<p>I had a quick question. Does anyone know how competitive admissions is into the Summer Language Schools, particularly the Japanese School? I'm just wondering, like everyone else, what the general statistics show. And does anyone know when to expect admissions decisions?</p>
<p>I did the Summer Italian School last summer. I'm not sure about the Japanese School, but the Italian school wasn't hard to get into. They have rolling admissions, so you should send in your application as soon as possible. I sent mine in in December and got accepted within a couple of weeks. Sorry I can't give exact statistics, but if you're a decent student, I don't see why there would be a problem with you getting accepted (unless the school is already full).</p>
<p>~Francesca</p>
<p>PS: After sending the application, be sure to check your spam mail fairly frequently because the first e-mail I got from Middlebury was put there and I didn't figure that out until I called their office and the woman told me they had already contacted me.</p>
<p>thanks for the info, i'll keep that in mind. i've already sent my app in, so hopefully i can hear from them in the coming month. did you enjoy ur time at middlebury during the summer? i've heard some incredible stories of language skills skyrocketing from a tufts upperclassman.</p>
<p>what do you mean "language skills skyrocketing from a tufts upperclassman"?</p>
<p>there was a student from tufts who attended last year and recommended the summer language school as the best way to polish language skills with the exception of going abroad.</p>
<p>I attended Chinese school last summer and though it was ridiculously hard, my language skills DEFINITELY "skyrocketed." Getting around Beijing this Jan was a breeze. </p>
<ul>
<li>Difficultly getting in ... it is only hard if you are applying to be a first year student bc they really want to make sure you can handle it.</li>
<li>Once you get there ... the European languages are pretty easy, Chinese is HARD, Arabic is HARDER, and Japanese comes in right below Chinese. BUT, you're language skills will improve dramatically do matter what you take.</li>
<li>If you are there for a 9 week program ... make sure you get off campus during your 3 day weekend!!! AND - don't forget to go cliff diving at Bristol Falls</li>
</ul>
<p>AND ... be sure to teach your parents how to use Altavista Babelfish translations so they can send you slightly incoherent messages</p>
<p>The program was amazing. I'm currently in Siena, Italy studying for the semester and spoke much more Italian at Middlebury than I do here. By the end, I'd had several dreams in Italian and was thinking as fairly frequently in the language. If you're really committed to the Language Pledge, you can't help but learn an incredible amount.</p>
<p>I second HomeOnBreak's suggestion about Babelfish translator. I got a particularly funny e-mail from my step-grandma that hardly made sense at all.</p>
<p>If possible, get ahold of a lot of music that's either in Japanese or has no words at all. I went to the gym a lot while I was there and listening to the same music every day got difficult. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>wait i'm a bit confused...on the website it said that the program requires that you are at least a high school graduate...does that mean by the time you attend the program or right now? b/c i'm very interested but i'm currently a senior...confused! >.<''</p>
<p>I'm not sure, but I think you can apply if you're graduating from high school at the end of this semester. Middlebury does recommend that you have completed a year of college before attending a Summer Language School, but that's not a requirement. I don't know about the other schools, but at the Italian School the students taking first-year Italian had much more work and a much harder time than students at higher levels. So, if you want to start at the beginning level at a Language School, or are studying one of the harder languages (ie: Russian, Chinese, etc.) keep in mind that it will be very hard, although probably very rewarding as well!</p>
<p>You could just call Middlebury though with your question, just to make sure. They're very helpful.</p>
<p>thanks. i'm aware of the rigor of the classes and that's a large part why i want to attend! i've always been disappointed by the foreign language classes i've taken in latin, spanish, and korean and never fully felt that i was even competent enough to converse even at a intermediate level! so yea thanks for the quick reply! :)</p>
<p>Hi,
I'm hoping to attend the French Language School next summer. I know that Middlebury claims to be need-based in granting financial aid, whether or not applicants to its language school are Midd students or not. If any of you have previously applied for financial aid and are NOT Middlebury students (like myself), could you please tell me if you found your aid packages reasonable or not?</p>
<p>I really want to attend, but I fear I won't be able to if Midd isn't generous with aid.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>