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 stories from .

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Chinese (Mandarin)

The Lessons of the Wenwan Walnut

Anna is from Waxhaw, NC and an alumna of the 2019-2020 Chinese academic year program in Beijing, China. Melodious music flooded the area as the fountain flared...
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Arabic

Potatoes and Tahini

Grace is from Meridian, ID and an alumna of the 2019 Arabic summer program in Amman, Jordan. I grew up in Meridian, Idaho, where I had limited exposure to othe...
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Korean

Historical Perspectives and Studying Abroad

Zachary is from Portland, OR and an alumnus of the Korean AY 2019-20 program in Seoul, South Korea.
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Chinese (Mandarin)

When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do

Ekaterina is from New York, NY and an alumna of the Chinese AY 2019-20 program in Beijing, China & Taipei, Taiwan. I glanced at my watch. 11 pm. December ...
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Indonesian

Alumni Spotlight: An Alum’s Welcomed Return to Indonesia

Sam O'Brien is an alumnus of the 2018 Indonesian Summer program in Jakarta, Indonesia. Sam O'Brien was a participant on the inaugural NSLI-Y Indonesian prog...
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Arabic

Unexpected Bonding with my Host Family

Emma is from Lakewood, CO and an alumna of the Arabic AY 2019-20 program in Rabat, Morocco. Integrating into a new family can be difficult. I remember the fir...
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Arabic

Virtual NSLI-Y: An Innovative Approach to Language Learning

Brooklyn is from Los Angeles, CA and an alumna of the Arabic Virtual NSLI-Y Winter Cohort from January-March 2020. This past winter I was fortunate enough to p...
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Chinese (Mandarin)

The Quintessential Chinese New Year

Stacy is from Pleasanton, CA and an alumna of the Chinese AY 2018-19 program in Beijing, China. My host family's hometown Pengshui is the quintessen...
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Russian

Chocolate Chip Cookies in Chisinau: Making American Recipes for my Host Family

Elizabeth is from Bethany, CT and participated in the 2018-19 Russian AY program in Moldova. It was mid-January and I decided to make my host mother some Ameri...