Alumni Representatives

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
I discovered NSLI-Y in my sophomore year of high school through an internet search for opportunities to learn a language abroad.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
Although I am half-Indian, coming from a solely English-speaking family I to some extent have felt dissociated from my Indian roots. After discovering this program, I decided to self-study the official language of India (Hindi) through the 2019 Facebook NSLI-Y Alumni Language Challenge. In just one month, I ended up learning not only Devanagari and elementary vocabulary, but also about the Indian culture. This success sparked a lifelong love for language learning.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I am taking a course on Islam from a global perspective in preparation for applying next year to the Critical Language Scholarship for Arabic. Upon graduation, I plan to apply to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer. Additionally, I am interested in a unique global health Master’s program where I will gain hands-on training and expertise in India.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
My goal is to eventually travel to India to meet my peer language partners, teachers, and host family that I connected with virtually through NSLI-Y. By taking Hindi-Urdu classes at my university, I hope to expand my language skills to be able to comfortably converse, breaking the language barrier.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
I had once considered becoming a medical doctor, but through participation in NSLI-Y I realized I wanted a more interdisciplinary career to utilize my language skills at a federal level. Although COVID-19 unfortunately prevented me from studying abroad, an upside was that it opened my eyes to the world of public health. I aspire to work as an epidemiologist for the World Health Organization where I could be on the frontline in helping to stop disease outbreaks in developing countries.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
Organization. Prior to the start of the program, I decided to purchase a journal embossed with gold elephants set against my favorite color teal which has made studying Hindi special. For quick access, the first page summarizes the Devanagari script with pronunciations. I also wrote down study activity suggestions including names of books, podcasts, journal prompts, and videos so when I want to study I do not have to search for materials covering the key aspects of language learning: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. This technique makes me confident that I will continue to study my target language post-program and eventually reach fluency.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I learned how vibrant India is in terms of the myriad of festivals that are celebrated. In my cohort we each presented information on our given festivals in Hindi based on what we learned from our language partners and doing so made me long for an in-person study abroad experience.

Please share a short highlight about your NSLI-Y experience.
In the first NSLI-Y program I participated in, we collaborated to create a music video. Each of us participants learned and recorded ourselves either singing or playing the chords for the song, Socha Hai, on each of our unique instruments, and then sent them to our amazing TA from iEARN India to edit together. On our culmination day, we watched the final product of the music video, making this program, although unfortunately turned virtual, unexpectedly memorable.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
The word, rim jhim (रिम झिम), means drizzle. I like this word because the way it rhymes reminds me of the beautiful pitter-patter rhythm of falling rain.

Share one interesting factoid about yourself, your personal background, or your language learning.
I was part of the inaugural year of a German-immersion elementary school in Los Angeles called the Goethe International Charter School!

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
I first learned about NSLI-Y through a Google search which led me to a YouTube video by the user “SarahsSeoulSearch.” For her video, she interviewed a friend about their experience abroad with NSLI-Y for an academic year studying Korean, which I was studying at the time. After listening, I was immediately inspired– and NSLI-Y became a goal that I never let go of.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by things most unfamiliar to me, especially language. I was initially drawn to Chinese due to its beautiful, yet intimidating-looking script, as well as the sheer scope of Chinese-speakers across the globe. However, as I began studying the language formally, I developed an even deeper appreciation for its cultural significance. Hearing the passion in my high school Chinese teacher’s voice as she explained the etymology behind certain words, often providing cultural context with stories from her youth in Taiwan, made me realize that Chinese, and language in general, is not only a tool, but a culmination of years of history and culture– ancient, yet constantly evolving.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
Currently, I plan on double-majoring in International Relations and Chinese with a concentration in East and Southeast Asian regional studies. While I am still considering many different career paths, my ongoing involvement with TASSEL Cambodia as a volunteer English teacher along with my experience with NSLI-Y has led me to develop an interest in the intersection of education and intercultural communication in the field of international development, particularly in the fight against extreme poverty. These experiences have taught me the importance of linguistic and cultural competence in fostering the mutual understanding and respect necessary to enact long-term cooperation and change.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
Given China’s growing presence in the developing world, I hope to use my knowledge of Chinese to advocate for and facilitate more sustainable and fair development projects, potentially as a lawyer or interpreter. On an individual level, I also strive to further my knowledge of Chinese history and culture to ensure that my views on current events are well-informed and contain the nuance that is sometimes missing in our current political climate

