<p>I'm a prospective first-year applicant to Middlebury. I really value the study of languages, though I don't want to major in a language. I'd like to study at least two languages, though I'd probably only take one language during the year -- I'm also interested in their summer language intensives. Basically, I'm wondering what exactly makes Middlebury's languages so good. Is it the instruction, or the immersion, or what? Any input would be great. Thanks!</p>
<p>I think it is a combination of Middlebury’s experience in the field (use of the language pledge etc.), great faculty in the language departments, creative use of the J-term schedule and now the link with the Monterey Institute which will make a master’s degree available and provide greater depth in linguistics courses. J-term creates a time when students can take just language either as their second semester after fall study (some languages require that students use the first J-term for the language) or as an introductory course (level 1 of Portugese and Italian, for example, are offered during J-term). Some if not all of the languages are very rigorous and that also probably contributes to success.</p>