I hope this message finds you in good health and spirits!
My name is Josie Krieger and I’m reaching out from the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program where I work as the Communications Officer. Celebrating 20 years of excellence, the CLS Program is a funded immersive summer study abroad opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages of strategic importance. The CLS Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State and supported in its implementation by American Councils for International Education.
In just eight weeks, participants receive the equivalent of one year of college-level study in one of nine critical languages: Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Swahili. The program combines intensive language instruction with rich cultural activities.
Since its inception in 2006, CLS has supported over 10,000 participants from all 50 U.S. states, equipping them with language and intercultural skills that set them apart in today’s global job market.
Key Dates
- The application is now open and will close at 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
- Learn more about eligibility: https://clscholarship.org/
applicants/eligibility
Action Requested
We encourage you to share this opportunity with students who may benefit from immersive language learning and global experience, as well as your broader networks. CLS provides funding and robust student support, making this opportunity accessible to students from a wide range of academic and personal backgrounds.
We value your partnership and hope to see strong engagement from your network in this year’s applicant pool.
Sincerely,
Josie Krieger
Communications Officer
Critical Language Scholarship Program
American Councils for International Education
www.americancouncils.org