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
My participation in NSLI-Y reinforced my passion for language-learning and cultural exchange and strengthened my desire to travel to and potentially work in a Chinese-speaking country.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
Studying through NSLI-Y helped me improve my communication skills in Chinese by strengthening my ability to speak in a more natural, unrehearsed manner. It also made me a better learner by exposing me to new methods of language instruction, such as creating news reports and essays in the target language. Now, when I enter my Chinese class, which is conducted entirely in Chinese, I am not only able to understand but actively participate.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
While our program was moved online due to the pandemic, my experience was memorable nonetheless thanks to our instructor, 葛老师 (Ge Laoshi) and my fellow classmates, who approached each class with a passion for learning, open mindedness, and sense of humor that made our online classroom feel like a real one.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
Through our weekly cultural lessons, I was able to learn more about the diversity of Taiwan’s many ethnic groups and their respective dialects and cultures.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
加油 （Jiāyóu）is a popular phrase of encouragement, similar to “Come on!” or “You can do it!” The literal translation, however, is “add oil,” as one would to a racecar or machine. This is something our teacher would say to us every time he provided feedback, and needless to say, it quickly became a part of my everyday vocabulary. From cheering on your favorite team to telling a friend to keep their head up, 加油 covers it all.

Share one interesting factoid about yourself, your personal background, or your language learning.
Throughout my senior year of high school, I worked at a local Chinese restaurant where I would often practice speaking Chinese with my boss. After completing my program, I stopped by one day for some food and to say my goodbyes before leaving for college. She remarked that my Chinese had improved significantly, and insisted that from then on every time I order to do so only in Chinese!

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
I first heard about NSLI-Y from my stand partner in orchestra in high school. He had recently come back from a summer program in Morocco and encouraged me to apply!

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
When I was 17 and applying to NSLI-Y I didn’t have a very specific reason for choosing Arabic. I wanted to try something completely new and to immerse myself in a totally different language and culture. My family had hosted exchange students before, and I was always so amazed by how fast they picked up English. I wanted to challenge myself to do the same. I chose Arabic partly because the person who told me about NSLI-Y had a great experience in Morocco, and partly because visiting the Middle East sounded exciting. Even though I didn’t have a specific reason for Arabic back then, I am so glad that I chose it. Arabic lead me to some of my greatest friends, my most memorable experiences, and eventually to choosing my university in the UAE.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
My biggest professional goal is to do something meaningful to combat the climate crisis. Through my experience living and studying abroad both through NSLI-Y and my university, I saw how important international cooperation is to solve such a global problem, and I witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations around the world. I want to be part of the solution, whether that’s through policy or non-profit work.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
I’m currently working in International Education at LSU, where I use my cultural skills everyday interacting with the international student population. Looking forward to my future career, I know that language and intercultural competency are both incredibly useful when working in a global field like climate policy. I hope to use these skills to help build a more sustainable future for our planet.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
My NSLI-Y experience was a pivotal moment in my life.  Junior year of high school I didn't have much idea of what I wanted to do with my future. I applied to NSLI-Y after hearing about it from an alum, and my summer in Jordan was transformative. I had never been exposed to such a different culture or immersed in a new language like that before, and I was inspired to learn more about the world. I applied to university in Abu Dhabi, and took a gap year to participate in NSLI-Y in Morocco. While in Morocco, I had the opportunity to see the UN Climate Conference in Marrakech, which sparked the passion for international climate policy that I followed into university. Thanks to the NSLI-Y experience, I found my academic and professional passions: international education, and climate policy, which have led me here to where I am today. I'm currently working as Coordinator of International Student Engagement at LSU, and pursuing a graduate degree in Environmental Science.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
Aside from the obvious language skill that I gained from my NSLI-Y experience, my summer in Jordan and my year in Morocco taught me independence and courage. If I could navigate life in a foreign country where I barely spoke the language and find ways to build community there, I feel like I can tackle any big problem. I learned how to deal with stress and uncertainty, and to be flexible and open to new experiences. I learned to listen to and learn from people who are different from me, even when our opinions might be vastly different.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
My favorite part about studying in Morocco was learning to surf with my host sister!

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I learned about Morocco’s history of colonization by Spain and France, and how its culture and language have been shaped by that history.

