Learning a language takes practice, and practicing a language is easier if you have someone to talk to.

That’s the foundational idea behind William & Mary’s eight language houses where, for decades, undergraduates have lived with like-minded students, enjoying opportunities to enhance their speaking skills and deepen their cultural awareness.

Now there’s a big change in store for the language houses – Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish – which have never had a permanent or even a combined home on campus. Currently, the houses are split between multiple floors in Hardy and Landrum halls. This fall, with the opening of the Pine Hall, in the West 1 Housing & Dining development, all eight language houses will be under one roof.

“Having all eight houses hosted in the same building will make it easier to collaborate and offer a more immersive experience for students who want to master a language,” said Tomoyuki Sasaki, associate chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. “We proposed this concept of the global village and, luckily, Residential Life agreed.”

All eight houses in Pine Hall will have living space for about 150 residents and shared common areas for hosting movie nights, exhibits, talks, workshops and other events.

Like now, each house will be hosted by a native-speaking international fellow, who organizes cultural events that promote a deeper understanding of international issues. Sasaki says those cultural events are just as important as language skills.

“We know from looking at job advertisements that what employers are looking for is not just language but cultural fluency,” he said.

The events are also a favorite feature of Language House living, says student Kevin Kinsella ’27, a resident of the Arabic House. “I love the cooking classes. You learn so much about the culture and the cuisine of a country, and there’s this prize at the end — dinner,” he said.

Elsa Hendrix ’25 lives in Hardy Hall’s Japan House this year. She transferred to W&M after two years at a community college in Northern Virginia and wanted as much language practice as possible.

“William & Mary was my first choice because of their Japanese Studies Program, and I knew that the Japan House was part of it,” she said. “It’s been super great. I love my roommate. Our international fellow schedules weekly events like making mochi or celebrating the moon viewing festival.”

You don’t have to be a resident to participate in language house programming, and many of the events draw a crowd — a good problem. “Sometimes it gets really crowded, and we’re all crammed in the second-floor kitchen,” Hendrix said. “But it’s always really fun.”

The new housing arrangement will fix that, said Magali Compan, professor of French and Francophone studies. “The kitchens in the new building are open (concept) and will be so much better to host cooking class,” she said.

Sasaki says the new housing arrangements will allow them to schedule more events, like the ever-popular international dessert night, that showcase multiple regions and countries. “We actually want to pursue more of these kinds of events,” he said.

Students do not need to major in a specific language to live in its Language House but should have a background equivalent to 102- or 103- level mastery. Students enrolled in MLL’s courses will have priority to live in the houses over students who are not. The Language Houses are open to sophomore, junior and senior students. Additionally, Compan noted, all students can fulfill the COLL 300 requirements by living in a Language House for two semesters and participating in activities.

For more information about the Global Village, requirements to live in one of the Language Houses and the application timeline, visit the Global Village information page or contact Modern Languages & Literatures. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2025, before 9 a.m.




, Communications Specialist