Student Ambassadors
Speaking with a student ambassador is a great way to get a previous student’s perspective on the Language Schools experience.
If you would like to connect with a student ambassador to ask questions, please contact Mimi Clark, Chinese School Assistant Director, at mclark@middlebury.edu.
Anthony Macie
Hometown: Vernon, Vermont
Program: 8-week Immersion
Current: Tufts Fletcher School
What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?
How much you can learn in such a short period of time in the correct environment.
Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?
I was told Middlebury was the best for learning languages and it certainly did not disappoint!
Please describe how your language skills improved due to your studies at Middlebury.
I’ll be able to continue my learning in Chinese to develop relationships and support for my work in SE Asia.
What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the Chinese School?
It is challenging, but highly rewarding. It opened up a passion for learning languages I didn’t know that I had, so I will now be a lifelong learner of languages not stopping with Chinese.
Lucy Pappas
Hometown: Charlotte, Vermont
Program: 8-week Immersion
Current: Middlebury College, Chinese
What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?
I was surprised by the amount of individualized support and time professors provided for students. My professors were always accessible, and eager to spend time outside of class, and even outside of office hours, to support me.
Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?
I had heard from peers and professors that spending the summer at the Middlebury Chinese School would not only be a fantastic way to focus on and improve my Chinese skills, but also would be an amazing experience for meeting other people studying Chinese. I also learned about all the different ways I can use Chinese after graduation.
Please describe how your language skills improved due to your studies at Middlebury.
The 3rd level goes through two entire textbooks, so needless to say, my vocabulary and grammar patterns have both exponentially increased. Besides that, I am a more confident and fluent speaker, which were both my main focus and main challenge of the summer. I will be taking two upper level Chinese courses at college this semester, and I am preparing to go abroad in the spring. Having spent the summer at the Middlebury Language Schools, I can confidently say I feel very comfortable traveling on my own to China to begin my study abroad program.
What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the Chinese School?
This program is truly amazing and is the best way to really improve your language skills. However, it is also a program full of academic challenges, so as long as you are able to put 100% of your efforts into your summer studies, then you will get the most out of the program.