Language Houses are campus residencies where students agree to speak the same foreign language, like Spanish, French, Russian, or Japanese. There is often a resident graduate student or foreign exchange student whose job it is to help others practice the language and learn the culture.
When University of Virginia alum Meredith Lowe spent a summer in Berlin, she emails that she realized she loved “speaking German first thing in the morning, and last thing at night." How could she continue that experience in the US? By living at a Language House!
Benefits and Challenges of Language Houses
Residents agree that the best part about living at a Language House is being surrounded by people who share the same passion. “Another nice perk,” writes UVA alum and former Italian House resident Riccardo Calanni via email, “is that we [got] dinner in the House Monday-Thursday,” (Read: Less cafeteria food!) Housemates also can also participate in cool weekly activities like movie night and special events like parties or plays.
But while language living can be great, residents admit it is also challenging. “It's very tempting to come home from a really hard test, or a long day of classes, and converse in English,” explains Meredith. But at most Language Houses, English is taboo for at least part of the day.
The Right Attitude is Key
It’s not necessary to be an ace linguist to live at a language house. The secret to success? “Come with a desire to learn and improve,” says Riccardo. Improved grammar and increased vocabulary will naturally follow. Other good tips for making the most out of living in a Language House include:
- Make and take opportunities to practice
- Let others know when you don't understand
- Be open-minded toward native speakers and their cultures
- Don’t worry about making mistakes, just talk
Before You Make a Decision
It is a good idea to check out the details before committing to living in a Language House. House rules and atmosphere can really differ from one campus to another. Here are some good questions to ask:
- What are the language requirements? (Some houses don’t have any, others want you to have several years experience, or be a language major)
- How does the Language House compare to other campus housing options in terms of space, roommates, price, amenities, etc.
- Must residents do chores? (Cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning the bathroom are all possibilities.) How often?
- What kind of activities does the House have? Is participation mandatory?
Overall, Language Houses are a great opportunity to learn more about a language and it’s associated culture. Remember, sitting in a classroom reciting verb conjugations or going over scripted conversations alone is never going to make a student fluent.
