Language Schools Frequently Asked Questions
Middlebury College was founded in 1800. The first summer Language School, the German School, was founded in 1915.
Our languages are: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
The Language Schools enroll about 1,300 students and employ about 220 faculty members. The student/faculty ratio is about 6:1.
Language Schools' faculty members in the Language Schools are language teachers, linguists, artists, musicians, and other skilled professionals from more than 30 countries.
Our students are undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to teachers, journalists, government employees, and people from all walks of life.
Tuition, room, and board range from around $6,200 for the six-week session to $8,400 for the nine-week session.
Click here for a complete fee schedule.
In the summer of 2007, 49 percent of Language Schools students received financial aid. The college awards over $2.6 million each year in grants to students in summer and graduate study-abroad programs.
Language Schools Frequently Asked Questions
1:
What level of proficiency will I achieve after one summer session?
A:
A summer language session is equivalent to roughly one academic year of language study. A summer at the graduate level is equivalent to roughly one semester of graduate study.
2:
Is financial aid offered? If so, what kind of aid and who receives it?
A:
Financial aid is offered and it is determined by financial need. Financial aid is given in the form of grants and/or loans. Approximately one third of the students enrolled in the Language Schools each summer qualify for a grant. All students (and not just those matriculated at Middlebury College) are eligible to apply for financial aid. The Language Schools do not offer work-study programs. To see a financial aid application, go to the
applications page.
3:
What is the application deadline?
A:
The Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish Schools have application deadlines for the summer of 2008. Please visit the application page for the School specific deadlines. In the other Schools we admit students on a rolling basis and generally begin accepting students in the late fall. It is advantageous, however, to apply well in advance of the summer session because many qualified students apply each year and the Language Schools do "fill up" by late winter or early spring.
4:
What are my career possibilities after attending the Language Schools?
A:
Our Career Services Office will work with you to determine what career opportunities exist for the language you intend to study. Common opportunities are in the areas of government, academia, international business, law, or journalism.
5:
Do you offer short-term programs?
A:
In most cases, no. Some three-week courses at the graduate-level only are offered in Japanese, Italian, and German. Other Schools will, on occasion, offer three-week courses. Please check with the School of your interest to see if short-term courses will be offered this year.
6:
What kind of food is served? Are special diets accommodated?
A:
The food is very similar to food at any college or university. Our chefs do their best to provide well-balanced meals that also taste good. We also offer a salad bar and vegetarian entree at every meal. Because of the constraints of an institutional food service system, we are not able to accommodate special meal requests.
7:
What is the average age of the students, and what type of students attend the Language Schools?
A:
Our students vary in age from 18 to 75, with the average age being in the mid- to late-twenties. Because we offer Masters and Doctorate of Modern Languages degrees, we have a number of students who are above the typical college age. Our students are a mix of traditional and non-traditional students, which adds to the diversity of the Language Schools. Students come from almost all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and as many as 30 foreign countries.
8:
Can I work while I attend the program?
A:
Because of the Language Pledge, outside work during the summer session is not possible.
9:
May I bring my child/spouse/partner?
A:
No, the Language Schools do not have facilities to accommodate spouses or dependents. Dorms are not set up to accommodate families, and, because of the Language Pledge, non-language speakers are not allowed to live in the dorms.
10:
May I live off-campus?
A:
No, as part of the language immersion, all students are required to live on campus.
11:
Do you offer programs for children and/or high school students?
A:
Yes we do. Middlebury is pleased to announce the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy (MMLA). MMLA is a four week language camp modeled after the Middlebury Language Schools. We offer a four-week session at three different sites in Arabic, Chinese, French, and Spanish. For more information please contact MMLA at 802-296-2459 or visit
www.mmla.middlebury.edu
12:
Are single rooms available?
A:
Single rooms are sometimes available. You need to make a special request and demonstrate need for a single room.
13:
How can I request an official Transcript?
A: