    def test_translate_invalid_language(self):
+        self.assertRaises(FileNotFoundError, Localize.translate, "hello", "asdf")
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/i18nilize/tests/test_read_file.py b/i18nilize/tests/test_read_file.py
deleted file mode 100644
index cf03ad3..0000000
--- a/i18nilize/tests/test_read_file.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-import unittest
-from src.internationalize.localize import get_translation
-from src.internationalize.helpers import get_token
-
-# run tests using python -m tests.test_read_file at i18nilize directory level
-
-class TestLocalize(unittest.TestCase):
-    file_path = "tests/resources/basic.json"
-
-    def test_read_token(self):
-        expected_token = "85124f79-0829-4b80-8b5c-d52700d86e46"
-        self.assertEqual(get_token(self.file_path), expected_token)
-
-    def test_read_translations(self):
-        self.assertEqual(get_translation(self.file_path, "French", "hello"), "bonjour")
-        self.assertEqual(get_translation(self.file_path, "French", "No"), "Non")
-        self.assertEqual(get_translation(self.file_path, "French", "Why"), "pourquoi")
-        self.assertEqual(get_translation(self.file_path, "Spanish", "hello"), "Hola")
-
-    def test_read_bad_translations(self):
-        self.assertEqual(get_translation(self.file_path, "French", "bonjour"), "'bonjour' not found in French")
-        self.assertEqual(get_translation(self.file_path, "Frrench", "hello"), "'Frrench' not found")
-            
-
-
-if __name__ == '__main__':
-    unittest.main()
\ No newline at end of file