Language Schools Blog

People

Why Learn Chinese With Pen-Pen Chen

September 15, 2025

Why should ABCs (American Born Chinese) learn Chinese? 

In this talk, Dr. Pen-Pen Chen explores the question: Why should American Born Chinese (ABCs) learn Chinese? Drawing on her experiences as a bilingual speech-language pathologist, educator, and global trainer and advisor, she shares insights into how language connects identity, community, and opportunity. Dr. Chen highlights the cultural and professional advantages of learning Chinese in today’s world while reflecting on her own journey as a Chinese American. This engaging discussion offers both inspiration and practical reasons for embracing heritage language learning.

Testimonials

Meet 8-week Chinese Immersion Student: Mark Roose

September 8, 2025

For level-1 Chinese immersion student Mark Roose, our instructors’ personal investment in his success made all the difference. He went from never having studied Chinese, to being able to carry on full conversations by the end of the program.

In The News

German for Singers Program Featured on NPR

September 1, 2025

A unique summer language course in Vermont opens the door to opera singing in Germany. At Vermont’s famed Middlebury Language Schools, opera singers perfect their German.

People

Meet 8-week Japanese Immersion Student: Johnathan Vazquezcook

August 29, 2025

U.S. Marine Johnathan Vazquezcook, currently stationed in Okinawa Japan, can now hold a basic conversation in Japanese after attending our School of Japanese: Level 1. Our dedicated faculty and staff ensured he was never afraid to stumble and helped make every interaction feel meaningful. 

People

Staff Spotlight: Motoko Tabuse, Director, School of Japanese

August 25, 2025

Motoko Tabuse has been the Director of the School of Japanese since 2019. The School of Japanese includes our 8 week (12 credit) immersion program as well as two graduate programs: MAT with Teaching Licensure and Master of Arts in Japanese Language and Culture. 

People

Staff Spotlight: School of Japanese Bilingual Team 2025

August 20, 2025

Our bilingual assistants are indispensable to the success of our programs. Each summer, they plan and execute co-curricular activities and support our students, faculty, and staff. In this article, three of our bilingual assistants share about what they love most about working at the School of Japanese. 

People

How the Language Schools (Just like Scooby-Doo) Changed My Life

August 11, 2025

PhD student Shahriar Akhavan Tafti’s summer at our German School “rewired his brain,” and “changed his very being.” 

People

Meet 7-week German Immersion Student: Michelle Keefe

August 5, 2025

For Yale PhD student Michelle Keefe, who is typically very talkative, entering the German School at Level 1 was a daunting prospect. In the end, she was surprised to find that her impulse to communicate overrode her lack of language.

In The News

Language teachers build skills, earn license in new Middlebury program

August 1, 2025 | by Marin Howell

Middlebury Union High School 2017 alum Meigan Clark is back in town this summer taking part in the inaugural class of a new Master of Arts in Teaching program offered through the Middlebury Language Schools. The program offers participants a secondary teaching license in modern languages valid for teaching 7-12 grades in public school systems around the country.

Three-Time Alum Reflects on His Path to Middlebury Language Schools

July 28, 2025

For Mike Finn, “a fervent disciple of the Middlebury method,” one summer at the Language Schools turned into three.