Student Ambassadors

Anne Briggs

Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota

Program: 7-week Immersion

Current: University of Minnesota, Ethnomusicology

What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?

As a graduate student in Ethnomusicology studying lusophone music, I needed to quickly achieve a high level of language proficiency in order to conduct archival research in Portuguese. Middlebury came highly recommended to me as the best place to do that!  I was surprised at how quickly I became comfortable in communication solely in Portuguese!

Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?

Immediately after my 7-weeks in Middlebury, I traveled to Portugal to conduct fieldwork. The language and cultural competencies I acquired while in Vermont provided me with invaluable skills to navigate libraries, archives, and daily interactions almost exclusively in Portuguese. I went from basic language skills before the program to easily communicating with native speakers in a variety of settings while in Portugal.

What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the School of Portuguese?

7-weeks can seem like a daunting amount of time to immerse yourself in a new or unfamiliar language, but the program is designed to make sure you not only learn the language, but also enjoy yourself while you do it.

Madison Clark

Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama

Program: 7-week Immersion

Current: Associate Instructor, Survey of Black Culture in the United States, Indiana University 

What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?

I was surprised at how quickly I understood what was being spoken in Portuguese, despite my relatively little experience in the language! 

Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?

I first learned about Middlebury when a new colleague at school heard about my research interest in Brazil. He recommended that I look into applying to Middlebury after his great experience from the immersion program and imagined I would be a good fit. 

Please describe how your language skills improved due to your studies at Middlebury. 

Before Middlebury, I was very hesitant in speaking in Portuguese. Now, I find myself speaking with more confidence and with more ease, without having to take as many breaks and pauses to find the right words and without second guessing myself. I find myself taking the initiative in starting conversations with my Portuguese speaking friends, and I’m understanding movies and music more and more without the aid of Portuguese closed captions to keep up with the audio. 

Describe a typical day at Middlebury.

Normally, breakfast starts around 7am, and classes start around 8:30am. Lunch is near 1:30pm, and then an afternoon speaker and/class dialogue is around 5pm with dinner about 7:30pm or so. There are some scheduled activities depending on your interests, such as sports or poetry, or dancing, but you are free to study and schedule your study and homework when you aren’t required to attend your meals or lectures. Days can be pretty long, but it’s a good exhaustion when you lay in your bed at night. 

Kacie Gastanaga

Hometown: Fruitland, Idaho

Program: 7-week Immersion

Current: University of Kentucky, Hispanic Studies

What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?

I wanted to be able to communicate in a romance language that complemented my Spanish, and Portuguese and Brazilian culture fascinate me! I was very surprised by how much I learned in such a short time.

Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?

I went from novice to an intermediate high speaker of Portuguese in just seven weeks. I am continuing to practice Portuguese by consuming tons of media in Portuguese, reading, speaking with Brazilian friends, and keeping in touch with friends from Middlebury. I plan to continue to study Portuguese and hope to one day be able to teach Portuguese along with Spanish.

What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the School of Portuguese?

I do not think there could have been a better way for me to learn to speak Portuguese than Middlebury. I am constantly amazed when I think about how much I know about Brazilian culture, history and language, and that of the entire Lusophone world, during just one summer. I had a wonderful time at Middlebury and wish all language lovers had the experience to learn the Middlebury way.

Chelsea Maxwell

Hometown: Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Program: 7-week Immersion
Current: Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Computer Information Systems and Political Science

What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?

What surprised me the most about the Middlebury Language Schools was how helpful and open the professors and staff were. If I needed late-night homework help, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to talk to, there was always someone I could turn to. Everybody there was rooting for my success, and that support truly helped me in learning Portuguese.

Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?

At first, I chose Middlebury because I was told that if I wanted to improve my Portuguese skills, it was the place to be. After doing my own research, I discovered why Middlebury was, and still is, the place to be: because it works! I spoke with people who had done the program and read about their experiences, and everyone said the same thing: I came out knowing a lot more than I came in with. There was also the appeal of being fully immersed in the Portuguese language and being taught by people whose first language is Portuguese.

Please describe how your language skills improved due to your studies at Middlebury.

Before Middlebury, when people asked how well I knew Portuguese, I would always say I knew about as much as a toddler just beginning to learn how to read. During the program, my skills in reading, writing, and speaking improved tenfold. I won’t say I’m now perfectly fluent, but I can confidently hold a conversation and read a book. This fluency was accomplished through the immersive and rigorous learning environment which Middlebury provides.

What makes the Portuguese School a unique place to learn the language? 

The Portuguese School was a unique learning environment because of everyone’s commitment to the Portuguese language and the cultures attached to it. All of the students and professors were fully dedicated and wanted to get the most out of the experience. Every professor, whether they were your instructor or not, was there to help you, and if you were struggling or needed support, they gave their time and energy freely. The director of the Portuguese program would even reach out to check in on me, see if I needed help with my work, and encourage me to attend more events. Having such a diverse cohort, all committed to the language, also made it a welcoming and collaborative space where we could learn from one another.

Describe your typical day at Middlebury.

My typical day at Middlebury started around seven in the morning, as I fought off the grogginess from the previous day’s activities and hurried to get ready for breakfast. People always say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that’s especially true at Middlebury. Every meal was eaten together with the Portuguese School, and breakfast helped my brain switch from sleepy mode to learning mode, speaking and using Portuguese for everything. 