Please share a short highlight about your NSLI-Y experience.
During my year in Morocco, I was able to join the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra. It was an amazing experience to be able to play the cello with musicians from around the country in big concert halls in Rabat and Casablanca. Even though I didn’t know all of the Arabic music words going into the experience, I was able to connect with new people through music and find a community that reminded me of home.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
My favorite word in Arabic is رفيسة which is a Moroccan dish with lentils, a type of shredded bread, and chicken. I will never forget how my host uncle remembered that I didn’t like fish, so when he came over for dinner and my host mom was making fish he brought me my own plate of Rfissa that he made just for me.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I’ve long held an interest in the geopolitical, cultural, and historical affairs of the Greater Middle East. Over the past few years, I’ve found more opportunities to pursue this interest through academics, extracurriculars, and even recreation (Abbas Amanat’s Iran: A Modern History is a great read); my passion for the Greater Middle East has played a major role in determining my professional aspirations. I had recently decided to extend my study into the linguistic realm, and since I was already taking Arabic at my high school, I felt that Tajiki would be the perfect NSLI-Y language for me! Studying Tajiki felt like the perfect way to turn my fascination with Persian history into a practical, marketable skill.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I hope to obtain a degree in Near and Middle Eastern Studies with a minor in International Relations. This degree would, ideally, allow me to pursue a career in the U.S. Foreign Service where I would have the opportunity to exercise my proficiency in Tajiki.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
Since Tajiki is mutually intelligible with both Farsi and Dari, it can easily be applied to contemporary issues of national security, diplomacy, and international business. I’m confident that my proficiency in Tajiki will provide a valuable—potentially necessary—advantage and facilitate my professional and personal development.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
Participating in NSLI-Y has both allowed me to develop valuable, practical skills and positively influenced the scope of my aspirations. My experience in NSLI-Y opened my eyes to the breadth of rich cultural diversity present in our world and taught me how to navigate any such divides. It expanded my interest in foreign relations to a greater scale while simultaneously giving my passions a distinctly personal touch. I now intend to pursue a career that will allow me to connect to people of all different cultures and backgrounds, through language, collaboration, and shared experience.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
NSLI-Y not only helped me to refine my Tajiki and improved my ability to make intercultural connections, it also helped me with time management and independence. The consistent pace of language classes and other meetings kept me busy without being overwhelming; they allowed me to develop an ethic of persistent, utilitarian productivity. The burden of directing this productivity was squarely on me—although I was never without support systems—and I became more independent and self-disciplined over the course of the program. I also did pretty well in our dance class!

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
Since my NSLI-Y experience was virtual, I never actually made it into Tajikistan. Despite this, I can still clearly remember every Tajik I met for their amenable and generous personalities. I love meeting new people and NSLI-Y was no exception, every instructor was welcoming, good-humored, and generally wonderful to be around. My favorite part about studying Tajiki was, by far, the people involved.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I learned a lot about the significance of dance to Tajik culture, as well as the intense variation of dances in different regions of Tajikistan. For example, while Kulobi dances often consist of the energetic, circular movement of hands covered in long sleeves, Pashmiri dances are generally slower and performed in shorter sleeves.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
My favorite Tajiki phrase is кидар гӯшаи ҳаёлат набуд meaning ‘not in the corner of your imagination’. It’s meant to describe things that you would never have imagined happening before you witnessed them yourself. Having an open imagination and being able to integrate new cultural norms into your behavior were vital skills for my completion of NSLI-Y.

Share one interesting factoid about yourself, your personal background, or your language learning.
I’ve played the piano for most of my life and have always been interested in the unique musical traditions of cultures I’m studying.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I’ve always loved languages, and my most proficient (after English) is German. I had spent some time in Berlin and had gone to many of the Turkish markets in the city. In fact, one time I was sitting on a bench in the city and a woman sat down next to me - she spoke very little German and I spoke no Turkish at the time, but we managed to parse together a conversation. I loved the sound of the language and was inspired by the way we found a way to communicate with each other despite the language barrier. I remembered these experiences while perusing NSLI-Y and thus chose Turkish!

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
As current Linguistics and Comparative Human Development major, I am interested in language, the way we acquire it, and the way it shapes our thinking. I am currently helping with psycholinguistics research at UChicago and hope to continue in that field, and/ or go into language education.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
I hope to teach Turkish and study the anthropology of the Byzantine area.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
My NSLI-Y experience widened my understanding of different cultures around the world and strengthened my passion to learn and teach languages.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
I learned how to adapt to living in a culture very different from what I was used to and how to pick up a language quickly, as well as how to have conversations and learn from people from different backgrounds.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
My favorite part of living in Turkey was exploring the city. Bursa is an incredible place because while it is absolutely a city and there is much to explore there, it is also right next to Uludag mountain, and I loved getting to go up the mountain and experience nature.

Please share a short highlight about your NSLI-Y experience.
One of my favorite parts of the summer was taking the Teleferik up Uludag mountain. I did this with my fellow NSLI-Y students and not only was it beautiful, but we also got to visit an English language camp for Turkish teenagers and speak with them in a mix of our two languages.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
One of my favorite phrases is “kusura bakma” which literally means “don’t look at the mistake.” It’s a light and funny way of saying nevermind or excusing a mistake you made, but isn’t too serious.

Share one interesting factoid about yourself, your personal background, or your language learning.
I have loved language learning my entire life and also love teaching it - I have helped teach German and Italian and loved sharing my passion with equally excited students.

