CLS Languages and Modalities

CLS Language Levels and Terminology

Please note that one year of academic study typically means two semesters of college-level study.

Finding Your Language Level

Which level do I select in the application?

Select the language level at which you plan to study with the CLS Program. If you are currently taking college-level coursework, please apply for the next highest level from what you are currently taking. For instance, if you will have completed first year Arabic or the equivalent by June 2025, you should select Advanced Beginning Arabic.

How can I identify my language level?

The CLS Program is not able to personally advise applicants regarding their language level, but these are some general guidelines that may help you select the most appropriate level:

• Ask a professional to assess your skill level: Work with a language teacher at your home institution or a nearby school that offers the target language. Ask them to assess your language level and determine where you would be placed in the target language curriculum at your school. For instance, if the instructor would place you in second year Arabic at your school, you would apply for the Advanced Beginning level of Arabic on the CLS application.

• Compare yourself to learning materials: Review textbooks and related materials used in college-level classrooms for your CLS language to see how much you already know, and where you begin to experience difficulty. By identifying what you do and do not know, you can get an idea of how your proficiency level corresponds to formal study.

• Review proficiency guidelines and can-do statements: CLS students will take an ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview. ACTFL provides a number of resources that may be helpful in reflecting on your language level. You can find these resources on their website: https://www.actfl.org/educator-resources.

Can I apply to a higher level in order to make more progress or attend an overseas institute?

You should only apply for the language level/institute for which you will meet the minimum requirements by the beginning of the summer. If a participant were to be below the minimum level expected in a certain language, they will struggle to keep up with their peers and the curriculum and will not see as much progress because they are not appropriately prepared, which can cause added stress. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to try and keep up with coursework and daily classroom interactions at a level that is too high above current skills. In addition, application reviewers are looking to confirm that applicants meet the prerequisites for the institute they have applied for. Participants make the most language gains when they are studying at the appropriate level.

Prior Study and Proficiency Requirements

How do I demonstrate my proficiency level on the application?

Applicants self-describe their language level and experience on the application. The application has multiple-choice and short-answer prompts for applicants to describe their target language experience, including both formal coursework and any other experience. We do not offer a proficiency test or accept any supplemental proficiency certificates as part of the application. Students who are accepted to the program will take a language proficiency test that ultimately determines their class placement.

I'm interested in an institute with a prerequisite, but I have not studied the language in a university setting. Am I eligible to apply?

For institutes that require prior study, applicants do not necessarily need one/two formal academic years of target language study, but rather must have the language ability that would correspond to that amount of academic study. In the past, we have had students fulfill the language requirement in a number of ways beyond traditional college-level classes, including self-study, tutoring, or exposure to the language in a home environment. We encourage you to reflect on your language proficiency, and keep in mind that a college-level course may cover more material over the course of an academic year than a high school program typically covers.

Consider what level is most appropriate for you to choose as part of the CLS application process. As long as you can explain in the application how you will have reached the required level of proficiency by the start of the summer program, you will still be eligible. Additionally, please note that the language requirement needs to be completed by the start of the summer program, and not necessarily before the application deadline.

I grew up speaking the language that I am applying to study with CLS, and/or I have family members who speak the language that I am applying to study with CLS. Am I eligible to apply?

Applicants with a family background in the language are eligible to apply for the CLS Program. If you do not already know the language (little to no experience speaking, reading, writing, or listening), we recommend applying for the beginning level. If you do have some experience with the language, we recommend considering what level describes the majority of your skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Can I apply for CLS Spark if I have previous exposure or study of the language?

The CLS Spark initiative is designed for students who have not had any previous formal training or coursework in the target language, and whose home institutions do not offer their Spark language. These candidates will have the best match in language level and will be prioritized by our application evaluators. If you already meet the minimum requirements for the overseas institute in your target language, you should apply for the CLS Program overseas institute instead.

Applicants may still be eligible for Spark even if they have some previous experience, exposure, or coursework in the language, as long as the majority of their skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening are still at the beginning level. CLS Spark Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Korean are intended for students at the absolute beginning level. CLS Spark Japanese is open to students at the absolute beginning or advanced beginning levels. For the beginning level, applicants may not have more than one semester of prior formal classroom training. For the advanced beginning level, applicants may not have more than one year of prior formal classroom training.

CLS Japanese Offerings

Is it possible to do two summers of CLS Spark Japanese for beginning and advanced beginning Japanese, and then to apply for the overseas institute?

Students who have completed CLS Spark Japanese at the beginning level are eligible to apply for Spark again for advanced beginning Japanese. Once students reach the intermediate level, they may to apply for the Japanese overseas institute. All Spark participants who successfully complete their institutes receive automatic semi-finalist status to continue studying the same language with CLS the following summer. Please note that our general eligibility guidelines regarding enrollment status still apply: https://clscholarship.org/applicants/eligibility.

If you are considering applying for an overseas institute after completing CLS Spark, keep in mind that you will have a stronger application if you demonstrate your commitment to the language through additional independent study or outside coursework.