Advice from Stéphane Chapman, 74-year-old Language Schools Student

What is the 7-week Immersion program like for the School of French?

Point blank, it’s hard! Every student I encountered, regardless of their level, stated that their courses were much harder than they imagined. Everyone!

Every student (over fifty students in several levels) I knew reported that by the end of their courses, they had earned high grades, and that their abilities in French had been catapulted to a much higher level. Everyone!

The big challenge is adjusting, and I think the “over 29” crowd has many concerns about being able to adjust to seven weeks of a very rigorous program. The adjustments really amount to a balancing ability–classes, homework, eating, relaxing, and sleeping.  

For mature students, many of us already possess amazing balancing skills–jobs, children, difficult people, money, housecleaning, nutrition, exercise, and rest.  Some of the inputs are different, but you have done every one of those needed to be a success at Middlebury before! Don’t worry, you will absolutely master this!

What is a course schedule like during the day?

For the French School, students at level 2.5 received four hours of instruction each day, Monday through Friday.  

The four hours consisted of two distinct classes of about two hours each, from 8 am until noon, with a break of about 20 minutes between classes.  Your classes may be in different buildings, which may require a short walk.  

Classes are very small – there were eight students in my level 2.5 classes, with two different instructors with distinctly different instruction methodologies. 

What are the classes like?

While my two courses overlapped in content considerably, each course will have a unique perspective from the individual instructor.  None of us were ever bored in any class.

• French grammar and language construction, but you were expecting that. If you are a native English speaker, the more you know about English grammar, the easier it will be to comprehend the comparisons and contrasts between the two languages. Every nook and cranny in your grey matter will explode with French grammar before the summer is over;
• Writing – at first small descriptive paragraphs, and later more developed reports.
• French culture, which will include exposure to many Francophone cultures, roughly in several categories:
  • Music and dance: instructors show videos of musicians and vocalists performing in French in all kinds of genres from classical to hip-hop, usually artists you have never heard of
  • Art: from Magritte to Manet, and everything in between
  • Social norms by geography
  • Food (ahhhh, yes!) and wine!
  • Radio, television, and printed materials
  • Philosophy, history, and ideology from Balzac and Camus to Le Pen
  • And yes, some French vocabulary and idiomatic expressions suitable only for friends or belligerents!

What are other course requirements like at the Middlebury Language Schools?

• Movies! Yes, the class may be required to spend a few evenings viewing French films. It’s a requirement, but what a fun one!
• Quizzes: expect an average of one a week for most classes. The quiz content is usually an accumulation of multiple days of instruction. Anything is fair game, but quizzes are reasonable;
• Exams: Yes, they are a challenge, but not as difficult as your 15-year-old. Remember that the Middlebury School of French adheres to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).  You can read about that here.

There is a Certificate in French Language Studies (Diplôme d’études en langue française– DELF) for adults which is an official diploma issued by the Ministry of National Education in France. Some instructors at Middlebury use retired DELF exams as primary exams within their courses. If you are not familiar with DELF exams, I would encourage you to spend some time learning about them. Just understanding the DELF exam construction before you arrive at Middlebury can be an enormous benefit! Though Middlebury does not award DELF diplomas, in level 2.5, we took three DELF sample exams, culminating in the DELF B1 exam.

What are some helpful things for me academically?

• The Language Pledge is really a strong tool for student progress. You’ll be amazed at how everyone loses all hesitancy in expressing themselves in French.
• You will receive a Middlebury email account (yourname@middlebury.edu) which you will use to communicate with other students, instructors, and staff at Middlebury.
• For any technical issues with your computing environment, and I mean personal equipment you bring to Middlebury, including your phone, Middlebury supports all students with a platoon of techie geek-heads located in the Main Library.  They are in their 20’s, but have been helping relatives since they were four.  Approachable, excellent, and free. Yes, they speak actual adult English.
• Printing. Yes, it may be suggested that you print certain writing assignments or course materials. You will have a printing “account” at Middlebury, related to your Student ID card. It will begin with some monetary balance, and be decremented every time you print something. Printers are located in many buildings and are activated by using your ID card.
• Librar(y)(ies)!  Oh yes! Unbelievably awesome, especially the Main one!
• Access to your instructors outside of class hours.  Each instructor will post a schedule of the hours of their individual availability when classes begin.
• Tutors are available by appointment, but are readily available for all students, should you need additional help.
• Textbooks: Once your French level is established, a list of your required course textbooks will be published on the Middlebury site about a month before classes start.  You can purchase them online or at the College bookstore. Purchasing them early can help you prepare before you arrive at Middlebury. Your placement level may change during the first week of classes, so you may want to ensure that any books you order ahead of the summer program are returnable! 

What are helpful things for students personally at Middlebury Language Schools?

• Counseling for immersion stress relief. Information about this resource is included in the Accepted Student Website we receive upon arrival. A lot of your stress will be completely eliminated when you see that all of us collaboratively pull one another along for this incredible life-changing journey.
• The French Administration. The Summer Immersion programs are clearly not the first rodeos for these folks.  You will see them in the dining halls, Proctor being the main one, on the sidewalks-to-everywhere, and in the assemblies during especially, school opening and closing activities. In a week they know all of our names. Gulp!
• THE MAP!! When you arrive and check-in, you will be given a large, printed map. This will show you where everything is from parking to dining halls
• And finally, my most important piece of advice: Do your laundry on Friday nights while the “kids” are playing volleyball! You’ll have the place to yourself, except for me.