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
I learned about NSLI-Y at an National Honor Society leadership conference. A State Department official and an Alumni Representative gave a presentation on the program.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I became really interested in Korean history: effects of Japanese imperial rule and student protests. This naturally led me to learn more about the language and I became interested in the alphabet. That interest grew and led me to want to learn even more about the language itself.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I am interested in working in translation as well as the Foreign Service.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
I plan to use my target language skills to continue connecting with new people and in my future career.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
Participating in NSLI-Y broadened my perspective and made me realize the many opportunities there are to use language in a future career. Furthermore, through NSLI-Y I learned about careers in the Foreign Service and talking to Foreign Service Officers abroad inspired my interest in a similar career.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
NSLI-Y gave me the confidence to continue speaking, even when I make mistakes. My experience taught me how to study more effectively, navigate new places, and be more independent. I also learned how to ask for help and build relationships across barriers of language or background.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
My favorite part about studying in my host country was being able to directly apply everything I was learning in the classroom in the world around me. This made learning take on a whole new meaning and further motivated me to study and push myself language-wise.

Please share a short highlight about your NSLI-Y experience.
One of my favorite memories is of my host mom taking me to eat sannakji (live octopus) as a celebration of my SAT results. Afterwards we walked up by the old city wall and down to the Seoul National University Med School. The view on the walk was gorgeous and I really got to connect with my host mom that night.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
One of my favorite phrases is “라떼는 말이야” (la ddae-neun mal-ee-ya) which means latte is horse and is used to refer to older generations who constantly talk about their youth as a way to judge or discredit younger generations. It is a play on the phrase “나 때는 말이야” (na ddae-neun mal-ee-ya), meaning “back in my day” or “when I was young”.

Share one interesting factoid about yourself, your personal background, or your language learning.
I participated in Virtual NSLI-Y and this experience is what led me to do the abroad program!

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
I learned about NSLI-Y when I came across a feature in my local newspaper about a student who traveled to Morocco through the program.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I volunteer with a predominantly Arabic-speaking refugee population as a tutor, teaching English and STEM skills to the recent emigre students in my community. I wanted to learn Arabic as it would allow me to better connect and communicate with my students. I also became intrigued by Arabic art, food, music, and history as I bonded with the students I tutored. I wanted to acquire the ability to speak Arabic and understand the culture because I consider that to be the first step toward understanding a different perspective in fostering a lasting collaborative relationship.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
My interest lies in the intersection of STEM and linguistics. I hope to pursue my passion for biological sciences, technology, and language learning in college. While I am still exploring career options, I have a profound interest in using the latest technology like artificial intelligence to solve societal problems.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
My emerging ability to connect language, literacy, and culture gives me a richer picture of learning as well as teaching. In addition to using my newfound Arabic language and cultural skills with my current volunteering work with the refugee population in the U.S., I plan to use the global perspective and cross-cultural appreciation I’ve gained through NSLI-Y in my future travels and a possible career as a medical doctor.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
Participating in NSLI-Y has opened my eyes to the inter-connectedness of the world. Language and culture are two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other. This understanding has inspired introspection into how various cultures are interconnected. It has ignited a fresh desire in me to engage with people from different cultures and connect with them on a personal level, thus fueling a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I was surprised to find that Morocco's culture is a mix of religious and ethnic traditions, including Berber, Arab, African, Mediterranean, and Jewish influences.

Please share a short highlight about your NSLI-Y experience.
I greatly enjoyed learning about Arabic culture and language through the arts, especially through calligraphy. Art reflects culture and culture is influenced by religion. Highly valued and a basic part of Islamic art is calligraphy. Arabic calligraphy (beautiful writing), embodies Islamic culture. By blending the art of beautiful writing and religious beliefs in the writing of Quran text, art is elevated to a new, spiritual level. The experience of participating in a calligraphy class was an amazing experience because it allowed me to understand and appreciate the spiritual side of the Arabic language in a way I had never encountered before. This is one of the cherished memories that I carry from my NSLI-Y experience.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
My favorite Arabic phrase is انطلق!, pronounced inṭaliq!, it means “Go for it!”. I heard this word repeated numerous times during the program as my teacher gently encouraged us to get past our hesitation in using our newly acquired linguistic skills. This is a mantra I’ve since adopted to motivate myself in my day-to-day life since the program ended!

Share one interesting factoid about yourself, your personal background, or your language learning.
I am a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) advocate. I work with the neurodivergent population (mostly with Autism Spectrum Disorder) in teaching language acquisition skills and social skills through play therapy.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
Being Chinese American, I often found many similarities with my own language (Mandarin) and Korean, which made me curious in wanting to explore the greater East Asian background and potentially build solidarity within my ethnic community. Korean was the perfect “next step” in learning a language that was challenging, yet fun for me to take on.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
At the University of Southern California, I will be studying business administration and potentially adding international relations as a double major. Along the way, I hope to study languages abroad with other State Department programs, pursue a master’s degree in global affairs, and perhaps one day become a Foreign Service Officer!

