Deadline for Applications: March 15, 2018
American Councils is currently accepting applications for its Fall and Academic Year 2018 Balkan Language Initiative (BLI). The application deadline is March 15; applications can be submitted here.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The American Councils Balkan Language Initiative provides graduate students, advanced undergraduates, working professionals, and scholars intensive individualized instruction in the languages of the Balkans. Participants may choose to study one of five regional languages:
Albanian in Tirana, Albania
Bosnian in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bulgarian in Sofia, Bulgaria
Macedonian in Skopje, Macedonia
Serbian in Belgrade, Serbia or Podgorica, Montenegro
PROGRAM DATES
Fall 2018: August 29 – December 20, 2018
AY 2018-19: August 29 – mid-May, 2019
KEY FEATURES
- Expert university faculty with a unique understanding of U.S. students and American academic culture;
- Classrooms of only 1 to 5 participants to maximize individual attention to each learner’s needs;
- 15-18 hours per week of in-class target language instruction in grammar, conversation, culture and area studies;
- U.S. academic credit for coursework in the target language;
- Home-stay housing with carefully vetted host families;
- Conversation partners who assist U.S. students with language learning and help them find a niche in their host-country communities;
- Weekly cultural activities that go beyond typical tourist destinations and offer students new insights into the host country life and culture;
- Comprehensive pre-departure orientation as well as on-site orientation in each host city;
- An active and extensive alumni network that includes international business consultants, professional translators, area-studies experts, and journalists reporting from the region.
COST
Program cost includes tuition, room and board, cultural activities, visa support, comprehensive overseas insurance, 24/7 emergency support, pre-departure orientation, and academic credit through Bryn Mawr College.
FINANCIAL AID
Students admitted to American Councils programs are eligible to receive financial support from a wide range of sources, including the U.S. Department of State (Title VIII), Boren, Gilman, FLAS, and the American Councils Study Abroad Scholarship Fund. Please see the financial aid website for full details.
QUESTIONS?
For program applications and detailed information, please visit the website, or email.
American Councils staff can be reached at 202-833-7522.