Critical Language Scholarship Program A Program of the U.S. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Critical Language Scholarship Program A Program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Program Overview • 8- to 10-week summer program • Intense language study and cultural immersion abroad • Equivalent to one year of college language study • Full scholarship • Approximately 550 scholarships awarded annually in 14 languages

Program Overview • Increase the number and diversity of Americans studying and mastering languages that are critical to nat atio ional s al securit rity and econom onomic p prosp osperity • Prepare students for a glo lobaliz alized w work rkforce

Fourteen Languages Offered No experience • Azerbaijani, Bangla, Hindi, Indonesian, required Korean, Punjabi, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu Some experience • Arabic, Persian required Two years of • Chinese, Japanese, Russian study required

Program Benefits • Domesti tic tr c travel to/from Washington for the required pre-departure orientation • Intern rnat atio ional t al travel l to/from host country • Applicable vis visa fees • Housin ing an and me meals als • Cult ltural al ac activit ivitie ies an and group t trip rips in host country • U.S .S. . ac acad ademic mic c credit it through Bryn Mawr College

Intensive Language Learning • 20 hours of class per week • Language pledge • Most students live with host families • All students have a language partner • Cultural classes and activities • Excursions to explore the cultural heritage of the host country

What Does “Intensive” Mean? Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 9:00AM 10:00AM Language Classes 11:00AM 12:00PM 1:00PM 2:00PM Cultural Cultural Cultural Cultural Language Language Excursion Excursion 3:00PM Class/ Class/ Partner Partner Activity Activity 4:00PM 5:00PM 6:00PM Study for Evenings: Study/Free Study/Free Study/Free exam/Free 7:00PM- sleep

CLS is a “Group-Based” Program • Program sites range from cohorts of 5 to 30 students • Everyone shares the same weekly schedule • 20 hours of class with only CLS participants • Cultural activities and local excursions • Weekend overnight group trips • CLS is not a research, independent study, or internship program

Eligibility Requirements • U.S. citizen • Enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an American college or university • At least 18 years old • Want to learn a critical language and apply it in their future studies or career!

An Opportunity for Everyone • Open to all fields of study • Summer commitment only • Offers academic credit • CLS actively recruits students from groups under-represented in study abroad • Supportive environment for first-time and experienced travelers alike • Alumni network and mentor programs • CLS is fully funded!

CLS Participants (2017) • Over 40% identify as students of color • Students come from public and private institutions, community colleges, and minority-serving institutions • Nearly all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico represented • A wide variety of fields of study, including 16% STEM • 27% First-generation college students • 77% Undergraduate, 23% Graduate

Accessibility • All ll applicants are encouraged to consider the challenges of program ahead of time. • CLS institutes are often in remote locations. • Public services for persons with disabilities and access to medical resources may be limited. • Despite challenges, the experience can be extremely rewarding. • CLS does not discriminate on the basis of disability or medical condition.

Why You Should Apply • Make rapid gains in language skills: • Students complete two semesters worth of coursework • Immersive cultural experience • Advance your career: • Many U.S. companies give advantage to candidates with language skills • Employers are looking for ability to effectively collaborate and communicate with people in cross-cultural settings • Alumni receive non-competitive eligibility for U.S. government jobs • Make meaningful connections in your host country and become part of a vibrant community of State Department alumni

Application is Available Now • Online application at www.clscholarship.org • Apply for one language only • Not for a specific country or site • Applicants must prepare: • Unofficial transcripts • Two letters of recommendation • Essay responses • Four Short Answer Essays (100-350 words) • One Longer Personal Statement (500 words)

Tips for a Successful Application • Start your application early, and seek on- campus resources to help you improve your essays! • Make a clear connection between the target language and your future academic and career plans. • Demonstrate that you are prepared to succeed in an intensive, group-based program. • Watch the CLS Application Tips video on YouTube for more detailed advice.

Additional Study Abroad Resources • Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship • Fulbright U.S. Student Program • Boren Scholarships and Fellowships studyabroad.state.gov

Selection Timeline For more information: www.clscholarship.org cls@americancouncils.org September 18– Application Opens For other opportunities: November 15 – Application Deadline exchanges.state.gov Stay in touch! Late November – Recommendation Letters Due February/March – Notification fb.com/CLScholarship @CLSScholarship @CLScholarship