- Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program
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The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a United States Department of State cultural and educational exchange program which offers 575 students from the United States the opportunity to participate in an intensive language study abroad. This nationally competitive program funds students who study one of the 13 critical need foreign languages, and is part of the National Security Language Initiative. The 13 critical languages include Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish and Urdu.
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Program Administration
The selection process is administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) with awards approved by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The CLS Program is administered by CAORC and American Councils for International Education.
Eligibility Requirements
All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate or graduate level. Current undergraduate students must have completed at least one year of general college course-work by program start date (one year is defined as two semesters or three quarters). Be in acceptable mental and physical health. Grantees will be required to submit a satisfactory Medical Information Form and Physician’s Statement. Applicants must be 18 by the beginning of the 2011 CLS Program. Students in all disciplines, including business, engineering, law, medicine, sciences, and humanities are encouraged to apply.
The U.S. Department of State and CAORC welcome all eligible applications and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, or disability. See the CLS Website for more information on eligibility requirements.
Language Levels and Prerequisites
Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Punjabi, Turkish, Urdu: Beginning, intermediate or advanced level; Arabic, Persian: Advanced beginning, intermediate or advanced level; Chinese, Japanese, Russian: Intermediate or advanced level. The equivalent of one year of college-level language study includes but is not limited to: a summer of intensive language study, two semesters of study (audited or for credit), or a year of private tutoring. A typical academic year is 9 months (36 weeks). A typical language course is 3-5 hours per week or 108-180 hours per academic year of language instruction. Applicants who have completed the CLS Program may count each summer of participation as one year of language study. Applicants must choose to apply for only one language offered by the CLS Program.
Selection Process
Award recipients will be selected on the basis of merit with consideration for: Academic record and potential to succeed in a rigorous academic setting; Ability to adapt to a different cultural environment; Diversity; Plan for continuation of study of the language; and Plan to use the language in future career. All applicants are initially read by two outside academic readers, and the top applications are reviewed by panels of academic and experts in the area and language. Applicants recommended for selection are forwarded to the U.S. Department of State for final approval. After notification, selected participants will be required to complete a language evaluation. Selected applicants will be assigned to a CLS institute site by mid to late April based on language evaluation results along with information provided in the online application.
Program Details
The program begins with a two-day pre-departure orientation in Washington D.C.. Immediately following the orientation program, students are flown to their respective locations where they delve into the intensive language programs. The program itself involves approximately 20 hours a week of formal language instruction. In addition, CLS participants engage in a variety of language enhancement activities, including conversation partners, guest lectures, film viewings, host family visits (some sites), and cultural excursions. Some institutes require students to take a language pledge, which requires students to speak in the target language at designated times. Upon completion the program, students are asked to provide feedback and participate in post-program language testing.
Grant Benefits
All CLS Program costs are covered for participants including: travel to and from the student's U.S. home city and program location, a mandatory Washington, D.C. pre-departure orientation, applicable visa fees, room, board, group-based intensive language instruction, program-sponsored travel within country, and all entrance fees for CLS Program cultural enhancement activities.
References
External links
Categories:- Language education in the United States
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