What is NSLIY?
NSLIY stands for National Security Language Initiative for Youth and is a State Department intensive language and cultural immersion program.Read more about NSLIY at their website or join a NSLIY Applicant Facebook group.
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Here is a little excerpt from the NSLIY website about the program-
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs. NSLI-Y is part of a U.S. government initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. Now more than ever, it is important that Americans have the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to promote international dialogue and support American engagement abroad. NSLI-Y aims to provide opportunities to American youth that will spark a lifetime interest in language learning. Through overseas language programs, the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) assists participants in acquiring foreign language skills, cultural awareness, and knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully in a culturally diverse, increasingly interdependent world. The goals of the NSLI-Y program are to promote the learning of languages critical to the to the foreign policy interests of the United States, introduce American high school students to foreign cultures, foster mutual understanding with citizens of other countries, and encourage lifetime learning and career plans that include the use of critical foreign languages. ------------------ Basically, they give high school students the opportunity to do intensive language study and cultural immersion programs for languages that are very important in foreign policy and business but are not commonly taught in schools. Languages they offer include Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi, Persian (Tajiki), Turkish, Korean and Russian. It is a full scholarship that includes the language study, accommodations, travel etc. and it is completely merit-based (they do not take your family's income into account). While the scholarship is highly selective (approx. 12-15% acceptance rate), I would highly suggest applying if you are looking for an intense study abroad language program in any of the languages mentioned above. For more information, read their website, look at their facebook page or look on one of their many facebook groups (like this one or this one) for prospective applicants and alumni. The alumni are one of the friendliest communities I have ever met! They are happy to tell you about their experience, answer any questions and even read over your application if you ask nicely ;). |