National Security Language Initiative
Have you always wanted to live abroad with a family and gain fluency in a foreign language? Each year, the U.S. State Department provides scholarships to American youth for summer and academic-year language immersion programs. This is a public service opportunity with a major personal upside. Learn a new language, and also understand culture nuances and customs in a foreign country. This is an exceptional opportunity for an adventurous spirit, or anyone with foreign language facility or inclination. The best part: no prior experience is required!
“The U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program was launched in 2006 to promote critical language learning among American youth. The U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with American Councils for International Education, awards and administers merit-based scholarships to high school students for participation in summer and academic year immersion programs in locations where the eight NSLI-Y languages are spoken. NSLI-Y immerses participants in the cultural life of the host community, giving them formal and informal language practice and sparking a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures. Participants receive intensive language instruction, live with a host family for all or part of the program, and participate in a variety of cultural activities.
NSLI-Y provides intensive language immersion programs in a variety of locations around the world. Beginners are encouraged to apply for any of the target languages; previous language experience is not required.
Programs may take place in the following locations:
Belarus, China, Egypt, Estonia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Latvia, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and other locations around the world, as conditions allow.”
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc?
Keep up with your language training if at all possible. Stay in touch with your family, and everyone you meet through the State Department. This could lead to life-long friendships, memories and opportunities.
Keep careful track of your experiences and then write an essay, an article or even a research paper that incorporate your observations.
Keep a journal, or write essays or creative pieces about your experience. It will help you remember your experience better! If you do write along the way (or in retrospect) you should be submitting it to one of the many competitions and journals aimed at teens. See our posts about getting writing and poetry published in the prestigious Hanging Loose Press, Teen Sequin , Elan Literary Magazine and more.
If you are looking for more rough travel adventure, consider another unique program, ideally in a region where you can continue to develop your NSLI language skills. For example, you might explore:
Where There Be Dragons immersive and gap year travel or
HOT TIP: You’ll never win the AP or SAT arms race, but you might be the most interesting candidate a college sees if you do NSLI. Chances are good that you’ll also create lots of memorable and life-changing experiences (that will likely help you write some incredible college admissions essays).