<p>[10</a> Most Innovative Colleges for Foreign Language Study](<a href=“http://www.thebestcolleges.org/10-most-innovative-colleges-for-foreign-language-study/]10”>http://www.thebestcolleges.org/10-most-innovative-colleges-for-foreign-language-study/)</p>
<p>I would put Concordia in MN on that list before any of those schools. How exactly are they innovative? Concordia has entire language camps, complete with buildings designed to emulated national architecture. People come from all over the world to attend these camps.</p>
<p>I think Middlebury deserves its place on the list. It is more rigorous than others on the list in that it requires a higher level of mastery for all students attending–no AP or SAT II score satisfies the school’s language requirement-- and it offers a wide array of opportunities for language learners. There are immersion houses and clubs and informal eating areas at the various dining halls. Their summer programs are notoriously strict in enforcing the no English rule. I’m not knocking Concordia which is renowned but people come from all over to attend Midd’s language programs too. They’ve expanded into high school level immersion via CTY as well.</p>
<p>Who did Valpo pay off to get on that list? Offering French and German dorms and a language resource center is, to put it mildly, nothing special.</p>
<p>Is it true that students who major in foreign languages in the US are not obliged to study abroad? I find that very odd; here in the UK any language student must spend an entire academic year abroad.</p>
<p>Language camps are not for the college student- no reason to include them in rating the college curriculum. I also do not see why Valpo gets any mention- sounds like a mediocre experience. </p>
<p>No travel abroad required to major in a foreign language although some students do a semester abroad. Europeans have far less distance to travel to be in several other countries than Americans do. Americans even have to consider vast distances when choosing a college in our own country. Easy for Europeans to be in several countries in a week and not be far from home- we can spend a week going from one part of the continental portion of the US to another.</p>
<p>Although Valpo is considered a hidden gem in my area, language is not the program that comes to mind when I think of excellent programs. IU came to mind immediately and I was pleased to see it on the list. Depending on the language, there are other programs that come to mind, such as Japanese Studies at Earlham.</p>
<p>
One can graduate from Middlebury without taking a single course in a foreign language. Because students are not required to fulfill the distribution requirements in all areas, they can pass on the foreign language requirement. I’d say that’s pretty unusual for a top college, especially given Midd’s vaunted prowess in languages.</p>
<p>Compare that to Tufts, for example, which requires 3 semesters of a language (through coursework or AP/IB credit) AND either 3 more semesters of that language or 3 semesters of a second language. My alma mater is quite similar and requires either courses through the 3rd year (5th semester) of a language if you came in at the elementary/intermediate level or 3 courses if starting from scratch; AP/IB credit is good only for placement, not credit.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I do not accept that as a reason not to go abroad. Many British students of French choose to spend their year abroad in Canada or La R</p>
<p>wis75–actually, yes, the camps are used by college kids and more importantly, staffed by college kids. Again, the poll is for “innovative” programs, of which this certainly qualifies.</p>
<p>Anyone know of a school that may fall into this category, on the east coast, and for a student with less than stellar stats? Son wants to be a French major.</p>
<p>Beloit has very strong language offerings for a school of its size.</p>
<p>It is great to see U W Madison on the list. They are home to one of four Russian Flagship programs in the country. These programs are funded by the US Dept. of State and provide the resources to students in any major wishing to gain a high level of language proficiency.</p>