Applicants to the Japanese School are eligible to apply for the  Kathryn Davis Fellowships for Peace: Investing in the Study of Critical Languages. These fellowships cover the full cost of the program plus a stipend for program related expenses.

Welcome to the Japanese School

The long tradition of excellence in foreign language instruction at the Middlebury's Language Schools continues at the Japanese School where we provide a superb learning environment for serious students of Japanese at all levels. Our curriculum is challenging and very rewarding, and our student-to-teacher ratio is approximately 5:1.

We take the Language Pledge seriously and make sure it is reinforced throughout the session. However, the heart and soul of the Pledge lies within each student. It is a commitment that every student makes with himself or herself. Once each student engages the Pledge, they collectively create a very effective learning environment. I feel confident in saying that the amount of linguistic input that students receive over the nine weeks at Middlebury surpasses that of many language programs in Japan.

While a summer at the Japanese School can serve as excellent preparation for students who are planning to study abroad, it is also a superb environment for post-study-abroad students. It is often the case that those students get locked into a single type of speech (casual or formal). It is, however, necessary for adult speakers to be able to use different types/formalities of speech. At the Japanese School, native or near-native teachers of Japanese interact with our students. They constantly provide corrective feedback that helps students become educated adult speakers of the language.

In order to achieve the school's objectives we recruit instructors who have first-rate teaching credentials. They are well-versed in the latest developments in language-learning theories and pedagogy. They are eager to listen to their students and adjust their own teaching methods according to the needs of the class.

At the Japanese School, new and innovative ways of instruction are encouraged and regularly employed. A wide range of electronic tools, such as online dictionaries, is utilized to help students learn. Japanese TV is available 24-hours a day. New technologies, including multimedia and voice recognition, enhance the quality of instruction.

Throughout the nine weeks, various types of co-curricular activities are offered. Students engage in calligraphy, karaoke, film, outdoor activities, story telling, theatrical performances, and sports events. These activities are undertaken in the spirit of providing students with opportunities to practice their language skills.

We hope that you will seriously consider joining us at the Japanese School.

Kazumi Hatasa
Director, Japanese School, 2006