Middlebury Summer Chinese School

[Meng Lelan]

Anyone here been to the Middlebury Summer Chinese School? I am wondering how did the language pledge (语言誓约) work or not work there. Thanks in advance.

[cui ruide]

My response from this thread (http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/21095-intensive-summer-chinese-programs-in-the-us):

The immersion environment of the Middlebury langauge is certainl artificial, but it is rather successful, I think. Additionally, there is really rather little need to go off campus for more than a few things. Most necessities can be found on campus (regular students refer to this as the bubble..). Of course there are places to go off campus for fun and relaxation, but most everyone does this in the company of their classmates, language pledge in tow. Townsfolk respond to the summer students in a variety of ways... The college passes out language cheat sheets, so some clerks might try to go along with it, but I know a lot get kind of fed up with it haha. Last summer I passed some drunk kid stopped on his way from the bar in town responding to the Middlebury police in fledgling Chinese... Maybe not the best example, haha, but interesting..

To which I'd only add a little bit... People in large part take the language pledge very serious at this program (whereas I think faithfulness diminishes a bit with programs abroad for a variety of reasons). A significant majority of the attendees are college-age students, which comes with all the associated behavior. That said, there is no small number of post-grads, professors, and professionals attending as well. When I was there, it was the older students that started breaking the pledge, not the college kids though. You live and eat with your classmates and instructors only (with the exception of an open breakfast/weekend brunch). There truthfully aren't many opportunities to speak English (except off campus or behind closed doors), and in general the people in charge are very, very intent on maintaining the pledge and the school's image as an intensive environment.

The product? Lots of foreigners picking up bad tones from one another , BUT coming out very comfortable speaking and thinking in Chinese--and if you're diligent, reading and writing, too.

[Meng Lelan]

Ok thanks. I was kind of thinking that's how it worked out.