General Information

 

What is Middlebury Interactive Languages?

What grade levels can attend the Day Academies?

Designed specifically for rising 5th to 8th grade students, the Middle School Day Academy is engineered for beginning students, as well as students who have already completed language courses at grade level. 

What happens during a typical day on campus?

In general, students are on site from 8:30- 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. During these hours, learning is realized via interactive, hands-on, experiential projects and activities as well as classroom based instruction. Faculty and students adhere to a Language Pledge while in activities (see below). Specifically, there are four types of activities we do almost every day: learning with authentic materials, engaging language via interactive online tools, learning with group games in languages, and hands-on culture projects. Students also participate in recreational and fun activities throughout the day.

What is the Language Pledge?

The Middlebury Language Pledge is meant to inspire all participants in an Academy to communicate in their target language during a summer of study. This formal agreement to live and study in an immersion environment originated with the Middlebury Language Schools in 1915 and remains a core principle of Middlebury’s programs. Middle and high school students and faculty of the MIL Day Academies take the Middlebury Language Pledge. While on campus, students stay “in-language,” therefore practicing, applying, and internalizing their target language skills. Faculty and staff are trained to provide constant guidance and support for students, making the Language Pledge an achievable goal and a positive experience.

What is the student to teacher ratio of the MIL Day Academies?

There is an average 12:1 student to teacher ratio. One Teaching Assistant is also assigned to each level within each Academy.

How are students placed into the appropriate language levels?

Students entering the MIL Day Academies are placed in either Beginner or Intermediate levels based upon their incoming grade level, language background and abilities,and the amount of time they have spent studying their target language.  Initial placements are based upon information provided in the application.  

*Students will also be asked to complete a pre-enrollment assessment to finalize their placement level.

What if my child is an advanced language student?

If your son or daughter has been raised in a bi-lingual environment or is approaching fluency, then you should consider other options. If you believe your son or daughter may be too advanced for this program, please feel free to talk with our enrollment consultants.

If you son or daughter is an advanced student and a rising 8th grader, we would strongly  encourage them to consider our four-week residential programs.  

How can I start my application, continue my application, or log into my account?

Our application is online and you can apply through this website. You may click on one of the many “Apply Now” green ribbons on throughout the website to begin a new application or “Log In” at the top of the webpage to access an already existing account.

I’m interested in more intense immersion for my child. Are there additional program options? 

Yes, we also offer a 4-week residential program called Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy, hosted by 3 college campuses in different regions of the country. Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy is a full immersion experience for rising 8th to 12th grade students. This program accelerates students’ language proficiency and knowledge of foreign cultures under the Language Pledge. Unlike the Day Academies, Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy students remain in-residence on campus for the entire 4-week period. This program is separate from the MIL Day Academies.