Studying Languages/Linguistics at Middlebury

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

Hi my D23 is getting an early start on her College search. She is looking at Liberal Arts Colleges and she is very interested in Languages.

By the time she graduates in two years she will have taken the following classes in High School:

Spanish 5 (AP)
Latin 4 (AP)
French 3
German 3
Greek 1

She will have gotten to the following levels in these additional languages through self-study:

Italian (Near fluency)
Korean (Intermediate)
Vietnamese (Intermediate)

My assumption is that Middlebury will be a really good match for her. I know Middlebury has a world renowned study abroad program and also has a world renowned summer program. What we don’t know is what is it like to study languages or something related as a full time student in residence.

D23 is not interested in majoring in a specific language. Rather she is interested in something “larger”…like Linguistics or possibly something like Midd’s Global Studies Program. Her other interest right now is Classics (more interested in the language than the culture but likes both).

I know Wellesley and Swarthmore have Linguistics majors with Middlebury only having a minor. I expect that Middlebury’s overall language strength may balance that out some.

Love to hear any thoughts on Middlebury as a place for this kind of kid.

Cheers,

DHD

2 Likes
2

DeadHeadDad:

Your child seems very special. I would recommend looking outside the box to find something globally unique that can add exponential value to her already stellar background and language learning experience.

Let me suggest Minerva Schools at KGI (https://www.minerva.kgi.edu). I think it’s her perfect match! Please let me know your thoughts after checking it out.

3

I studied Russian at Middlebury 30 years ago, spent my junior year in Kazakhstan (then a Soviet republic), then started Chinese as a senior. First-year language students, back then anyway, take that language as their January term course. Many language students also attend the summer language school. I loved the classes, spent a lot of time in the language lab, and did well. I imagine now, at least pre-Covid, there are many more options for study abroad and global experiences. That said, I’m sure Swarthmore and other schools would be very good, as well. I would suggest you call or visit the schools so your daughter can ask more specific questions. She may also have other considerations when choosing a college – Middlebury, for example, is in a very small town in Vermont. It’s beautiful, and I live in Vermont now… but it’s not the hopping, multicultural city some kids are seeking (like my S23!).

2 Likes
4

Another option to consider: Kenyon has a very strong program in foreign languages, as well as a reputable Classics program. Their Modern Languages and Literatures major has 3 tracks, including an interdisciplinary one:

https://www.kenyon.edu/offices-and-services/registrar/kenyon-college-course-catalog-2020-21/requirements-for-departments-and-programs/modern-languages-and-literatures/#major

2 Likes
5

Check out Chicago. They offer a lot within language families so could have some interesting options.

1 Like
6

Interesting! I went to JMU and thought Middlebury WAS thinking out of the box :grinning:

I have never heard of Minerva but will take a look and share it with D23.

Best,

DHD

3 Likes
7

Hi thanks for the response. I think the summer language school would be amazing. We are hopefully doing a tour of colleges this summer, assuming Covid allows it. We are working on that list now. With that said, we do know Middlebury (the town) pretty well. I have been visiting Vermont since I was young. I absolutely love the town and the surrounding area. We took our kids through there a few years back. Walked around the campus but that was it…

Best,

DHD

1 Like
8

I’m applying to Midd RD this year, and through zoom sessions I’ve met some of the other kids applying. So many of them seemed really passionate about continuing/starting languages. I am also a language person, so it was really heartening to hear!

2 Likes
9

I know 4 languages and got in this year, and a good amount of admitted students are at least billingual/multinational so I would say that Midd def attracts that kind person

2 Likes
10

If her fascination is just with learning lots of languages, but not with linguistics, per se, then I think she’d do very well at Middlebury. But if what she is fascinated by is not only learning languages, but the very structure of language, the interplay between the brain and language, and all the many subsets of linguistics, then she needs to go to a school with a linguistics major, and the larger the department, the better. The presence of a graduate program in linguistics would be a plus, too, since linguistics is such a specialized, small field that even the largest linguistics undergraduate programs only graduate about 40 students a year.

I suggest that she try to take Intro to Linguistics at a nearby college this summer, to see if this is what she is interested in. Another option she should explore: there are a lot of free or inexpensive summer language programs for intelligence-sensitive languages, and high school kids can enroll in some of these.

We were told that child with strong linguistics interest should also take as much comp sci as possible, for future job opportunities. A lot of the future of language will have to do with AI and computer - language interface.

