Claire Kenny earned her Master's in Italian at Middlebury Language Schools
Claire Kenny started as a level 3 Italian student in our 7-week Immersion Program, and went on to complete her Master’s in Italian with Middlebury, spending two 6-week summers in Vermont and an academic year in Florence, Italy.
Claire is from Haddonfield, New Jersey, and graduated from Smith College in 2023. In Summer 2022 she enrolled in the Language Schools 7-week immersion program, and she completed her Master’s in Italian with Language Schools Italian School in 2024. We recently sat down with Claire to learn more about her experience.
What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?
I was surprised by how warmly encouraging and kind the staff and professors were when helping us navigate this challenging language immersion experience. I was also surprised by the deepness of the friendships I made despite us all speaking something that wasn’t our first language.
Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?
I wanted to increase my verbal fluency in Italian and immerse myself in the Italian culture to build confidence for someday traveling to Italy. I was also attracted to the idea of learning within a social, collaborative community.
Please describe how your language skills improved due to your studies at Middlebury.
My Italian language skills skyrocketed at Middlebury in many respects. I became quicker in my speed of speaking, quicker and sharper with listening comprehension, and broader in my range of vocabulary. I became more calm and confident speaking in a language that was not my first language. I plan to work in diplomacy with the U.S. State Department in Italy as a Foreign Service Officer or Civil Service Officer working with the Italy base.
I also may like to become an Italian professor or Linguistics professor. I also am an opera singer and am hoping to perform in many Italian operas, so the program will help me with diction and stylistic techniques specific to Italian opera.
What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the Italian School?
La Scuola Italiana is a community full of warm, gregarious, kind, and highly intellectual people that bring you joy every day. You become more fluent in the language through interactions both inside and outside of class—an experience you cannot get an any other American university. It is both intellectually stimulating and socially fulfilling. Middlebury truly makes learning languages a fun, joyful, and deeply fulfilling experience.
My Italian language skills skyrocketed at Middlebury!
