Student Ambassadors

Duncan Insuik

Hometown: Windor, Connecticut
Program: Master’s Summer Option
Current: Middle School Spanish Teacher, Kingswood Oxford School (West Hartford, CT)

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

I never expected to meet such amazing people, both faculty and students. I knew that Middlebury was an amazing place to improve your language skills, but I never foresaw the lifelong friendships I would create in this experience. It really drove home for me the power that language has to bring together people from different backgrounds and cultures.

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

I had a number of my own teachers throughout high school and college mention the Middlebury program and the amazing experiences they had in mastering their language. Their anecdotes were a huge factor in choosing Middlebury Language Schools.

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

I was always good at Spanish, but I never felt as though I was fluent. After leaving Middlebury, I firmly identify as bilingual because my experiences in the Language Schools forced me to navigate the language in a social way that I don’t always experience as a Spanish teacher. Especially as a teacher of younger levels, I don’t often get the chance to have full conversations in Spanish and Middlebury gave me the opportunity to learn how much fun it is to speak Spanish in a social setting.

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

I cannot reinforce enough the impact of the people I met throughout the program. Take advantage of the access to such incredibly talented professors from around the world. Work hard to make connections with your classmates and have fun with the language!

Javier Makepeace

Hometown: Bend, Oregon
Program: Master’s Summer Option
Current: World Language Teacher, Cascades Academy, Bend, Oregon

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

The amount that everyone came together. Grad students, 7 week students, teachers, and Middlebury employees alike bonded really quickly thanks to a robust, all-day programming schedule organized by the school. Depending on the day, I could be playing nine in the shadows of the Green Mountains at Middlebury’s historic Ralph Myhre Golf Course, attending a conference with a Spanish journalist reporting on the war in Ukraine, riding bikes around town on the TAM, or grabbing a pint at Dos Hermanos. Everything was always done in our target language thanks to a like minded and highly motivated student body.

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

I’ve always been curious and for years had wanted to continue my language studies. I’d known of Middlebury since undergrad due to its strong reputation and even driven through a couple of times and marveled at the beauty of summer in central Vermont. When I began my application, people in admissions immediately reached out and helped me over the finish line. The whole process felt like it was meant to be.

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

As someone who was raised in a bilingual family and had lived in Spain for a decade before coming to Middlebury, I wasn’t sure how to continue my journey with the language. The level of literary analysis and the attention to grammatical details in the graduate classes at Middlebury were able to reinvigorate my curiosity and make me feel like a 101 student again.

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

Do it! Don’t even think! For those of us who love languages and the power they have to connect people, Middlebury is the greatest gift you could ever give yourself.

Mark Viser

Hometown: Clinton, North Carolina

Program: Master’s Summer Option

Current: Spanish teacher, Christchurch School

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

I was surprised (and delighted!) by the level of enthusiasm most everyone had for the Language Pledge. It was nice being able to nerd out with so many like-minded people.

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

Middlebury is the gold standard for language learning, and I wanted the best experience.

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

It broke my brain in the best possible way. Each morning, my first thoughts were in Spanish. Each time I would see or hear English, my first instinct was to ignore or shy away. English felt very much off limits, and it took a few days to shake this feeling after leaving campus in August. 

Michael Shippie

Hometown: Boston, MA
Program: Spanish Graduate School, Summer Option - (Buenos Aires) 
Current: World Languages Teacher, Xaverian Brothers High School, Westwood, MA

What first made you interested in pursuing a Master’s in Spanish at Middlebury?

