Russian

A Small Practice for a Big Country

Bianca is an alum of the 2020 Russian summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. The open window brought in the smell of fresh-cut grass and the warm hug of summer morning heat. I could hear the… Read More

Korean

summer, somewhere

Ashley is an alum of the 2018 Korean summer program. This poem was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. summer, somewhere A Seoul summer: sticky youth, convenience store kimbap stuffed with rice, too-sour kimchi, sweet bulgogi. We go to the… Read More

Chinese (Mandarin)

What is Religion? 宗教到底是什麼？

This entry includes links to the author’s personal blog, which represents her viewpoint alone. NSLI-Y Interactive posts do not equate to endorsements of ideas written on students’ personal blogs. Halden is from Pinehurst, NC and participated in the China Summer 2018 and Taiwan AY 2020-2021 programs. Halden previously wrote for… Read More
Image of temples and their reflection on a body of water

NSLI-Y VSI Highlights: Artmaking and Creativity

To ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) chose to make its summer program virtual for all countries except Korea. The NSLI-Y Virtual Summer Intensive (VSI) program of 2021 was a virtual alternative to NSLI-Y’s standard… Read More

Arabic

Music in Morocco: Earth, Wind, & Fire (and Language Learning through Music)

Katie is from Tallahassee, FL, and is an alumna of the Arabic Summer 2019 program in Rabat and the virtual Arabic Academic Year 2020-21 program. I never thought I’d find a disco beat in the souq. Music constantly filled the medina, my summer home while I studied in Morocco with… Read More

NSLI-Y VSI Highlights: Cooking and Cultural Exchange

To ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) chose to make its summer program virtual for all countries except Korea. The NSLI-Y Virtual Summer Intensive (VSI) program of 2021 was a virtual alternative to NSLI-Y’s standard… Read More