According to Martinsen et al. (2011), second language (L2) acquisition research examining learning environments beyond the classroom has mainly focused on study abroad or summer immersion programs in the United States, such as those most notably offered by Middlebury College (Freed et al., 2004). Both of these types of programs tend to be limited to a period of approximately 3 to 10 weeks and allow for students to focus on language learning without major distractions from jobs or other nonlanguage coursework. Foreign language campus housing, on the other hand, provides opportunities for university students to acquire, practice and improve their foreign-language skills while concurrently pursuing an academic degree that invariably involves taking classes in other non-foreign language-related subjects. Moreover, foreign language housing provides a small-scale immersion experience for students lacking either the time or the resources to study abroad or participate in a domestic immersion experience. Foreign language housing, therefore, is an interesting alternative to the traditional immersion experience, yet it is one that receives little attention or discussion in the professional literature (Dewey & Martinsen, 2015; Martinsen et al., 2011; Smith, 2015).

In March 2015, several academics gathered at a foreign language housing symposium hosted by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, in order to discuss the state of research in foreign language housing and the different types of foreign language housing offered at the represented colleges and universities. It became immediately clear to all in attendance that while a number of colleges and universities offer and have been offering foreign language housing in various forms, there is a surprising and unfortunate paucity of information and research available on the topic.