Have you seen these posters around campus? I see them all the time, so I decided to do some research on the program so you don’t have to!
How the program works:
The program takes place in Vermont, at either the Middlebury Campus or the Bennington Campus. It’s a summer program, typically from June 27 to August 15. You’ll be taking language courses, which can be transferred as 3 Middlebury credits (not sure how that transfers to Reed credits). You’ll live in dorms and eat at the dining hall. You’ll sign a language pledge in which you commit to only communicating in the language you’re immersing yourself in. This means only speaking, hearing, and reading in that language. It shouldn’t be too hard because they plan so many activities and you’ll live with plenty of students who are also committed to only speaking that language. You will eat with students and faculty, go to your language courses, and participate in optional co-curricular activities (cooking, dance, soccer, etc…) that relate to the culture of the language you’re learning. During the weekends, you’ll have cultural events and celebrations, which all seem pretty cool!
The downside…
I looked at how much the program costs, and it’s around $12,320, which takes, food, housing, and tuition into account. There’s additional expenses such as transportation and books, which might come to another $500. There’s a need-based financial grant that covers a maximum of $5,500. Take into account that these would be the expenses for most of the summer, though.
Most people that participate in this program come out fully fluent in the language they chose to learn, so you can see it as an investment for your future! It also looks like a great opportunity to meet other students and overall have a great summer!