Being quarantined at home during the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging experience for all of us. We of course found ways to connect with friends and families in creative ways (read: many a Zoom gathering), but the experience of isolation during this time stirred up within me a desire for new opportunities, challenges, and adventures. As the world learned more about containing the spread of infection and communities began to open up again, I knew it was the perfect time to pursue a new opportunity. With the encouragement of friends and colleagues who had studied with Middlebury Language Schools in the past, I decided that progressing in my language skills would be my next adventure. In June 2021, I began the M.A. program in the School of Spanish at Middlebury Language Schools. I had heard and read about the celebrated reputation of Middlebury’s pedagogical approach to languages, and I knew I was in the best place possible to grow in my communicative competence in Spanish. I had previously received a B.A. in Hispanic Studies from Boston College, and continuing my language studies at Middlebury proved to be an excellent decision as a next step in my professional formation.

What will you do following graduation? / What are your future plans?

For the past few years, I have been a world languages teacher of both middle and high school. One of the best aspects of the Middlebury Language Schools is that it is entirely possible to study and pursue a graduate degree while continuing to work at the same time. Indeed, I have been fortunate to study alongside a great number of fellow educators, who like me, were working towards their M.A. or D.M.L. degrees at Middlebury. I received my M.A. in Spanish in August 2024, and I look forward to returning to the classroom to apply all of what I have learned over the past few years to my work as a teacher. Socrates wrote that education “is the kindling of a flame.” My hope is that, with the skills, tools, and knowledge I have acquired as a graduate student at Middlebury, I can help to kindle within my students a passion and desire to know more of the world around them through the study of new languages.

How did Middlebury impact your career/career path?

One of the first sensations I had upon arriving to Middlebury for my first summer was that I seemed to have almost all the Spanish-speaking world at my fingertips. The School of Spanish not only attracts students from across the nation but also passionate and dedicated educators from around the globe. I was able to study with and take classes from professors from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Peru, and many parts of the United States. Moreover, participating in the many co-curricular activities offered allowed me to get to know even more of the Spanish-speaking world, all from the peaceful comfort of Middlebury’s campus in Vermont. Not all graduate schools can boast such an international contingency of learners and educators – but I would argue that therein lies one of Middlebury’s greatest benefits.

How have the Middlebury Spanish MA program and your time in Buenos Aires shaped your career? 

While it is a pleasure to study in the peaceful and idyllic setting of Middlebury, Vermont, especially during the summertime, the School of Spanish also offers graduate students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a Spanish-speaking country. I elected to complete my final summer of the M.A. program studying with Middlebury professors on the campus of the Universidad Católica Argentina, in Buenos Aires. It was incredibly rewarding to immerse myself in a Spanish-speaking country about which I knew relatively little beforehand. Having the entire city of Buenos Aires at my fingertips, I was able to embrace Argentinian culture in incredibly meaningful and memorable ways. From exploring the city’s most famous historic sites, to indulging in some of Argentina’s rich cuisine (such as choripán or medialunas or fugazzeta), to taking in a tango show or experiencing Argentina’s exciting victory over Colombia in 2024’s Copa América from the Avenida 9 de Julio, experiencing culture became just as important as my coursework. We even had the opportunity to travel during the weekends. Some friends went as far as Ushuaia or Calafate in the south of Argentina to enjoy a bit of the Antarctic; others to Mendoza to experience the wine culture; I chose to travel to Iguazú in the northern province of Misiones to visit the famed Waterfalls of Iguazú, a wonder of the world that has long been on my bucket list. Studying with Middlebury’s School of Spanish in Buenos Aires made for some unforgettable adventures and enriching friendships with professors and classmates.

How much did your Spanish improve at Middlebury?

One of Middlebury Language School’s most distinctive features is the Language Pledge. At first daunting and challenging, it becomes for many the tool that permits students to make their immersion experience all the more profound. Using Spanish not only in the classroom but also at meals, while studying with friends, while exploring Middlebury’s surroundings and enjoying time with the Middlebury Language Schools community allowed me to maximize my use of Spanish both inside and outside of the classroom. More so, being able to build relationships with professors and educators from across the Spanish-speaking world through classes, co-curricular activities, and free time, provided me access and exposure to a wide variety of dialects of Spanish. The commitment to the Language Pledge is real, and the dedication of others helped to encourage me to stay committed to using and growing in my Spanish communicative skills.

