The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) offers merit-based scholarships to study one of seven critical foreign languages:  Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian, and Turkish.  The NSLI-Y program is designed to immerse participants in the cultural life of the host country, provide formal and informal language practice, and spark a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures.   The application deadline for summer 2017 and academic year 2017-2018 programs is October 27, 2016. Visit nsliforyouth.org for more information. 

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program offers  merit-based scholarships to study for an academic year in countries that may include Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Morocco, Philippines, Senegal, Thailand, and Turkey.This program increases understanding between people in the United States and people in countries with significant Muslim populations.  Students live with host families, attend local high schools, do community service, and complete a capstone project.  Applications for academic year 2017-18 programs are due December 1, 2016.  Visit yes-abroad.org for more information.

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) offers merit-based scholarships for to study for an academic year in Germany.  The program was established in 1983 to celebrate German-American friendship based on common values of democracy.  Students live with host families, attend local schools, and participate in community life in Germany.  For more information and application deadlines, visit the organization in charge of recruitment for your state at usagermanyscholarship.org. 

For more information on exchanges sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, visit exchanges.state.gov.   To receive printed brochures about our study abroad opportunities, send an email with your request to youthprograms@state.gov.

For information on having an international experience without leaving home, consider hosting a Department of State- sponsored exchange student.  Learn more at http://hosting.state.gov.

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Want to learn more about culture and cultural training in the Department of Defense (DoD)?  CultureReady.org is here to help!  We are a public resource to discover specific information about various cultures and also training on cross cultural competence or general concepts that affect all cultures.  If you are in the military, or support the military, or are thinking of joining the military, we welcome you to check it out!  Some of our Department of Defense (DoD) oriented material is restricted to government ID holders, or password protected, but our goal is to provide you with some training that is easy to access.  Cultural competence is important to military missions, the Department of Defense (DoD), and for all those who support those missions.  Learning about specific cultures will help you accomplish challenging tasks in a culturally complex environment.  Being ready for any cultural challenge in an important aspect of military readiness.  For more information on culture readiness and training, be sure to check back to CultureReady.org