<p>Hi;
I'm fortunate to have 2 HS children that are gifted at languages.
We're exploring the possibility of them pursuing Chinese and/or Arabic as part of their college experience, with the possibility of majoring in either.</p>
<p>Does anybody have any feedback on these concentrations at Middlebury?
Thanks;
Softball Dad</p>
<p>Middlebury is excellent in languages (as I'm sure you know if you're looking at Midd), and Midd does have Chinese and Arabic programs. Arabic is relatively new (I'm not 100 % sure that it's a major yet, but Chinese is). I know people who are pursuing both languages, and they all love it, even if it is challenging. We have houses for both Chinese and Arabic (the Arabic house is brand-new), where only those languages are spoken. If students are learning a language for the first time they are generally required to go to a language table for lunch a few times a week, during which lunch is served to them while they speak only the language they are studying. I'm told that starting a new language at Midd is intense (I didn't start a language at Midd, I just continued with French), as you'd have class every day and drills. We also have excellent study abroad opportunities that students are able to pursue.</p>
<p>I can speak for Chinese--I'm a Chinese major... Middlebury teaches Mandarin Chinese, and students learn both traditional and simplified characters. The program has existed since the '70s, and while it is one of the most difficult programs, it is certainly one of the strongest. It's intense, but rewarding, and the Chinese-speaking community becomes pretty close-knit. I took Chinese because I had some interest in it and it seemed like everyone at Midd took a language, so I went ahead and did it. The professors are great--friendly and helpful, they genuinely care about the students and their learning. The department may seem strict at times (strict policies about attendance, etc.), but it pays off in the students' success. There is a lot of work, but it's rarely 'busy work'--the professors spend just as much time grading it as students spend doing it. Middlebury, if you don't know, has a trimester system, with a 4-week term in January (j-term), where students only take one course. Chinese demands first year chinese students take j-term Chinese, and it's definately an 'experience'... 'Intense' doesn't describe it by half, but once again, it pays off.</p>
<p>Cotton;
Thank you for your extremely valuable information on the Middlebury Chinese program. </p>
<p>(I'm extremely impressed with all the feedback from the CollegeConfidential Forum!)</p>
<p>We're assuming it must be very difficult for a student who has no exposure to Mandarin Chinese to assilimate it, so it sounds like an "immersion" type of program is called for.
We'll be visiting Middlebury this fall and my aspiring students will hopefully be able to attend a few classes.
What classes would you recommend that an aspiring Chinese student visit?
Also, what professors or department heads would you recommend we talk with?</p>
<p>It's OK if you email or send a PM.
Thank you!</p>
<p>softball dad</p>
<p>I'm pretty certain Chinese 101 is one of the usual courses that prospectives are offered to sit in on--so that should do, hehe. Um, most of the professors are good to talk to. Carrie Reed is the current chair, but I think John Berninghausen, the co-founder of the department might actually be co-teaching first-year chinese this year, so he might be good to speak with as well...</p>
<p>Here's the site of the department at the Midd website with information about the professors, alumni, and all sorts of stuff:</p>
<p>about arabic: no, it is not a major yet, but when I interviewed at midd the woman i spoke to said it is in the process of being made a major (at the moment it is a heavy minor; nine courses), and should be a major by the time i graduate (i'll be a freshman this fall). i am planning on studying arabic in the fall, and have never studied it before. also, i am friends with a girl (who will also be attending midd in the fall) who lives in jordan. a graduate of middlebury who was an arabic minor visited amman and met up with her...her arabic was apparently quite impressive. </p>
<p>a word about the arabic professors: there are two professors listed, but in fact one of those professors is no longer working at midd (though he is still quite helpful! i mistakenly emailed him to find out what books i might need and he replied with all the necessary information). you should contact professor ghazi abu hakema. i think that's all-- good luck!</p>