NSLI FOR YOUTH

Scholarships to Study Language Abroad

Please note: Information on the 2012 NSLI FOR YOUTH Moscow Summer Intensive is Coming Soon

For the 2nd year in a row, Russian American Foundation has been selected for the highly prestigious NSLI FOR YOUTH Program funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with American Councils for International Education. This summer RAF is pleased to announce two programs:

2011 NSLI FOR YOUTH RUSSIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE EXPERIENCE MOSCOW SUMMER INTENSIVE. This award will allow RAF to send 10 students (*note eligibility below) on an all expense paid 6-week Summer Intensive to Moscow which will combine Russian language training, cultural and professional immersion.

2011 NSLI FOR YOUTH RUSSIAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE RAF and BOLSHOI WAY MOSCOW SUMMER INTENSIVE. Building on its highly successful 2010 program, this award will allow RAF to send 16 pre-professional students of ballet from a national pool (*note eligibility on the Bolshoi Ballet Academy/NSLI FOR YOUTH website) on an all expense paid 6-week Summer Intensive to Moscow which will combine Russian language training, cultural immersion and ballet training with Master Teachers of Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet Academy.

Read some of the personal testimonials of the NSLI FOR YOUTH RAHE Program participants: Jane, Sam,Victoria, Nikolay.

Below are the RAF NSLI FOR YOUTH 2011 Russian American Heritage Experience Program photos. To view more pictures, click here.

 

 

RUSSIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE EXPERIENCE MOSCOW SUMMER INTENSIVE 2011

Program dates: July 16 - August 27, 2011.

New York City’s first and second generations of the Russian American immigrant families are struggling with developing Russian language fluency and literacy of their children and keeping ties to their heritage. In recognition of this issue, and in support of offering eligible high school students an opportunity to learn less commonly taught languages, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, American Councils for International Education and the Russian American Foundation announce 2011 NSLI FOR YOUTH Russian American Heritage Experience Moscow Summer Intensive.

This prestigious opportunity will offer full scholarship support to 10 qualified New York high-school students (ages 15-18) of Russian Heritage (*RAF reserves the right to consider applicants from other areas), with beginner/intermediate oral fluency but underdeveloped writing and reading competency in the Russian language, to participate in a 6-week Summer Intensive in Moscow organized by the Russian American Foundation. The 2011 NSLI FOR YOUTH Heritage Program will enable ten motivated and dedicated Russian American heritage speakers, to travel to Moscow for 6 weeks on a full scholarship and to advance their: 1) linguistic skills, 2) understanding of and respect for own Russian heritage and culture, 3) new found practical awareness for application of their skills through further educational and career opportunities, 4) awareness and appreciation of present day Russia, 5) life-long friendships with Russian peers and interest in the language and culture.

2011 NSLI FOR YOUTH Russian American Heritage Experience Moscow Summer Intensive is meant to recognize student's academic merit and interest in the Russian heritage, language and culture. No prior Russian language experience is necessary to be considered. The Program is designed to give a complete language enrichment and cultural immersion.

What is the Focus of the NSLI FOR YOUTH Russian American Heritage Experience Program?

The goal of RAF’s 2011 NSLI FOR YOUTH Russian American Heritage Experience program to enable a motivated and a dedicated group of high school Heritage Speakers, with beginner/intermediate oral fluency and no writing and/or reading skills, to advance their; linguistic skills, cultural awareness and appreciation, understanding of and respect for Russian heritage, awareness of practical application of these new skills and knowledge, life-long interest in the language and culture, and friendships with their counterparts in the US and Russia. As with all NSLI FOR YOUTH programs, the program is designed to immerse the Participants in Russian language and culture, while showcase the history and present day country, its people and culture. PLEASE NOTE: the primary focus of the program remains on the Russian language and culture studies, and all participants will be required to demonstrate advancement in those categories upon the completion of the program. For additional information, please see:

NSLI FOR YOUTH Russian American Heritage Experience 2011 Q &A

Download Registration Form

NSLI FOR YOUTH Russian American Heritage Experience 2011 Registration Form

 

*Eligibility Requirements for Participation - Please review carefully:

An applicant MUST be:

  • A U.S. citizen

  • Currently enrolled in high school or have just graduated

  • Between ages of 15 and 18 (as of July 1st, 2011)

  • Have a minimum GPA of 2.5

  • In good health as per program guidelines

  • A heritage speaker (a descendant of a 1st or 2nd generation Russian American immigrant family)

Selection Process

1) Step 1 - A student will be required to submit following documents:

  • A separate application

  • Three mandatory essays

  • Two letters of recommendation from teachers

  • Copy of the school transcript or school enrollment, reflecting student's GPA

2) Step 2 - RAF must receive all applications and materials in the office by April 15, 2011.
3) Step 3 - RAF selection committee will review all applications, conduct personal interviews with semi-finalists and will make final determinations on May 6th, 2011. Determinations will be made based on a point system in the following areas: A) Exhibited interest in the Russian heritage, language and culture, B) Academic excellence, C) Demonstrated maturity.

As RAF has the responsibility to the U.S. Department of State to make sure that each participant excels and meets the goals of the Program, the selection committee reserves the right to give extra points to students who have demonstrated maturity and dedication during past enrollment in RAF's Youth Programs.

Due to the extensive amount of interest in the Program, we would like to request that you notify us by April 1st if you will by submitting an application for the April 15th deadline.

Please send us an email with your first and last name to Anna Dameniuk at

NSLI FOR YOUTHHeritage@russianamericanfoundation.org to inform us.

Please send the package with all documents listed above to:


ATTN: Anna Dameniuk
NSLI FOR YOUTH Russian American Heritage Experience
70 West 36th Street, Suite 701
New York, NY 10018

 

Special Thanks to RAF's NSLI FOR YOUTH Program Friends and Supporters:

     

  

 

Feel free to visit the NSLI for Youth websites by clicking the images below:

http://www.bolshoiballetacademy.com/images/logo-nsli1.jpghttp://www.bolshoiballetacademy.com/images/logo-deptofstate.jpg