The TCU Language Houses all have one thing in common: their residents are committed to speaking in non-English languages.  

TCU has expanded its Language Houses to include Italian and Chinese, alongside previously established French and German houses, specifically designed to develop linguistic and cultural diversity on campus.  

The Language Houses, located in the Tom Brown/Pete Wright Residential Community, offer a unique immersive experience without compromising the convenience of living on campus.  

Dr. Benjamin Ireland, an associate professor and coordinator of French studies, said that for students “who do not have the ability to study abroad, this is a great opportunity to have that immersive experience while being surrounded by the TCU educational community.”  

Students who practice everyday conversation as residents of the Language Houses show a “clear difference of advancement in the classroom” compared to students who do not, said Dr. Nicholas Albanese, the department chair and associate professor of Italian.

Each house has a live-in coordinator, native or advanced speaker, facilitating casual learning settings. From watching movies to communal dinners, weekly activities provide language learners with tools to enhance linguistic skills and engage in cultural exchange.  

The coordinators from the French, Italian, Chinese and German studies departments are working to extend the Language Houses experience to first-year students, including honors students, in order to expand accessibility to all Horned Frogs.  

Applications for the Language Houses are open until Feb. 23.