Program Impact
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence
20 Years by the numbers
U.S. leadership abroad—in commerce, global affairs, and security—rests on Americans who can navigate other languages and cultures with expertise and fluency. The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program delivers intensive summer language instruction to high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students, selected through a competitive, merit-based process. Offered in nine languages overseas or virtually, the program condenses a full academic year of language study into eight weeks of rigorous instruction and cultural immersion.
Since 2006, the CLS Program has built a growing network of Americans equipped to advance U.S. interests abroad:
- 10,300+ Americans trained in critical languages and cultures
- 800+ colleges and universities represented nationwide
- 430+ Congressional districts represented
LANGUAGE OUTCOMES
The CLS Program is built around one goal: rapid, measurable language growth. Participants are fully immersed in the language — in the classroom, in their housing, and in the community. More than 15 hours per week of intensive instruction is reinforced by language partners, cultural programming, and daily life in the host country. Eight weeks of immersion produces significant, documented gains:
- 96% report strengthened language proficiency and cross-cultural communication
- 94% reach intermediate or advanced proficiency by program completion
- 89% studied or used their CLS language in the past year
"CLS strengthened my communication skills and global perspective in ways that directly inform my leadership today. In an increasingly digital world, my CLS experience reinforced the value of human interaction, cultural understanding, and trust — skills I draw on regularly as an officer in the U.S. Navy's Submarine Force."
– CLS Japanese Scholar
Since 2010, every CLS participant has taken the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) — a nationally recognized assessment of real-world language ability — before and after the program. OPI ratings align directly with the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale, the proficiency standard used by U.S. government agencies. Alumni receive a certified record of their language proficiency that they can share with universities, federal agencies, and employers.
NATIONAL SECURITY AND LEADERSHIP
Language is a strategic asset. CLS alumni are equipped to advance U.S. national security, economic competitiveness, and American leadership wherever those interests are at stake.
- 99% are prepared to advance U.S. national priorities
- 85% are prepared to strengthen U.S. leadership in global engagement
- 75% are prepared to support national security or global stability
- 69% are prepared to support U.S. economic growth or innovation
"Russian is critical to the foreign relations of the United States, especially in my sphere, nuclear nonproliferation and arms control. My elevated language skills will assist me in finding work and in doing my work well for the national security and better future of the United States."
– CLS Russian Scholar
WORKFORCE OUTCOMES
CLS participants gain linguistic, intercultural, and professional skills that translate directly into the workplace — and into careers that serve U.S. interests across every sector.
- 96% report strengthened language proficiency and cross-cultural communication
- 68% report stronger workforce readiness and career development
- 66% apply regional knowledge at work
- 55% use their CLS language in their current job
“In my role at Amazon, I work closely with Chinese sellers and logistics partners to manage cross-border inventory. I use Mandarin daily, but more importantly, my cultural understanding helps build trust and long-term relationships — essential for resolving challenges and ensuring effective collaboration in global supply chairs.”
– CLS Chinese Scholar