Additionally, Arabic language professors, Geri Atanassova and Shahreena Shahrani, will share their own experiences with CLS and provide some advice for putting together a strong, competitive program application.
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.
CLS is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century's globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness.
The CLS Program covers most of the costs of participating in its overseas institutes, including:
- International and domestic travel between the student's U.S. home city, Washington, D.C., and the CLS Program site
- Visa application fees
- Costs associated with the mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C.
- Language instruction, room, board, program-sponsored travel within the host country
- All entrance fees for program activities
- Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) language assessments
- U.S. academic credit issued through Bryn Mawr College.
Languages Offered
The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. Participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period, and later apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers. Please visit the CLS Institutes page for more information.
- Azerbaijani, Bangla, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Punjabi, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu: Beginning, advanced beginning, intermediate and advanced levels;
- Arabic, Persian and Portuguese: Advanced beginning, intermediate and advanced levels;
- Chinese, Japanese, and Russian: Intermediate and advanced levels.
Applications are due November 27, 2018.
Recommendations: Have two references submit recommendation forms supporting your application. Recommendation forms are due November 29, 2018.
