<p>I would love to hear from someone who has attended one of Middlebury's summer language schools. S is a freshman at another LAC, and is taking Arabic to fulfill his language requirement. He is considering a Middlebury 8 week intensive Arabic course this summer.</p>
<p>S. is assuming the credit would transfer to his school, allowing him to finish his language requirement sooner. He likes this idea because it would 1) Prepare him sooner for a semester or summer of studying abroad in an Arabic-speaking country and 2)Enable him to finish his language requirement this summer, freeing him up to take other courses he's interested in </p>
<p>If you have experience with one of Middlebury's intensive summer language schools, do you recommend them? Are they as good as, or better than, regular college language courses?</p>
<p>I was a student at the Middlebury Arabic Summer Language Program in 2009 and the short answer is-- I highly recommend it! </p>
<p>It is a supportive environment in which students literally speak, think, listen, live, breathe-- all in Arabic. The language pledge is strictly enforced and encourages students of all levels to flex their language muscles, gain confidence, and rapidly acquire new vocabulary. This type of immersion especially helps students who want to prepare for a study abroad experience. After Middlebury I traveled to Cairo, Egypt and living in the country and making friends was much easier for me because of my Arabic language knowledge.</p>
<p>The Middlebury summer is equivalent to 1 year of language courses. So if this student needs to fulfill those language requirements, this is the quickest way to do it. But it isn’t just the quantity of work, but the quality that makes the Middlebury summer program SO MUCH better than regular language courses. The professors are recruited from all over the world for their excellent teaching pedagogies and their job is to help students with Arabic 24/7. So it isn’t just the 7 hours of class each day, but during meals, breaks, even playing soccer-- you are constantly learning and can ask questions anytime.</p>
<p>But honestly, the program is just a lot of fun. The staff are super kind, funny, and ready to make the campus feel like a second home. This student will make close friendships, watch Arabic films, take up outdoor activities in the California sun, and just enjoy learning about the Arabic culture and everything it has to offer. </p>
<p>Happy to answer any more questions you may have-- good luck!</p>
<p>I studied at the Middlebury Arabic school in summer 2008, and found that it prepared me exceptionally well to study Arabic in the Middle East–above and beyond a regular college language course. The opportunity to learn from faculty from all over the Arab world and beyond not only in class but also during mealtimes, cultural activities and evening office hours gave me a boost in both proficiency and cultural knowledge. I became close to many faculty who were not even my classroom teachers and these bonds were highly motivating for the structured study. The school entails a heavy workload, but I found that the community of students, faculty and staff strongly supported me in these efforts. The strict language pledge in particular allowed me to practice what I had learned on a daily basis and also forged supportive bonds between students. </p>
<p>After Middlebury I studied in Cairo through the year-long fellowship program Center for Arabic Study Abroad, and found much more confident than I would otherwise have been. I visited faculty I knew from the Arabic school while in Egypt, and this too was a great help in feeling at home abroad.</p>
<p>I, too, attended the Middlebury Arabic School in 2009 as a second year student. Quite honestly, language school is the BEST program you could ever do to improve your language skills! It takes a lot of work from all parties involved: the dedication of the teachers, the individualization of curriculum, and your own commitment to the language pledge. If you are planning to attend Language School, then I suggest that you take the pledge very seriously, as it’s one of the few times you will truly be able to experience total immersion. The benefits of immersion are astounding- you go from stuttering through alif-ba the first week to have detailed conversations the next! </p>
<p>I also found that, along with the language pledge, summer school gave me the chance to focus solely on my Arabic. In the midst of balancing three other classes along with a language as difficult as Arabic, I had no time to really commit to Arabic the way I should have. Thus, while Arabic school was a challenge, it was the only thing I had to worry about for 8 weeks. It is unbelievable how much you can learn in such a short time under the right circumstances! </p>
<p>Another great thing about the program is that you will have access to native speakers from all over the Middle East. While you will learn Fusha (standard) in class, you are still given the opportunity to learn dialects either formally (depending upon your level) or informally through the teachers or older students. It is also helpful in that, while you are in a class with students at your same level, you constantly have the opportunity to speak with more advanced students, thus improving your vocabulary outside the structured class time. </p>
<p>A semester after Arabic School, I went to Alexandria, Egypt to study, and because my standard was so advanced, I was able to really enjoy learning Egyptian and focusing on the cultural sides of my experience. I was also able to meet up with some of my professors from the summer- it was like having an extended family! </p>
<p>I can’t recommend the Arabic School program enough! It was one of my favorite undergraduate experiences, and it especially helped with my ability to speak and write more fluently. A nice perk is that when you go back to “normal” Arabic classes, they are much, much more manageable. I really hope you consider the program- there’s nothing like it!</p>