While students at Middlebury’s summer Language Schools adhere to the Language Pledge—where they promise to forgo English for the summer to speak only in the language they’re studying—many students opt for a similar experience during the school year in a language house.
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors can apply to live in one of four spots in the Portuguese House, where they pledge to speak only Portuguese while inside, with the help of a resident native speaker.
Students focus on improving their Portuguese, hosting events in their kitchen and living room, like a weekly cafezinhos, and hosting other events like movie screenings and parties. The house also serves as a resource for nonresident students who want to practice Portuguese or get help with Portuguese classwork.
236 College St.
Middlebury, VT 05753