The Critical Language Scholarship Program provides fully-funded seven to ten week group-based intensive language instruction and extensive cultural enrichment experiences held overseas at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels for U.S. citizen undergraduate, Master’s and Ph.D. students. Languages supported include: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu.
Visit the CLS Scholar Directory for a comprehensive list of scholars.
2023-2024 UW Undergraduate Critical Language Scholars:
Kristine Chang | Sociology major | Awarded to study Chinese
My name is Kristine Chang, and I am currently a senior studying Sociology at the University of Washington in Seattle. My hometown is located in sunny Southern California, and I have lived there for my entire life until moving to UW. Both of my parents are from Taiwan, so growing up, I was exposed to three languages—Chinese, Taiwanese, and English! In my free time, I enjoy designing apps and websites, and making sure there are plant themes throughout because I am also a plant mom. While working on website design, I found that it lacked connections to my Taiwanese background so I included translations to help Chinese speakers understand. My motivation for applying to the Critical Language Scholarship program stems from a genuine passion to deepen my understanding of my mother tongue and the desire to acquaint others with my culture through language. Moving forward, I intend to leverage my Chinese language skills to enhance the inclusivity of my designs for the broader community. This involves implementing translation services and conducting UI/UX workshops in Taiwan. I am motivated to be a driver for change, serving as a bridge between my American identity and my Taiwanese roots. Another reason why I applied to the Critical Language Scholarship was because this is a great opportunity to open doors for not only myself into the rich culture of Taiwan, but also introduce the American culture to Taiwan.
Kristine’s tip: Be your authentic self and tell YOUR story! Give examples and future visions.
Grace Rothmeyer | Chinese & Informatics majors | Awarded to study Chinese
Grace is a third-year student double majoring in Chinese and Informatics, with a keen interest in exploring the intersection of language proficiency, technology, and international collaboration to address global environmental challenges through environmental diplomacy. Beyond her academic pursuits, Grace is an avid outdoor enthusiast who guides adventure trips, including climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, and biking excursions. She sees the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) as a transformative opportunity to bridge her current studies, perspectives, and passions into real-world interactions and career goals in foreign affairs. Grace hopes that the CLS program will help her sharpen her Mandarin language skills, allowing her to integrate and understand Taiwanese perspectives on climate solutions. She also aims to establish lasting connections and friendships in Taiwan, which she can leverage in her pursuit of a graduate degree in foreign affairs.
Grace’s tip: Be honest about who you are and what you care about
Scholarship Archive
Browse our archive for more Critical Language Scholarship history.