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
Now that I will be attending a school next to Koreatown, learning Korean certainly will be helpful to engaging with the greater LA community. I plan to apply my NSLI-Y experiences to helping other students with their study abroad plans, especially those who come from underrepresented backgrounds.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
I don’t think I could imagine my high school career without NSLI-Y. Before, I intended on pursuing finance, then law school. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, being able to study abroad in Korea on a scholarship showed me that languages were not only valuable, but powerful. I realized there was a world of foreign exchange and international diplomacy that I still wanted to explore in college.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
NSLI-Y taught me how to make significant progress in a language within a short amount of time. I gained important social skills when it came to communicating my needs to my host family, classmates, and to local Koreans. It also taught me accountability: for example, the consequences of arriving late!

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
Aside from the widely accessible public transit, rich cultural history, and great-tasting food, my favorite part about studying in Korea would have to be the exact time and location it happened. Although COVID-19 changed many aspects of our experience, it also helped our cohort bond more than I could have imagined. Staying in a quarantine hotel for 2 weeks, seeing the Demilitarized Zone, and somehow getting interviewed on KTV news were all unique highlights of my journey.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I was surprised to see how geographically diverse Seoul was. There were neighborhood districts like the Hanok villages that replicated traditional Korean history of the royals, but just adjacent there would be modern shopping plazas and the timeless Han River. Outside of Seoul, there is also a variety of Korean dialects as well, which I found fascinating.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
My favorite word in Korean is “새로운,” or “new.” I think it gives the idea of a fresh start a deeper meaning, much more than its English translation.

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
I learned about NSLI-Y my freshman year of high school while searching online for language learning opportunities. I also participated in a STARTALK program where I learned more about the program from alumni.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I have always loved to learn about history, and the linguistic history of Arabic and different Arabic dialects- especially Darija- intrigues me endlessly. The first few words of Arabic I learned were actually in a Spanish class where the teacher and an Arabic-speaking student compared words like the Spanish “azúcar” and the Arabic “sukkar” to show how the languages influence one another. I also want to use knowledge of Arabic to learn more about the rich collections of art, literature, and music from the SWANA region.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I plan to major in International Studies and Arabic with a third major in either linguistics or journalism/communications. I hope to combine my interest in languages and storytelling with my passion for the arts and creativity through a career in international education or in journalism.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
Storytelling has always been an integral part of my upbringing. I love telling stories, and I also love to listen to them. In the future, I hope to use my language and cultural skills to learn from new stories in Spanish and in different dialects of Arabic. I would love to use my knowledge of Darija in the realm of public diplomacy in order to share the stories that I have heard in the United States and in Morocco.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
Participating in NSLI-Y gave me further motivation to study Arabic so I can communicate more easily with host family and friends from Morocco. My experience with NSLI-Y solidified my interest in international education and learning world languages.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
My NSLI-Y experience gave me more confidence in myself. As I navigated an unfamiliar city with limited language skills and learned how to express myself despite a language barrier, I learned how to adapt and react to situations in which I am not always certain of what is going on.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
I loved living in Rabat, a city where there is always something intriguing happening, always new people to learn from, and always new places to explore. Coming from a smaller town, I was not used to the ability to explore a city through public transportation or to have a store within walking distance from my home. From walking the bustling Medina streets with my host family to learning more about the history of the city at Roman ruins around the city, living in Rabat was a highlight of studying in Morocco.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
While in Morocco I learned more about the Amazigh languages in Morocco. Morocco has two official languages, Arabic and Tamazight. Tamazight is spoken by the indigenous Amazigh people of North Africa, and along with Arabic and French, is often featured on street signs in Morocco. I love to learn about the histories of languages in Morocco and want to continue to learn about how various languages and dialects influence one another.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
On the first day of class, I explained to my teacher how strongly I value getting a solid ten hours of sleep when the opportunity is present. Laughing, my teacher taught me the phrase النوم والكسل أحلى من العسل, which means “sleep and laziness are sweeter than honey”. The phrase would sometimes make its way into class as a humorous reminder of my values, and it is something I still find myself repeating.

Share one interesting factoid about yourself, your personal background, or your language learning.
I have played cello for eight years and have played in various chamber and symphony ensembles, pit orchestras, and even some jazz and folk groups just for fun. I love music- anything from Bach to bossa nova- and often incorporate learning song lyrics into my language studies.

