<p>When I was at the campus just a few days ago, the tour guides that took us around the campus were telling us a little about the Language House, but I still have a few questions for anyone attending UMD who might know something about this.</p>
<p>Are freshmen allowed to stay here? Is it difficult to get in due to space available? Must one be majoring in a language for acceptance here?</p>
<p>Here’s a link to the website. The application/admission tab has the specifics. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.languages.umd.edu/lh/[/url]”>http://www.languages.umd.edu/lh/</a></p>
<p>It is open to 2nd semester freshmen ( very tough to get into freshman year…few openings come up mid-year) and above. You do not have to be a language major, but you have to be enrolled in classes for the language cluster you are living in, and have to be willing and able to converse approx 80% of the time in that language while you are home. </p>
<p>Process of getting in is applying (and GPA is important, as the director always likes to boast about the overall GPA of everyone that lives there). You would most likely have a language proficiency interview (which takes place in the language you want to live in). This is either with the director of the language house or a faculty member (depending on the language it is). If you “pass” that, you have a more traditional interview (in English). They are looking for people who are passionate about being in a language immersion program, and who plan to be very active in the various activities and interact well with the others who live there, including a lot of cross-culture activities within the entire Language House. Site has pics from some of the programs they do to give you an idea.</p>
<p>The apartments within the Language House (St. Mary’s) are really nice, and are either all female or all male, but of course you interact with your entire cluster (in your language) the most. I believe that at least Spanish and French are the most popular languages, and therefore have the most competition getting into. If you do not participate, or don’t make an effort with the language, you can be dismissed from living there btw. If you are very active while there, it is possible to live there all 4 years, which is sweet. (Can’t beat the location). It’s certainly not for everyone, but if you’re really interested in languages, it is great.</p>
<p>[The</a> Language House Website](<a href=“http://www.languages.umd.edu/lh/]The”>http://www.languages.umd.edu/lh/)</p>