A Program of the U.S. Department of State
Languages
East Asia Pacific
Korean 한국어
Requires One Year of Prior Study
Following a period of unprecedented economic growth, South Korea today has emerged as one of Asia's powerhouse economies. Korea's advanced modern business landscape boasts some of the most widely recognized brands in the world, and the country remains at the forefront of international developments in science and technology.
Indonesian Bahasa Indonesia
No Prior Language Study Required
Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of the most populous Muslim country and one of the world's most interesting cultural and economic landscapes.
Japanese 日本語
Requires Two Years of Prior Study
Japan has been known for decades as one of the world's cultural, technological, and economic hubs and has long drawn students fascinated with the country's combination of millennia old traditions and stunning modern prowess across countless different fields.
Chinese 中文
Requires Two Years of Prior Study
It's easy to see why Chinese is in such high demand, with booming economies all over the world in locations such as Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and of course China, all featuring Mandarin Chinese as a key component.
Eurasia
Azerbaijani Azərbaycan dili
No Prior Language Study Required
A language with modern significance in both Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Azerbaijani offers a window into the rich history and culture of the Caucasus region.
Russian Русский
Requires One Year of Prior Study
Russian is spoken by over a hundred million Russians, but it's also the lingua franca of the entire former Soviet Union, spoken as a second language by people in the Caucasus and Central Asia, from the country of Georgia to Kazakhstan.
Turkish Türkçe
No Prior Language Study Required
Originating in the furthest reaches of Central Asia, the Turkish language crossed continents to become one of Europe and Asia's most important historical languages with the growth of the Ottoman Empire. Today, Turkish is spoken in the modern republic of Turkey and languages in the Turkic family are spoken across the Middle East and Central Asia.
Middle East and North Africa
Arabic العربية
Requires One Year of Prior Study
Arabic is spoken by nearly 300 million people and is an official language in over 20 different countries as well as the United Nations, playing a key role in global communications and international affairs.
South and Central Asia
Persian فارسی
No Prior Language Study Required
Persian is one of the world's ancient languages, once the lingua franca of an empire that spread across an enormous swathe of the Old World.
Bangla বাংলা
No Prior Language Study Required
Spoken from the densely populated nation of Bangladesh to the bustling streets of the Kolkata metropolis in the Indian state of West Bengal, Bangla is the seventh most spoken language in the entire world.
Hindi हिन्दी
No Prior Language Study Required
As the most widely spoken language in India, Hindi gives students interested in the sub-continent the freedom to study, work in, and explore the country.
Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
No Prior Language Study Required
Punjabi and its dialects make up one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, totaling close to 80 million people in cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Lahore, and Islamabad – some of the largest and most important cities in the region.
Urdu اُردُو
No Prior Language Study Required
Urdu, spoken in parts of Northern India and in Pakistan, is the perfect linguistic tool for anyone looking to get a foothold on a career involving South Asia.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Swahili Kiswahili
No Prior Language Study Required
Swahili, often referred to as Kiswahili, is the national language of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the lingua franca for as many as 150 million people in Central and East Africa. It is also one of the official languages of the African Union and the East African Community.
Western Hemisphere
Portuguese Português
Requires One Year of Prior Study
As the sixth most spoken language in the world, Portuguese opens doors to culture and commerce across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Brazil, the largest Portuguese-speaking country, is an emerging global power with the world’s eighth largest economy.