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
While googling opportunities to study abroad, I found out about NSLI-Y on the State Department website three days after the application deadline. I excitedly waited for the next application season to begin and immediately started my application.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
In my first year of high school, I had an amazing history teacher who majored in Russian studies. Her teaching of Russian history and the Cold War was really interesting and sparked my passion for U.S.-Russian relations. My love for Cold War history is what initially drew me to Russian. Since then, learning more about the complex relationship between the United States and Russia has further motivated me to learn more about Russia and the Russian language.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
My current plan is to double major in International Relations and Russian and Eastern European studies. In the future, I hope to be a Foreign Service Officer and work in countries throughout Eastern Europe.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
I plan to use my target language and cultural skills in my career as a Foreign Service Officer. These skills will allow me to better communicate with Russian-speakers and be successful in an increasingly globalized world. I also think they will play a large role in my daily life and in the interactions I have with ordinary people.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
My participation in NSLI-Y reaffirmed my interest in a career with the U.S. Department of State and has encouraged me to continue studying Russian. It has also motivated me to study other languages, learn about other cultures, and just generally become more globally minded. I think the knowledge and cultural awareness I gained will play a large role in my future.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
Besides developing my communication skills and cultural awareness, I learned a lot about how to adapt to new environments. Since traveling to Russia was my first time leaving the United States, there were a lot of small and large challenges that I initially faced. By the end of the six weeks I became very accustomed to life in Russia and a lot more confident in my abilities.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I never realized how diverse Russia actually is until I got there. Besides ethnic Russians, Russia has a large Uzbek, Tajik, Ukrainian, and Armenian immigrant population. In fact, almost half of my group—myself included—had an Armenian host parent!

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
My favorite word in Russian is Удачи (pronounced “ooDAchi”), which means “good luck” in English. My host family used to tell me this before dropping me off at the dorms for Russian class.

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
Google search for exchange programs.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I became interested in Russian after watching Rocky IV, a movie about two competing boxers (one American, one Russian). Much screen time in the movie is given to highlighting their different training styles, and as a young person with a penchant for grit-oriented movies, it fascinated me how Ivan Drago (the Russian boxer) trained. Learning more about the Soviet mentality led me to learning the basics of Russian from speakers of the language, and from there it was only a matter of expanding vocabulary and watching Cheburashka enough times to learn the basics before turning to NSLI-Y to help me on my Russian-language journey.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
In the long-term, I hope to enter the field of national security entrepreneurship, working to solve some of the United States’ greatest national security concerns through problem-solving in the private sector.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
I hope to use my target language and cultural skills in communicating and understanding Russian and other-Russian-speaking nations’ national security concerns to address American diplomatic goals. In this way, through a first-hand understanding of what Russian-speaking-nations’ needs are on the foreign policy front, I can work on solving large-world problems and ensuring the next generation inherits a more prosperous and stable world to live in.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
NSLI-Y exposed me to not just Russian language and culture, but to many facets of professional careers I had never even considered before. I learned that even the world’s biggest problems have people (from the State Department, USAID, the Department of Defense, etc.) working on them, and it empowered me to seek ways to engage with the government (via internships, for example).

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
Perhaps the biggest skill I gained was learning how to think more on my feet. During lessons, we were called on randomly to speak in Russian; during conversations with my peer language partner, I had to adapt to the evolving discussion and find workarounds to say things I didn’t know how to articulate; during presentations, I had to engage in Q&A and respond to questions I did not know the answer to. As someone who was not comfortable doing this much in English, it was truly freeing to be able to manage to do so in Russian after just six short weeks.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned about Russian culture was how many different ethnicities there are in Russia.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
“Повторение - мать всего обучения” is a phrase that means “repetition is the mother of all learning”. This is my favorite phrase in Russian, not just because it sounds extremely fluid being said out loud, but also because of how it speaks to a distinctively-Russian mentality of persistence, resilience, and determination. I was taught this phrase back in middle school by an old Russian mathematics professor, who made this his mantra when solving difficult problems.

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
I learned about NSLI-Y through my amazing college counselor! She introduced the program to me and I immediately fell in love with the thought of traveling and being a part of a culture different from my own. Being a merit-based scholarship program, NSLI-Y gave me an opportunity to travel I would have never gotten otherwise.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I will be attending Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College majoring in Biological Sciences (Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology) (BS) on the pre-med track! I have goals to be a doctor and plan to specialize in something, but I’m keeping my options open until my second year of medical school.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
My time in Russia allowed me to explore my interests and really think about who I was and what I wanted to do in life. After researching and developing my interests, I found a passion for health and wellness. NSLI-Y helped me find my newfound dream to become a doctor and passion for health. I plan on using my experience with different cultures to help me understand my patients to a higher degree. Hopefully I’ll be able to use my Russian in the field one day!

