U.S. Department of State
Indonesian
Alumni Spotlight: Sofia Marchesini
Sofia has always loved learning about other cultures and knew very little about Indonesia and Bahasa Indonesia before participating in the NSLI-Y program. The daughter of Indian and Italian immigrants, Sofia has long valued multicultural environments and cultural immersion. She was curious to learn Indonesian to better understand Indonesian culture… Read More
Arabic
From Court to Connection: How Sports Help Build Cultural Bridges
Reflecting on his summer abroad in Marrakesh as part of the 2023-2024 NSLI-Y Arabic Program, Ronak Majee found the experience transformative, both culturally and personally. His journey began with a long plane ride from Washington D.C. to Casablanca, followed by a bus ride to Marrakech. Upon arrival at the language… Read More
Russian
Друзья: How Friendships Shaped My NSLI-Y Experience
Maybe NSLI-Y was the friendships we made along the way. And I’m not kidding. The relationships that you build during NSLI-Y are priceless and can impact your learning in a way like no other. In the summer of 2023, I participated in NSLI-Y VSI (Hybrid) during my time at… Read More
2025-2026 NSLI-Y Application Is Now Open!
Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 NSLI-Y summer and academic year programs! The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) is a merit-based scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State. The NSLI-Y scholarship enables high school students to study a critical language abroad for a summer or an… Read More
Chinese (Mandarin)
NSLI-Y and Flagship Alumnus Bradley Orr Pursues Masters in Taiwan
Hailing from rural Kentucky, Bradley was not familiar with Asian cultures or languages. However, when a teacher introduced him to the NSLI-Y program, he was immediately drawn to the idea of learning Chinese. Driven by a curiosity to explore something entirely new, Bradley saw studying Chinese as an exciting adventure… Read More
Korean
Tips for Returning Home
Going to South Korea over the summer through NSLI-Y was – I thought – a solution to all my problems I was facing in my senior year of high school. Fights with friends, the pressure of university looming, and a need to escape from my hometown were all reasons why… Read More
