Thread: Middlebury College Language School

I'll be going to Middlebury College's Russian Language School this summer. Does anyone here have experience with the program? How much did you progress over the nine weeks?

I expect to enter at an elementary level - probably the equivalent of second term, though I wouldn't be floored if I'm put in Level 1 because I'm sure I've missed things during my self-study. I'm hoping at the end of nine weeks to able to function in Moscow, able to conduct basic conversations, read news, shop, etc, with a good foundation for further study while I am there.

Resonable expectation?

Stories? Reviews of the program?

Shari

Originally Posted by demoiselle

I'll be going to Middlebury College's Russian Language School this summer. Does anyone here have experience with the program? How much did you progress over the nine weeks?

I expect to enter at an elementary level - probably the equivalent of second term, though I wouldn't be floored if I'm put in Level 1 because I'm sure I've missed things during my self-study. I'm hoping at the end of nine weeks to able to function in Moscow, able to conduct basic conversations, read news, shop, etc, with a good foundation for further study while I am there.

Resonable expectation?

Stories? Reviews of the program?

Shari

Never heard of it, is this program in Russia or somewhere else?

It is a language immersion program in the US, at Middlebury College in Vermont. It's a nine week program, with a language pledge requiring you to use nothing but the language being studied for the entire duration of the program - speaking, writing, listening, reading - everything. Middlebury is well known for their summer language programs, and the Russian one is I think particularly well known.

All the Russian instructors I know speak very highly of the program, observing the progress in their students who have attended. However, I have not had a chance to hear directly from participants. I must say that the idea of swearing to use nothing but Russian for nine weeks at my elementary level is nerve-wracking at best!

Middlebury Russian Language School

I don't have a personal experience with it, but it is famous and well regarded.
I know someone who I studied with in Russia said two things that I found amusing:
-They are HARDCORE about the language pledge. They will literally hang out at bookstores, etc. to make sure you don't pick up USA Today or whatever in English.
-This is disturbing, but she and some other peeps thought calling someone a "смелый русский хор" was the greatest thing ever, since it was grammatically correct, even if it made no sense.

Doesn't that just mean "Courageous Russian Choir?"

Originally Posted by tdk2fe

Doesn't that just mean "Courageous Russian Choir?"

You're Russian ability is very good; now use your English ability and say that out loud a time or two -- preferably around a female friend...