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
In addition to learning Russian and becoming more aware of the cultures surrounding me, I learned how to assert myself in a respectful way and manage my time. Time management has allowed me to accomplish many of my dreams, such as obtaining the Congressional Award Gold Medal, Girl Scout Gold Award, and Taekwondo Black Belt. I have NSLI-Y to thank for allowing me to achieve some of my biggest dreams.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
One of my favorite parts about studying in Moscow by far was staying at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. It felt like you were in a different realm as you walked through the hallways and ballerinas were stretching or practicing before class. There was nothing more enchanting than seeing them dance in neighboring rooms as you walked to class. I also loved the architecture in Moscow. As someone from Phoenix, the buildings seemed intricate and impressive no matter the size or importance.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
When my group was asked what stereotypes we were expecting at our pre-departure orientation, we collectively said that we expected Russians to be stern, blunt, and not smile. While it is true that Russians don’t smile nearly as much as Americans, the people were just as, if not more, friendly as Americans. Strangers would often help if I was struggling ordering in Russian or give me directions if I looked lost. Russia surprised me by welcoming me with open arms, and I can’t wait to go back.

Please share a short highlight about your NSLI-Y experience.
Walking into the Большой Московский Цирк (Great Moscow Circus), I didn’t know what to expect. I had never been to a circus before and could only imagine what I had seen in the movies. Walking in, I was blown away, and that was just the front lobby. My host mom recognized a friend, and they led us up through a seemingly back entrance to the arena. I didn’t realize I was in the presidential seats until I saw the engraved plate next to me. That night I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the flying acrobats, fire eaters, and mighty lions. Watching one of the greatest circuses in the world in the best seat in the house is a memory I will never forget.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
My favorite word in Russian is блины (blini), not only because it is fun to say, but also because it is my favorite food in Russia. A блины is a Russian or Ukrainian pancake, but it resembles a crepe. My host family taught me how to make them and we enjoyed them together with the prickly pear jelly I brought from my hometown.

How did you learn about NSLI-Y?
I first learned about NSLI-Y from a friend of mine that participated in the summer program in Kirov, Russia.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I grew up around Russian speaking friends, and just always had the passion to learn more about the language and culture. I saw this as an incredible opportunity to learn Russian in an immersive setting, while getting the chance to experience another culture, try new foods, and make numerous life-long friends along the way.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I’m interested in public policy, and would love to get involved in different citizen diplomacy initiatives like environmental projects or language exchanges. I’m also very interested in migration and human rights. I’d love to work in an international setting that helps protect the rights of others, whether through translating, interpreting, or even immigration law.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
I think there are numerous outlets through which I will be able to incorporate my Russian skills into my future. I’ve recently signed up to be a volunteer for Translators without Borders, and hope to get involved helping others through their platform. I also think gaining the cultural skills from learning and living in another country can apply to every aspect of life because I have come to appreciate other cultures more deeply and that lends to having a very diverse and unique outlook of life. I want to use my language skills to help others and see these skills as vital in fostering a more diverse and linguistically curious society.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
NSLI-Y first and foremost taught me to be independent. I learned how to take bus routes on my own, and even more deeply understood the value of the dollar when abroad. It’s not just an incredible life experience with exposure to language and culture, it’s one that really helped me with the transition from high school to college because of all the life skills I learned while on the program. I also learned more profound intercultural communication skills, and I think those will be paramount when working in an international setting someday.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
I loved the food! There are so many unique places to eat in Moldova that we just don’t have around the US. At home, it so normal to go out for pizza or Chinese takeout, but in Moldova, we got to visit all sorts of amazing Uzbek, Turkish, and Georgian restaurants/coffee shops. There’s so much culture to be learned through food, and I think that was one of my favorite parts of studying abroad.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I learned a lot more about Moldovan history, and the country’s connection to Romania as well as Soviet occupation. Moldova is a small country, around the size of Maryland, and I think that while it may not be known to many, it’s really an incredible place with unique geopolitical development. I also had a chance to learn about Moldova’s wine culture and how important it is in society. Moldova is actually one of the top wine producers in the world, so they do place an important emphasis on agriculture.

