Staff Spotlight: School of Japanese Bilingual Team 2025
Our bilingual assistants are indispensable to the success of the Middlebury Language Schools. Each summer, they plan and execute co-curricular activities and support our students, faculty, and staff. In this article, three of our bilingual assistants share about what they love most about working at the School of Japanese.
James Reardon
Years with the School of Japanese: 2
How did you first come to the School of Japanese?
I first came as a Level 4 student last year, in the summer of 2024.
What do you like most about working at the School of Japanese?
I love being able to interact with students and teachers alike. Additionally, this time as a staff member, also being able to interact with the great facilities and administrative folks compared to last year as a student. The School of Japanese certainly makes it a “homey” environment where everyone is really encouraged to build connections and bonds with each other.
What do you do during the academic year?
I work at a TV Advertising agency - Modus Direct - based out of Sarasota, Florida. It’s what I’ve been doing since graduating college in 2021 and I love it! It’s completely separate from anything language or Middlebury related, but that just makes me all the more excited to be here in the summer.
What is one of your favorite memories or events at the school?
As a student, I think one of my favorite events was a class debate. We were split into groups with our head teacher operating as the “judge,” and it was just a really fun experience, and a great way to really problem solve in Japanese. As a bilingual I really felt the faculty appreciation dinner we were invited to at the Atwater Dining Hall was a lovely experience, and a great time to really talk openly with everyone and just take a little break away from the main dorm experience.
What is your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot on campus is probably those little metal tables & chairs just outside of MiddExpress in front of the MCC. Very relaxing and nice and quiet at night.
Why should folks come to the School of Japanese to learn Japanese?
There is nowhere in the world where you will be able to get this level of feedback and time with world class teachers.
You can study a textbook anywhere, but being in a room with the author of your textbook, surrounded by the best teachers possible, supported by great and caring admin - that’s what makes Middlebury special.
What do you do for the school?
We do a little of a lot! We help out with a lot of the events, whether that’s getting the hose borrowed from facilities for class lunches, making sure there’s bingo cards for the welcome party, getting snacks for the karaoke party, etc. We are here to help and support the students and teachers to the best of our ability, and it isn’t always predictable as to what exactly that help is going to be.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Easily the chance to talk to people and learn from the teachers, students, and faculty alike. Everyone is here because they want to learn Japanese, and so I love getting the chance to hear areas of improvement or ideas on how we can just make this program even better than it already is.
Everyone has a voice here and I feel lucky that I get to listen in.
What have you learned from the students/the school?
One of the Japanese school’s mottos is “everyone is different everyone is good”, and I think that this program highlights that in a way nothing else could.
Everyone here has unique struggles, triumphs, and takeaways. Being able to see so many different people and how we all work together here is an unbelievable experience, and a reminder of how beautifully unique we all are as teachers, students, or bilinguals.
What do you hope the students take away from their summer at the School of Japanese?
Some sort of satisfaction. It doesn’t even have to be satisfaction with their language progress, but any sort of accomplishment or feeling of gaining something from this program. Whether they made a new lifelong friend, a connection with a teacher, great academic progress, or whatever. Something that means something to them and will stay with them when they think about their time at Middlebury.
What makes the School of Japanese so cool?
Personally I think the coolest thing about the school of the Japanese is our staff. It’s probably evident throughout my responses, but I genuinely believe the team that our principal and vice principals have curated is seriously the A Team of Japanese learning. No matter what kind of student or learner you are, there is a teacher here who fits your specific needs, and it makes for an experience unlike any other. The School of Japanese is cool because we have fun.
I really believe everyone finds some fun here whether that’s in sports, calligraphy, origami, speaking practice, class activities, etc. It’s cool because everyone has a place to be themselves.
Lily Harris
How did you first come to the school of Japanese?
The first time I came to Middlebury was last summer, where I attended as a student in level 4. At the time, I had just graduated from Elizabethtown college with a degree in Japanese and Fine Arts, but I still felt that I wanted to hone my speaking skills in the language even further. When I consulted my longtime Japanese professor, Dr. Takahashi, on what language school I should I apply to, he recommended Middlebury to me, as he has been teaching in the program for several summers. I absolutely loved the program and considered coming back as a bilingual assistant someday. Luckily, the timing lined up perfectly, and now I am here again for my second summer.
What do you like the most about working at the School of Japanese?
The people. When I attended the program as a student last year, I was able to meet and make friends from all over the U.S and abroad. Before coming here as a bilingual assistant, I was actually the most excited to see what kind of students would be coming to the school.
The opportunity to meet all kinds of people from various places, to be able to talk and live together for 8 weeks, is quite special and memorable for me.
Why should folks come to the School of Japanese to learn Japanese?
Language learning, of course, can be done in various ways and means, but I believe that all of the professors that come here are truly the best in their field, and work tirelessly to cultivate the student’s language growth.
That being said, there is not only just Middlebury, but there are other programs out there, too. So, I think the real ‘merit’ of this program is the connections and lasting relationships you can create with others. This is because everyone here is united by a single purpose of studying Japanese. Through that, you can really empathize and relate to each other, despite the drawback that might come with communication. Struggling alongside my classmates with the hardships that come along with language learning, especially in this rigorous environment, has led me to create unforgettable memories and lasting relationships. Even though the program itself is quite short in retrospect, the time at Middlebury is quite special. Time always seems to move a bit slower during the program, so the time I’ve spent with people I’ve just met a week ago, feels like I’ve known them for a month already.
Kiersten Zug
How many years have you spent with the School of Japanese?
4 years: 3 as a student, and 1 as a bilingual
I came as a student in 2015 (Level 2), 2016 (Level 3), and 2024 (Level 4). In 2025, I came as a bilingual.
How did you first come to the School of Japanese?
After graduating college, I wasn’t sure what my plan was, but I loved learning Japanese and my mom had heard about this program, so she encouraged me to apply, and I loved it.
What do you like most about working at the School of Japanese?
I love being in this atmosphere because I find my motivation to study Japanese naturally increases. Studying at home by myself is difficult because discipline comes and goes – but here, I am constantly inspired by students around me challenging and pushing themselves, and I think being in the same environment where I came here as a student also makes me want to work harder. I also value and enjoy the relationships I have built over the years with the teachers.
What is one of your favorite memories or events at the school?
I love Undokai - Sports Day. Students of different class levels are assigned a color to represent their team and are led by a couple teachers as team leaders. It’s so fun to see everyone come out of their shell and get really into the competition and team spirit. It’s also a great opportunity for students to bond with other levels and make connections they never otherwise would have. Last year it was cancelled due to the rain, so I was ecstatic when we were able to have it outside this year – we even had cool weather!
Why should folks come to the School of Japanese to learn Japanese?
It’s a unique, special place. If you want to lock in and study, this is the place to do it. I think it’s especially effective for those people of a shyer nature.
If you are afraid to make mistakes – if you find it difficult to say anything in a new language because you feel like it’s not going to be correct – this is the place for you. It’s a safe place to make mistakes, and this atmosphere helps you break free of that fear.
The School of Japanese offers an 8-week 12 credit immersion program for students ages 18-90+ and levels 1-4 as well as MA and MAT with Teaching Licensure programs.
Applications for summer 2026 open on November 3, 2025.
Gather your materials to apply here.
