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 .

Fatma sits at a cafe

Arabic

NSLI-Y Honors Arab American Heritage Month | Alumni Spotlight: Fatma

NSLI-Y is excited to honor Arab American Heritage Month and recognize the achievements of Arab Americans, spotlighting the stories of our Arab American alumni.
Here Clare is in front of Moroccan zellige tile fountains during her 2018 NSLI-Y experience.

Arabic

Exploring Personal Development Through Language Learning

Clare, an alumna of the 2018 NSLI-Y Arabic Summer program from Rock Island, Illinois, shares how her participation in the NSLI-Y program affected both her professional development and personal growth.
Emily poses while seated in front of a Lotte World Tour Seoul Sky sign.

Korean

A Summer Away From Home

Emily, an alumna of the 2021 NSLI-Y Korean Summer program in Seoul, South Korea from Atlanta, Georgia, reflects on participating in NSLI-Y abroad during the pandemic and building bonds with her host family and cohort members.
Case checks out a historical site in Hualien with his host mom and host brother.

Chinese (Mandarin)

Language is the Key to Cultural Understanding

Case, a current NSLI-Y scholar participating in the 2022 NSLI-Y Chinese program in Kaohsiung, Taiwan from Huntersville, North Carolina reflects on how language can be the key to forming lasting connections abroad.
Jessey poses in traditional Korean hanbok.

Korean

Learning Korean: From a Pandemic to Reality

NSLI-Y alumna Jessey from Knoxville, Tennessee reflects on how both virtual and in-person NSLI-Y activities positively impacted her Korean language-learning journey.
Daniel stands in front of the Shifen Waterfall in Taiwan.

Chinese (Mandarin)

Fish in Taiwan

Daniel, an alumnus of the 2022 Chinese summer program from Pennsylvania, recently shared how fishing with his host family in Taiwan was a vital part of his language-learning journey.
Freya participating in a cooking class in Turkey.

Turkish

NSLI-Y Honors Black History Month | Alumni Spotlight: Freya

NSLI-Y is excited to honor Black History Month and recognize the achievements of Black Americans, by spotlighting the stories of our Black alumni. Freya, from Tuscon, Arizona, is an alumna of both the Fall 2021 Virtual NSLI-Y Program and the 2022 Turkish Summer program in Bursa, Turkey.
Robae in front of a structure in Jordan.

Arabic

NSLI-Y Honors Black History Month | Alumni Spotlight: Robae

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 Robae, an alumnus of the 2022 Summer Arabic Program in Amman, Jordan from Baltimore, Maryland.
Nicholas Borbely headshot.

Turkish

Alumni Spotlight: Nicholas Borbely Details Varied Language Journey

NSLI-Y alumnus Nicholas Borbely has had a varied language journey. From growing up bilingual to receiving prestigious awards like NSLI-Y, the Critical Language Scholarship, and Fulbright—Nicholas is a well-established globe trotter.