Green Mountain College, VT
Oberlin College, OH
Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Spanish
Laura Hook, student
Tucson, AZ
I remember going to France and hardly learning any French - because I had English whenever I needed it, really. This month was much better spent. My comprehension and speaking and auditory skills, listening, increased by light years. Just phenomenal leaps in progress. The teachers and the professors were really good! They were really strong, really patient, really helpful - and just really supportive.
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Why learn a language…when you can live it?
MMLA Director David Toomey:
“Kids are nervous about the Language Pledge, wondering if they can really use French all day long; if they know enough words; if they will make mistakes; if people will laugh at their accents.
"The amazing thing is that when everyone is learning, and making mistakes, they have a blast together—and learn a ton! It’s awesome to combine learning a language with summer camp. Just imagine playing inner-tube water polo and shouting to your teammates in another language. This is MMLA!”
The Language Pledge or The Middlebury Miracle?
Since 1915, the Middlebury Language Schools have led the world in language learning. Each summer, students who arrive with little or no command of a foreign language leave conversing confidently with each other in a second (or third) language.
Some call it total immersion. Others call it the Middlebury Method. It is the “Middlebury Miracle."
Miracles, especially miracles with language, don’t just happen.
At the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy, miracles occur as the result of using the language in an environment that is dedicated to success. From our fluent camp counselors, residential advisors, and top-notch instructors, to a carefully designed month-long schedule of activities and events, we create an unsurpassed and fun language learning environment.
Part of the Middlebury Miracle is our “Language Pledge” in which campers and counselors agree to use only the target language for most of the camp.
Of course, we implement the Pledge at a different pace for lower levels, we find ways to make the Pledge a camp-wide challenge, and the camp schedule builds in designated opportunities when the Pledge is relaxed. In all, we are serious about learning language, and the Pledge is an important part of our success, within a fun summer camp environment.
Of course, we always use English when camper well-being is involved.