After breakfast came our first class: grammar. In grammar class, we learned new grammatical rules, vocabulary, and practiced listening and reading comprehension. Then we had a fifteen-minute break before our second class: cultural studies. Each week focused on a different topic related to Lusophone cultures around the world. Some memorable projects included creating our own Turma da Mônica characters and designing our own carnaval bloco, which we marched through the cafeteria while singing. 

After class, it was time for lunch, where everyone excitedly discussed what we had learned while trying to use our new language skills. 

Afterward came a small break, which I often spent enjoying Vermont’s gorgeous scenery. Then came the clubs. The Portuguese School offered so many clubs and opportunities to practice Portuguese, each one letting us build language skills and connect with our peers. I personally participated in the podcast club, reading club, cooking club, and theater club. 

Throughout the week, we also had special events: weekly lectures, movie nights, festivals, hangouts, art classes, performances, and more. After the day’s activities, I would sit down to work on my homework and eventually wind down to sleep, just to do it all over again the next day.

If you’ve had other language learning opportunities, how would you compare them to your experience at Middlebury?

Before Middlebury, I participated in another immersive Portuguese language program, the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These programs are similar in many ways, with the major difference being location. While I would never trade my time in Rio, I learned much more at Middlebury. CLS is a wonderful program, but not everyone followed the language pledge, and at times it felt like I wasn’t making real progress. At Middlebury, the language pledge was taken very seriously, and I could see my improvement every day. CLS was more of a “go out and explore” experience, while Middlebury focused on group activities and building a sense of community within the cohort.

What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the School of Portuguese?

The one piece of advice I would give is: even if you think you can’t do it, you can! I won’t sugarcoat it: this program is challenging, and you won’t breeze through it. But it’s worth it. The experience and knowledge you gain make every moment of hard work worthwhile.

How has Middlebury helped you other than with language acquisition?

When I first arrived at Middlebury, I thought I was just there to learn Portuguese, but I was completely wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I made amazing strides in my language skills, but I also grew personally. I built lifelong connections, both professional and personal, that will help me in my future career. Middlebury also helped me realize how much I’m capable of. Because of this experience, I know I can and will achieve my dream of becoming a lawyer for my tribe, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

What is a memory from the School of Portuguese you will not forget?

There are so many memories I’ll never forget. Sitting late at night on the front lawn with my entire cohort, talking and watching the stars. Teaching my classmates how to make fry bread during cooking class, while learning Indigenous recipes. Performing a play we had thrown together the night before and receiving a standing ovation. Sharing joy and laughter during meals, classes, or even in the dorm common room. This program was hard work, and there were moments I just wanted it to be over, but I gained so much. Sure, I left with stronger Portuguese skills, but more importantly, I left with unforgettable memories that I’ll carry with me forever.

Peter Simpson

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Program: 7-week Immersion

Current: Brown University, History (with a focus on Africa) and Africana Studies

Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?

I am interested in learning about how colonization impacted the education of students in primary and secondary schools in Angola. Gaining fluency in Portuguese is essential for me to conduct future research, and the Middlebury Portuguese School provided me with this opportunity. I was able to immerse myself in the language and make rapid gains in speaking and writing Portuguese.

Please describe how your language skills improved due to your studies at Middlebury.

I was surprised by my ability to see improvement and growth each week. Each time I listened into conversations or started conversations, I was able to go a bit farther, use more precise vocabulary and describe what I wanted to say more clearly.  Following the program, I was grateful by how much I could say and express and convey to others.

What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the School of Portuguese?

I highly recommend going to Middlebury even if you are a bit nervous. You will receive tremendous support and confidence from other student and faculty at your school.

Mary Sturgis

Hometown: Shreveport, Louisiana
Program: 7-week Immersion
Current: Georgetown University, Master of Science in Foreign Service

Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?

I had studied at the Middlebury French School in 2014 and knew that there was no better place to study a language. The immersion environment at Middlebury not only accelerates your language learning but also gives you the cultural competencies to use your skills confidently with native speakers long after the program ends. 

What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?

At about week three, I realized I was forming sentences and using vocabulary that I hadn’t studied from my textbook. Instead, I had absorbed what my peers were learning. Because of the immersion environment, I wasn’t limited to what my professor had taught me to say, but by how willing I was to take risks and try to imitate those around me. Now that I’ve left the Portuguese school, I find myself thinking “where did I learn that word?” or “I’m not sure why you say it that way, but I know it’s correct.” It’s an amazing feeling and speaks to the power of the Language Pledge to go beyond the classroom: it allows you to truly internalize the language.

Please describe how your language skills improved due to your studies at Middlebury.

I had never learned Portuguese before but knew that learning the language was the right next step for me, professionally and personally. When I decided it was time to learn Portuguese, I knew that I wanted a program that was tailored to the specific needs of Spanish speakers. I wasn’t disappointed! Over the course of the summer, I went from no Portuguese to Advanced-Low Portuguese in 7 weeks because of the dedication of my professors and peers in and outside of the classroom. As a student and future practitioner of International Relations, the diplomats, writers, and professionals who came to teach at Middlebury as guest professors were exceptional resources for me and allowed me to develop sector-specific vocabulary.

What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the School of Portuguese?

Be open to taking risks! Everyone at the language schools wants you to succeed. Lean into your limitations and push back when you think you can’t do something. Your brain is wired to communicate. Give it a chance to adapt to your new environment! Pretty soon, it’ll feel more like fun than hard work.