Share one interesting factoid about yourself, your personal background, or your language learning.
I went to a French immersion school in high school, the Alliance Francaise of MSP, and I think the skills and tools I learned there really prepared me for the immersive experience of studying in Moldova. I actually did not speak almost any Russian when I first arrived, and so it was a big leap into a culture that I knew very little about. It ended up being an incredible experience that pushed me to use my language skills while continuing to develop the other intercultural skills that I learned at the Alliance.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I am interested in studying Indonesian for many reasons. My grandpa was born in Indonesia which sparked my initial curiosity. As I learned more, I became fascinated by the linguistic aspect of Indonesian as it is made up of different languages such as Arabic, Dutch, and local languages. As a result, learning Indonesian has, and will make it easier to learn more languages in the future. I hope to work in Southeast Asia in the future either in the Foreign Service or for an NGO.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I plan to graduate in 2025 from Agnes Scott College with a degree in Economics and International Relations. While I am not entirely sure what I want to do professionally, I hope to work abroad and either in for the government or an NGO.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
I currently use Indonesian as I virtually volunteer with a community center in my host community. I also use it when communicating with my host families. I have continued to study Indonesian through weekly classes and have presented about a variety of topics in Indonesian for our final showcases. In the future, I hope to use Indonesian in work and to connect with Indonesians both in the U.S. and abroad. I plan on using my cross-cultural skills in work and when communicating with others from different cultures, whether it’s with new refugees to the U.S. or while traveling abroad.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
Participating in NSLI-Y made me want to study abroad again, which I did with the YES Abroad program in Indonesia. Living in Indonesia showed me the impact that decisions made by both individual Americans and the government have on the world. Because of that, I hope to work in Southeast Asia either for the government or an NGO.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
I learned how to advocate for myself and communicate with people more efficiently. As I discovered a new way of life in Indonesia, I also learned the importance of being a listener and how to ask for help. Finally, I gained a greater understanding of what it means to be an American citizen, and how to share American values with others.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
I loved the diversity of Indonesia, learning about it and living in the center of it all in Jakarta. My NSLI-Y host family taught me so much about Indonesia, but also about their region, which is south Sulawesi in east Indonesia. I also enjoyed having the chance to learn about Indonesian culture and cultures of the different groups that make up Indonesia, from the Batak fabric of Northern Sumatra to the gamelan music of East Java.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
I learned that Indonesians value relaxing and not rushing through things. One of my language teachers said it best as “Americans have clocks, but Indonesians have time.” I have tried to have a more relaxed attitude about time.

Please share a short highlight about your NSLI-Y experience.
My host family was the highlight of my experience. From talking with my host mom on the way to school, to my host dad giving me daily quizzes, to hanging out and making silly YouTube videos with my host sister—my host family taught me so much, both about Indonesia and life. They included me in community activities, such as going to church, and made me feel like a member of the community rather than an outsider.

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
My favorite word in Indonesian is Semangat (suh-man-aht), which can mean different things depending on the situation. It can mean “keep the spirit”, “don't give up, you can do it”, or “good luck”. You use it when encouraging others before a test or during a challenging time.

Why were you interested in studying your NSLI-Y target language?
I’m a heritage speaker of the Slavic language Serbo-Croatian. I wanted to study Russian because I started noticing how similar it is to my native tongue, especially regarding the grammar and pronunciation. Russian started becoming a language that felt familiar and comforting, and that made me feel like a head start on the language, despite not studying it before. Essentially, I had no excuse not to learn a language that is so alike one that I already know.

What are your educational and/or professional goals?
I study at the Portland State University School of Business Honors College where I’m majoring in Management and Leadership. I’m passionate about studying Russian and learning about the fashion industry, so I plan on getting my MBA in Russia and working in upper management at a major fashion house, such as Gucci or Prada, at their Moscow location.

How do you plan to use your target language and cultural skills in the future?
I plan on going to graduate school and working in the fashion industry in Russia. During my time there I would love to use my Russian skills to develop more sustainable fashion consumption and production practices in Russian-speaking countries.

How did participation in NSLI-Y affect your life and future goals?
NSLI-Y helped me gain an immense amount confidence in myself. By participating in an intensive language program, I showed myself that I can take on challenges and complete them successfully. This confidence boost encouraged me to start dreaming bigger.

What skills did you gain during your NSLI-Y experience?
My public speaking skills improved, and I gained so much confidence by completing the final presentation in my target language. That experience showed me that if I could successfully present something in a foreign language to a large group of people, then I can confidently do a presentation in English in front of any number of people.

What was your favorite part about studying in your host country?
Although virtual due to the pandemic, my favorite part was meeting students that are from Russia. I loved getting to know students my age that were so different than me and talking to them about the fashion culture in Moscow.

What did you learn about your host country or culture that you didn’t know before your NSLI-Y experience?
One major thing I learned is that many Russians are not fans of shopping for second-hand clothing. Thrifting is not seen in a very positive light. This was surprising for me to hear as someone who comes from a city where shopping for second-hand clothing is highly encouraged and appreciated.

Please share a short highlight about your NSLI-Y experience.
I really enjoyed watching everyone’s final presentation in our target language. It was so empowering and special to see how hard everyone had worked over the summer and how much everyone had learned!

What is your favorite target language word or phrase, and what does it mean in English?
“Любовь - это, милая моя, взаимное головокружение.” This is a quote from a Soviet film called “The Cranes are Flying”. This quote roughly translates to “Love is, my dear, mutual vertigo.”