A Program of the U.S. Department of State
The application for the 2022 CLS Spark initiative has closed. We will be in touch with all applicants following the review and selection process--thank you for your interest!
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a summer study abroad opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world.
The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. Participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period, and later apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers.
Each summer, CLS provides rigorous academic instruction in fifteen languages that are critical to America's national security and economic prosperity. CLS participants are citizen ambassadors, sharing American values and promoting American influence abroad.
Why You Should Study Abroad with the CLS Program
Key Benefits
Develop Key Expertise
The CLS Program provides its scholars intensive language and cultural instruction in an environment designed to maximize their language gains at every level.
Career Ready Skills
Alumni apply their critical language skills in a variety of professional fields in public and private sectors as well as government, helping to support America’s competitiveness across the board.
Citizen Diplomacy
CLS scholars represent the breadth and diversity of the United States. Through personal engagement they help to spread American values and develop mutual understanding with the people of other countries.
Languages Offered
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"I had always been interested in learning about Brazilian culture and Portuguese language and CLS made that a reality for me."
Max Courval, Portuguese 2020 -
Diplomatic representation of the monolith that is the United States military is very similar to the citizen diplomacy aspect of the CLS Program. You cannot begin to understand culture without the language component. With the CLS Program, you gain authenticity by learning the language.
Andrea Howard, Azerbaijani 2015 -
The CLS Program was instrumental in getting me to the proficiency level required for my career. My employer cited my language skills as one of the main traits that made me an outstanding candidate.
John Krzyzaniak, Persian 2016 -
Just having conversations with people and being open with them about what we did culturally where I’m from; I’ve always wanted to share that with people.
Marcus Dunn, Korean 2011
CLS News and Stories
Alumni Profile: Vanessa Rogers-Wright
Vanessa Rodgers-Wright is an alumna of the CLS Korean Program hosted by Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea. Vanessa is a senior at the University of Central Arkansas double majoring in Political Science and International Studies and minoring in TESOL and Asian Studies. Vanessa’s in…June 27, 2022
Juneteenth—Celebratory and Somber: Reflections with Alumnus Benjamin Simington
Today is Juneteenth. Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or Independence Day, is the oldest and most popular annual celebration of the emancipation of enslaved people. On June 19, 1865, Gordon Granger, a Union general, informed the people of Galveston, Texas that they were free …June 19, 2022
Alumni Profile: Cynthia Johnson
Cynthia Johnson is an alumna of the 2021 CLS Korean Program hosted by Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea. Cynthia graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in Critical Language and International Studies with a minor in Korean translation and local…June 10, 2022
Pride Month showed me what was possible
Growing up in rural West Virginia in a town of only 544 people, I had resigned myself to never coming out. I was mainly concerned for my safety, but I also feared the judgment and strange looks I would receive from members of my hometown. Yet, seeing thousands of out and proud LGBTQ+ people, like S…May 31, 2022
CLS in the Press
2022 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year Announced
Heather Sweetser (Arabic 2007), an Arabic instructor at the University of New Mexico, was selected as the 2022 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year..
Shared from ACTFL, June 24, 2022
Voices of Exchange Podcast: Monumental Moments
In Richmond, Virginia, CLS Alumna Julia Beabout (Chinese 2012) and fellow International Exchange Alumnus Grady Hart teamed up to create Monumental Conversations, an augmented reality project that centers on the undertold stories of Black resilience and excellence in Richmond.
Shared from ExchangeAlumni, June 15, 2022
For four Penn Staters, Critical Language Scholarships will enable summer study
Penn Staters Jocelyn Krieger, Ashley Naraine, Juntae Rocker and Hannah Scholze have earned a 2022 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS).
Shared from Penn State, June 07, 2022