Another possible option. Amherst college is an excellent small LAC, with several language majors, but it’s also only a mile from UMass Amherst, which has an excellent, large linguistics department, both undergrad and grad. One can take classes at any of the 5 college consortium, which means that she could have the small LAC atmosphere, while still having access to a large, excellent linguistics department.

Swarthmore is part of a consortium that includes Penn, which is very strong in both languages and linguistics. But it’s a train ride plus a long walk or short bus/trolley/subway ride to get to Penn from Swarthmore.

Is there a reason that your daughter might not be a good fit for a larger school with a strong linguistics department, plus many excellent language departments?

1 Like
11

My teen has learned multiple languages and is considering linguistics and did apply to Middlebury even though there is only a minor there. Still thinks it would be a good fit.
Also, teen really liked the summer linguistics camp at OSU, even though it was just online this last summer.

2 Likes
12

Good luck!

1 Like
13

Thanks for this. I will answer your last question first…

She would not do well socially at a big school. I have never in my life met someone so introverted. I have also never met anyone who has more trouble meeting friends. She probably would be ok academically because she has an incredibly strong curiosity for academic subjects, and because she is VERY confident in her abilities. Though, I expect the way she would survive in that kind of environment it to wall her self off socially. So, an LAC, where there is more explicit efforts by the school to build community seems like her best shot at finding a situation where she can fit in and find kids more like her.

The biggest school she is currently considering is William and Mary. We live in Virginia and that is the only State school she is considering. Even that (at roughly 6,000) seems too big to her. She will definitely apply though.

Your points on Linguistics are well taken. Over the next 12 months I want her to really explore this discipline to figure out if it is what she is after. I know that elements of it certainly have her interest. If, she decides to go that route, I think that a school like Swathmore that does have a major in Linguistics may shoot up her list. And from a cultural perspective, I think Swathmore is probably her closest match. Wellesley (which I don’t think would be a good social fit) is also on the list as they too have a Linguistics major.

One of her goals over the next 18 months is to take at least one class at UVA. If she does not come to some sort of conclusion about Linguistics before that point, I am going to strongly suggest she make that course a Linguistics class. If she has decided Linguistics is not for her by then it will probably be either something in Classics or Medieval Studies.

I am also not completely convinced that she would need to major in Linguistics as an undergrad to pursue it later in grad school.

Thanks,

DHD

2 Likes
14

In general, @DeadHeadDad, it sounds like your daughter would do better at a college which is a good fit, socially and intellectually, than at a college which has the right major. She does sound like a LAC sort of person, though what I’ve heard of W&M indicates that she would do well there as well.

I would say that all of the colleges proposed here would be academic fits for her, but the best social and intellectual fits seem to be Amherst, Swarthmore, Midd, Kenyon, Reed (for really thinking outside the box), maybe Smith, Bryn Mawr or Scripps, if a woman’s college would be for her, and, of course, W&M.

Of course, all of these are either reaches or high targets (though W&M would be a target or even a low target for a highly accomplished in-state applicant).

It is early, though - she has over a year until she even has to think about ED/EA applications. So maybe in the summer it would be time for her to visit a few places to get a feel for what she wants in a college - urban/suburban/rural, NE/Midwest/etc.

4 Likes
15

With respect to your daughter’s greater college search, these links may be of interest:

1 Like
16

My D is a french minor at MIDD and loves her experience. She came into school with post AP french and a 5 on her AP exam. No credit as they ask you to take a placement exam. These high language scores get you in. She placed into the full immersion French literature, culture classes as a first year student from her placement tests. I would equate Language studies to MIDD as Engineering is to MIT. COVID messed up the international programs but MIDD has a lot of options to study abroad. Language majors are required to study abroad one semester in their specific language. Administration is fantastic and has done a super great job through COVID keeping these kids on campus with no outbreaks, set up a COVID dorm for quarantine cases and great COVID testing program. Athletics resumed this spring. Highly recommend.

2 Likes
17

My daughter is a linguistics and Italian double major at Haverford, and the consortium has been a great fit for her with these majors. People are right that Penn is available but not used often due to the inconvenience of it. The smaller schools/departments have been a great fit for my daughter to really get to know her professors right from freshman year. She considered midd but in the end wanted the double major. Best of luck to your daughter!

3 Likes
18

I know this is from 18 months ago, but, @parentologist do you know which programs these are? I can search for schools with linguistics majors, but can’t seem to find a way to also figure out how many kids major/graduate as such.

19

Try IPEDS, for example College Navigator - Reed College.

20

I’m not closing this immediately (but have set a tight autoclose window) only because you’re addressing a user who is very active. But in the future, let’s avoid bumping ancient threads and start new topics as needed.