Frequently Asked Questions

Is MMLA a school or a summer camp?

We are a summer camp in which most activities, events, and happenings occur in one of four target languages. Campers live in language-specific college dorms, take meals with their language groups, go on field trips, plan dances, create art, play sports, play music, sing and play and laugh—in the chosen language.

Mixed into each day is language instruction led by some of the word's best language teachers. Our curriculum is carefully designed by Middlebury College and the Monterey Institute of International Studies to integrate learning with opportunities to use what has been learned in each day's camp activity.

Who attends?

There is no single type of camper. MMLA is for campers entering grade 7 through grade 12 who are serious about improving their language skills. Some campers want to strengthen their current skills; others want to begin learning a new language before college.

Is it fun, or serious?

Both. We laugh, play flashlight tag, goof around, do silly walks, go on fieldtrips, play sports, create Inca masks, and challenge other language groups to scavenger hunts and more. Each day is filled with fun—fun that is carefully planned to maximize language learning by getting campers using language in real-life situations. We are serious about creating an environment in which learning a language becomes a natural part of camp life.

Do I need to be an "A" student to apply?

No, we are not necessarily seeking "A" students. We want campers who will make a sincere effort to learn language, while enjoying all the opportunities of a summer camp. We ask each applicant to supply the name of a teacher (not necessarily language) who will attest to the applicant's sincere desire and ability to learn.

Are all of your teachers native speakers?

No. Each year we hire teachers whose dynamic and creative teaching style complements our goal of creating a vibrant language learning community in a summer camp. Many of our teachers are native speakers, and all are fluent, but being a native speaker is not a requirement.

What languages and levels do you teach?

For 2008
Arabic: Levels 1&2 (Modern Standard Arabic)
Chinese: Levels 1&2 (Mandarin)
French: Levels 1,2,3,4
Spanish: Levels 1,2,3,4

Each level is roughly equivalent to a year in high school. Please contact us if your desired language is not included.

Will there be homework?

There will not be homework as there usually is with a school-year language course —i.e., worksheets, vocabulary lists, or dialogues to memorize. Nor will there be quizzes or chapter tests.

There will be projects that everyone is involved in, which provide student campers with opportunities to speak, write, and read their target language. Our curriculum is designed so that student campers can participate and reinforce their learning at their ability level. Projects will range from blogging (on an internal camp web site) to producing a weekly camp newsletter with photos, articles, and interviews, to creating an evening of authentic food and music in the target culture.

Think of MMLA as "real life" in another language. Your "homework" is using the language you are learning in everyday summer camp activity.

What will I learn? Will I skip a grade?

At whatever level you enter MMLA, from beginning to advanced, you will make substantial, measurable progress and vastly improve your language skill. In four weeks you will spend more hours learning and using the language—with skilled instructors and counselors—than in an entire school year.

Will I receive school credit?

No organization can give middle or high school credit except the student's current school. However, most schools know the high foreign language standards of Middlebury College and the Monterey Institute of International Studies and requests for credit and/or advanced standing are likely to be approved.

We give each student pre- and post-program evaluations of language ability, a certificate of completion, a summary of the MMLA language curriculum, faculty credentials, and a synopsis of both sponsoring organizations to facilitate school recognition of language study with Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy.

Are scholarships available?

Partial scholarships are available and are need-based. Click here to apply for financial aid.

Can I come a few days late; leave early?

Campers all begin together on June 28, 2008. We are building language community and it is important—for learning and friendship—that we all begin together. Campers may not begin late.

We strongly urge campers not to leave early. Each student is an essential part of the camp. We do occasionally make exceptions and, reluctantly, let campers leave early for legitimate reasons.

Will attending Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy help my chances of college admission?

We create the most vibrant and exciting language community possible so that our students become true global citizens, with tangible foreign language skills. We do not speculate on whether increased foreign language ability will affect an individual's college application process.