The Language House

The second floor of Vouté Hall offers a unique combination of private apartments and large common areas. Residents live in four-person apartments with others committed to speaking the same target language. Each apartment has two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, and bath. Various events are held in the common space on the floor: concerts, skits and lectures in the lounge; Spanish and French meals in the dining room and common kitchen; movies, videos and cable news programs in the TV viewing room.

The language house program enables thirty students interested in language and culture to live together, and provides residents with the close personal guidance of graduate students, one in Spanish and one in French, who are experienced teachers. The graduate students residents, or GSR’s, are native-level speakers of the target languages.

Graduate Student Residents

GSR’s live in one of the apartments on the floor and, in coordination with the undergraduate Resident Assistants (RA’s), facilitate the planning and execution of activities designed to improve the students’ language skills, enrich their knowledge of other cultures, and generally contribute to their intellectual and personal development. They are available during regularly scheduled office hours as well as informally, and are responsible for the linguistic and intellectual functions of the program.

Residents commit to speaking the target language on the floor and take an active part in the planning and execution of activities, which they choose themselves. They take an active role in house events throughout the year.

Activities

The Casa hispánica and Maison française each schedule a monthly calendar of activities, most of which are designed by and for the house residents. Non-residents are invited to attend selected events. Among the activities are regularly occurring events, such as daily language tables, weekly conversation hours, and monthly dinners, as well as one-time happenings, such as film series, guest speakers, poetry readings, singing and concerts. Outings to restaurants, museums and galleries are also organized. Short trips to Spanish- and French-speaking destinations are planned during holiday periods and on weekends.

Application Procedures

Students are invited to apply for residence at Vouté Hall. You can download the application at the Housing Website. Applicants should have at least moderate proficiency in the target language. Native speakers may apply. Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to participate in house activities open to the public during the semester before they apply. Applications are available at the office of University Housing. Final selection will be made before the start of the housing lottery of the college. For further information please consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies.