Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy Opens First Italian Immersion Summer Program at Roger Williams University

MIDDLEBURY, Vt., May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy (MMLA) in partnership with Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., will soon open its new Italian Academy, a full immersion Italian residency program for middle and high school students this summer. The program, taking place this summer from June 26 to July 23, will offer a unique study abroad alternative for students interested in learning more about the Italian language and culture in an engaging college environment. Roger Williams University, a top liberal arts university dedicated to educating students in a global context, will serve as the perfect backdrop for the new Italian Academy.

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MMLA was founded in 2008 as a collaboration between the Language Schools of Middlebury College and the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif., a graduate school of Middlebury College. The four-week program provides the experience of living in another culture with the added benefit of staying close to home in a safe and education-focused environment. In addition to Italian, MMLA is currently offering courses in Arabic, Chinese, French, German and Spanish at campuses strategically located across the U.S. Each student will be exposed not only to classroom training in language skills but also cultural and recreational activities, and will adhere to a strict 'no English' language pledge for four weeks. Students still have the opportunity to participate in this year's MMLA program with enrollment open during the coming weeks until the program reaches capacity.

"We are excited about instituting the new MMLA Italian Academy on a campus that understands and values the importance of global perspectives and foreign language skills," said Michael Geisler, vice president of Language Schools, Schools Abroad and Graduate Program, at Middlebury College. "Through its international programs and real-world internships, Roger Williams University has established several connections with key Italian universities that students will be able to take advantage of while attending the summer program."

"Students at the MMLA Italian Academy will benefit from a culturally rich immersive program with regularly scheduled activities that incorporate an authentic experience including the language, food, cultural traditions and history of Italy," said Bruna Boyle, the Italian language director at MMLA. "Many students enrolling in our Italian program are coming with a core interest in the arts and eventually studying abroad in Italy, and they are sure to be extremely well prepared to move forward with accomplishing these goals successfully after this summer of intensive and fun learning."

Leading the Italian Academy's planning and execution, Boyle is originally from the Italian region of Molise, and is author of the Teacher's Guide for AP Italian. Boyle previously served as chairperson of the foreign language department at Narragansett High School in Rhode Island where she taught Italian and Spanish for 31 years. The Rhode Island Foreign Language Association selected her as "Foreign Language Teacher of the Year" in 1993, and she is now a lecturer in Italian at the University of Rhode Island and in Spanish at Johnson and Wales University.

Students who enroll in MMLA's Italian Academy course will spend more than 240 hours learning and using the language—the equivalent of more than a year in a regular classroom. They will also enjoy MMLA's low national maximum student-to-teacher ratio of 10:1. Last year, approximately 800 students participated in MMLA at campuses across the country, under the guidance of nearly 300 faculty and staff members.

For more information on MMLA Italian Academy and how to apply, please visit:

http://mmla.middlebury.edu/

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, MIL programs include powerspeaK12, 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-Monterey Language Academy