What advice would you give someone who is considering attending one of our MA programs?

Take the leap! Middlebury’s storied history combined with its renowned academic experience make for an incredible experience for anyone interested in learning and progressing in another language. I first began uncommitted, unsure if I would do more than one summer. However, the rigor and quality of the academic experience, the richness of cultural opportunities provided throughout the summer, and the meaningful community of scholars and friends all focused on a common goal help to create an incredibly exciting, nourishing, and stimulating learning experience. I am grateful for the past several summers as a M.A. student in the Spanish School, as Middlebury allowed me to grow academically, professionally and personally. 

Patrick Sjoberg

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

Program: Master’s Abroad Option

Current: Spanish teacher, Lakeside School

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

I learned a lot from my professors but I also learned an incredible amount from the other students in the program, and I still keep in touch with them. It was really nice being part of a group of people with the same goal of improving their Spanish. I also think that being a part of the program has only increased my desire to continue my learning, and Middlebury gave me a lot of tools and resources to continue this endeavor.

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

I chose to study at Middlebury because of its reputation as a language school, the immersion aspect, and the ability to also study in Spain while pursuing my masters degree.

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

The immersion part of the program forced me to continue to learn about Spanish in all aspects of my life. I currently teach Spanish at a school in Seattle. In my personal life I use it with my friends, and I also enjoy listening to podcasts, reading, and watching tv in Spanish. Doing these things not only helps me continue to learn, but also allows me to bring real-world Spanish into the classroom.

Is there anything else that you would like to let a student know about your experience? 

The summer semesters are challenging because they are intense in terms of your daily time commitment. The year in Spain had a better pace for me personally as I got to involve myself in other extracurriculars because I had more time to do so. 

Describe a typical day at Middlebury.

At Middlebury, the days are very full - there are a ton of different activities to do outside of attending classes and studying. I attended class from 8-3, with a break for lunch and a break between morning classes. After class there were all sorts of opportunities for socializing and participating in activities like sports, choir, theatre, etc. A lot of the evening events were required for classes as well, so be prepared for full days.

What other language learning opportunities have you had?  How would you compare this experience to Middlebury?

First of all, the professors at Middlebury are incredibly talented and engaging. I have lived abroad a few different times and while I’ve always pushed myself to maintain immersion and live with native Spanish speakers, I feel like Middlebury really encouraged me to push myself outside of my comfort zone even more. While living in Spain I took up a new sport and I met a lot of people through my roommates.

Rana Mousa

Hometown: Beit Sahour, Bethlehem, Palestine
Program: Master’s Summer Option
Current: Freelance translator (Arabic-English-Spanish)

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

The wonderful atmosphere in the campus between students, teachers and staff. All interact together as a big family. Also, the very high profiles of the teachers. It´s a privilege to have highly qualified teachers from different countries in the same place.

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

Middlebury is a world known school for languages. I’ve studied various foreign languages so I thought it would be the place for me. Friends recommended it, and now I recommend it to others.

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

The daily interaction between students and teachers and the use of language in Middlebury helped me to improve my language skills as there is always space for discussions in class and for writing. At a certain point, it´s not only about grammar and vocabulary but also about the way you speak, the expressions you use and the different terminology used in Latin-American and Spain. I use Spanish everyday in my life.

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

Studying in Middlebury is a unique experience, very enriching and special.

Sofia Papa

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Program: Master’s Abroad Option

Current: Middlebury College Spanish Master’s in Madrid, Spain

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

The friendships and relationships I formed with classmates and professors as well as all the cultural co-curricular activities!

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

I was eager to step out of my comfort zone by participating in the Language Pledge and improving my language skills.

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

All around my written and verbal abilities have drastically improved by the constant practice and feedback, it has truly been the challenge I was searching for to take my Spanish skills to the next level. Currently, I am completing the Master’s program in Madrid, Spain and am excited to continue pursuing my passion!