Stories

The NSLI-Y program languages include Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indonesian, Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian and Turkish. Listed below are all multimedia stories written, and shared by NSLI-Y students, alumni, partners, and supporters. These stories include all NSLI-Y program languages and are ordered chronologically from the most recent post.

Alumni and current students, join the conversation by submitting your own story.

Click on a language below to see stories and media related to a specific NSLI-Y program language:

Displaying Russian stories from .

Damien on Left

Russian

NSLI-Y Honors Black History Month | Alumni Spotlight: Damien Johnson

NSLI-Y is excited to honor Black History Month and recognize the achievements of Black Americans, by spotlighting the stories of our Black alumni. Read more to learn about Damien Johnson, an alumnus of the 2022 Summer Russian Program in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Isabella Baker poses in a field of sunflowers.

Russian

Alumni Spotlight: Isabella Baker Reflects on her Journey from NSLI-Y to Fulbright ​

NSLI-Y alumna Isabella Baker is an alumna of the 2016 Russian Summer Program in Chisinau, Moldova that has continued her Russian language study and engagement. She attended American University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a minor in Russian Language and Area Studies. Isabella has gained vast experiences through interning, both in the United States and abroad, and studying abroad. Follow along on her journey from NSLI-Y to Fulbright.
From left to right, NSLI-Y alumnae Kristie Moore, Brooklyn Burgess, and Kelly Huang pose in front of large group of CLAPS students

Global

NSLI-Y Alumni Receive Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund for Middle School Program

NSLI-Y alumnae Brooklyn (Hindi Summer 2020 and 2021), Kelly (Korean Summer 2021), Kristie (Russian Summer 2019), and Sierra (Russian Summer 2019) have received the 2022 Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund award to create Critical Language and Pronunciation for Students (CLAPS), an introductory critical language program for middle school students.
Alumni panelists for the NSLI-Y Interactive Virtual Event

Global

NSLI-Y Interactive Virtual Event - Host Family Connections on the NSLI-Y Program

On Thursday, November 17th at 7:00 PM Eastern Time, NSLI-Y Interactive will host our second virtual event of the academic year: "Host Family Connections on the NSLI-Y Program" featuring NSLI-Y Russian and Persian program alumni.
Rachel with friends in Morocco

Global

NSLI-Y Parent & Alumni Testimonials: Summer 2022 & Academic Year 2021-2022

While some parents are excited for their child to study abroad, others may be nervous, particularly given the pandemic and geopolitical events worldwide. After many NSLI-Y overseas programs resumed in 2022, NSLI-Y was fortunate to receive several testimonials from parents and alumni addressing their experience.
Claudia in Daugavpils, Latvia on her NSLI-Y Russian Program

Russian

NSLI-Y Honors National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month

NSLI-Y is excited to honor National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 - October 15 and recognize the achievements of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. The NSLI-Y program is spotlighting the stories of our Hispanic and Latin alumni throughout the month to celebrate.
Candies jpeg

Russian

Nostalgia Beyond Borders

Roger, an alumnus of the 2021 Russian Summer VSI, writes about the cross-cultural beauty of nostalgia revealed through a Soviet film studied in the course.
1f62f45614ea4348a620328ad135495e jpeg

Russian

And Надежда Was Found in the Квартира

Megan, an alumna of the 2022 Russian winter virtual program, shares what Soviet architecture taught her about the power of hope and a family's love.
an image of estelle posing with food, an image of food, and an image of nesting dolls and paints

Russian

Kalmyk Connections and Conversations

Estelle, an alum of the 2021 Russian summer program, describes how her NSLI-Y experience motivated her to learn more about her own Kalmyk culture.