Middlebury Interactive Languages Announces Early Open Enrollment for Fully-Immersive Academy for Language Learning

MIDDLEBURY, Vt., Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Middlebury Interactive Languages (MIL), an academic leader in world language instruction, announced today the early open enrollment period—now through Feb. 25—for its prestigious Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy (MMLA) summer program.  

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MMLA, based on the Middlebury College Language Schools' nearly 100 years of experience in language immersion methodology, is an intensive four-week, residency summer language program for college-bound students in grades 8-12, available at college campuses across the country. Students who register prior to Feb. 25—using application code MMLA2011—will receive $500 off admission.

"As a professor I know the value of language learning and Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy was the perfect choice for my daughter, Kathryn's, summer program," said Kathleen L. Lodwick, professor of Chinese history at Penn State University/Lehigh Valley.  "Those of us who teach in universities know the academic reputation of Middlebury in language teaching is the very best.  I believe that MMLA has given my daughter the necessary tools to assist her with her studies and lays a terrific foundation for her college applications and career choices."

This year, MMLA runs from June 26 to July 23, at select colleges across the country, including:

MMLA utilizes proprietary, culturally authentic world language materials and curriculum through a collaborative program that helps prepare students for college and future careers in fields such as international relations, business and language. Students can choose from six language tracks—Chinese, Arabic, French, German, Italian or Spanish—and all activities and coursework are taught in their selected language. The unique and effective four-week program provides the experience of living in another culture with the added benefit of experiencing life on a college campus in a safe and education-focused environment.

Students who enroll in the course will spend more than 240 hours learning and using the language—the equivalent of more than a year in a regular classroom setting. They will also enjoy a low student-to-teacher ratio of less than 8 to 1; last year, approximately 800 students participated in the program, under the guidance of around 100 faculty and staff members.

"In addition to the rigorous academic coursework, MMLA features linguistic and cultural fluency exercises that offer additional opportunities to apply, and bring true innovation, to language learning. By combining our proven methodology with a 'no English' language pledge, we are able to connect with students in a fun and interactive way, embodying our core philosophy to 'live the language,'" said Kevin Conroy, program director of Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy.

The immersion course employs a number of out-of-classroom tactics to help students learn, including:

• Students and staff sign a language pledge to communicate only in their target language at all times during their summer of study
• Each Academy will take three field trips over the course of a session
• Cultural presentations and special events, including movies, music, guest performances, and student films and plays  

Increasingly, world language proficiency is becoming a core skill for 21st Century Readiness. World language education is now a necessary component to better prepare American students to communicate as global citizens.  According to language learning experts Bamford & Mizokawa, knowledge of a second language coincides with high academic achievement.  Students who participated in three years of world language studies are more likely to earn better grades in college.  Additionally, students of world languages tend to score higher on the SAT and ACT, and earn higher scores on the verbal and math portions of the tests.  

Conroy continued, "Our mission is to offer students the opportunity to gain world language proficiency skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as cultural competency to prepare them for college, give them a competitive edge in the application process, and foster advancement in all areas of learning to prepare them for future careers."

MMLA is the "gold standard" of language immersion experiences and is uniquely poised to assist college-bound students in continuing their language learning process.  MMLA provides tools that increase students' college aptitude, cultural pluralism, self-concept, sense of achievement, cognitive development, and career development. For more information and to register for the 2011 MMLA summer program, please visit http://mmla.middlebury.edu/apply/.

About Middlebury Interactive Languages

Middlebury Interactive Languages is poised to become the premier academic leader in world language instruction for K-12 students as part of 21st century readiness.  Middlebury Interactive Languages (MIL) was formed in spring 2010 as a joint venture between Middlebury College, a top liberal arts college renowned for languages and international studies, and K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs for K-12 students. All working within rigorous academic teaching methods and ACTFL standards includes Powerspeak, accredited world language online courses for grades 3-12; MiddWorld Online, a virtual academy for high school students offering the most immersive product in the market today; Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy, a full-immersion residency program on college campuses; Avant STAMP assessment; and MIL Professional Development.

SOURCE Middlebury Interactive Languages