Overseas Summer & Capstone Programs for Domestic Flagship Students

American Councils administers Overseas Summer (Arabic and Turkish only) and Overseas Capstone (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Turkish) Programs, available only to qualified students currently enrolled in a Domestic Flagship Program. These intensive overseas programs are subcomponents of The Language Flagship Program and provide Domestic Flagship students the invaluable opportunity of using their high target language proficiency and cultural expertise learned during their Domestic Flagship studies while living and studying for an extended period in the target culture.  More detailed information about the Overseas Summer and Overseas Capstone Programs, as well as Domestic Flagship Programs is available below. 

Overseas Flagship Summer Programs

American Councils offers Overseas Flagship Summer Programs to Domestic Flagship students participating in the Arabic and Turkish programs. In order to qualify for selection to the program, applicants must submit an online application in January including official transcripts and letters of recommendation, as well as meet proficiency benchmarks on the qualifying Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) administerd by Language Testing International (LTI) and online reading, listening, and writing exams administered by American Councils.

Most students participate on the Overseas Summer Program after completing third year instruction in their Domestic Flagship track of study. Some facts about these offered programs are below - more comprehensive information about each of the programs can be found on the program's website. For Domestic Flagship students of other languages, information about possible overseas summer study is available on each Overseas Flagship Program's website.

Arabic

  • Host Institution: Arab American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM) in Meknes, Morocco
  • Program Length: 8 weeks (mid-June to mid-August)
  • Directed Language Instruction: Participants -
    • study Modern Standard Arabic and Moroccan Colloquial (Darija) in intensive and small classroom environments
    • spend four hours weekly with a Moroccan Language Partner.
  • Host Family/Living Arrangements: All participants live with host families.
  • Scheduled Cultural Events/Learning:  Wide array of cultural activities and excursions such as cultural roundtables, food and dance activities, and visits to local Roman ruins and other historic sites, such as Volubilis and Moulay Idriss.

Turkish

  • Host Institution: Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL) in Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Program Length: 8 weeks (mid-June to mid-August)
  • Directed Language Instruction: Participants -
    • study Turkish and introductory Azerbaijani in intensive and small classroom environments
    • spend four hours weekly with a Turkish Language Partner and one hour weekly with an Azerbaijani Language Partner.
  • Host Family/Living Arrangements: All participants live with host families.
  • Scheduled Cultural Events/Learning:  Wide array of cultural activities and excursions such as frequent trips to museums and cultural centers around Baku, including the Heydar Aliyev Center, Atesgah (temple), and Gobustan (mud volcanos), and longer excursions to important sites in Azerbaijan, such as Sheki, Gence, and Sahdag.

Overseas Flagship Capstone Programs

American Councils offers Overseas Flagship Capstone Programs to Domestic Flagship students participating in the Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Turkish programs. In order to qualify for selection to the program, applicants must submit an online application in January (or in September for the Chinese Nanjing Spring-Start Program), including official transcripts and letters of recommendation, as well as meet proficiency benchmarks on the qualifying Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) administerd by Language Testing International (LTI) and online reading, listening, and writing exams administered by American Councils.

Qualified Domestic Flagship students participate in the Overseas Capstone Program once they have completed their Domestic Flagship track of study. All Overseas Capstone Programs are designed to help participants reach general working proficiency (ILR 3) and beyond in their target language by the program's conclusion through specialized small-group language instruction and other unique program components, including direct enrollment courses at the host institution and internships at local organizations. As the structure and offerings of the Overseas Capstone Programs differ, some details about each program is available below. Comprehensive information about each program can be found on its respective site.

Arabic

  • Host Institution: Arab American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM) in Meknes, Morocco
  • Program Length: 11 months long (mid-June to mid-May)
  • Directed Language Instruction: Participants - 
    • study intensive Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), Moroccan Colloquial Arabic (MCA) and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA) in small group classroom environments 
    • enroll in various content courses in the fall and spring
    • spend four hours weekly (summer) and two hours weekly (fall and spring) with a Moroccan Language Partner
  • Direct Enrollment: During the fall semester, and in addition to the above courses, program participants will attend lectures led by Moroccan professors at the University of Moulay Ismail (UMI). Participants meet weekly with Moroccan Academic Partners (student from UMI) to discuss the lecture material. In the past, students have attended lectures on topics such as Moroccan economy, multilingualism and demographics, the migration movement, and journalism.
  • Community Service: Once a month, a group of students and faculty visit a local organization to and taking part in hands-on activities organized by Flagship staff and discuss the organization’s goals with local experts. Topics discussed include social services, art, environment, agriculture, and more.    
  • Internship: During the spring semester, students participate in an unpaid internship at a local organization or company for 8 hrs/week. Past internship sites include Agency for Social Development, private law firms, Anassi Community Center, Sayes Health Clinic, and the Association for Women's Empowerment of Toulal.
  • Host Family/Living Arrangements: All participants live with host families during the summer. Participants have the option of renting an apartment with another student and Moroccan roommate in the fall and spring semesters.
  • Scheduled Cultural Events/Learning:  Exposure to host culture and country through excursions to local sites, as well as longer trips to destinations such as Ifrane, Essaouira, Merzouga, Oualidia, Marrakesh, and the High Atlas Mountains.

Chinese - Nanjing

Direct Enrollment Component: Brigham Young University oversees the direct enrollment component of the Capstone experience under the Chinese Nanjing program. Read more here.

  • Host Institution: Nanjing University (NJU) in Nanjing, China
  • Program Length: 5 months long (Fall entry: August to January; Spring entry: February to June)
  • Directed Language Instruction: Participants -
    • study Chinese in intensive and small classroom environments
    • schedule weekly tutorials with an experienced NJU language instructor and with their NJU roommates
  • Community Service: Participants engage in a community service practicum and dedicate 12 hours of volunteering to a local organization, such as the YMCA and the Yuet Wah Elderly Home.
  • Direct Enrollment: During fall semester, students enroll in a minimum of two NJU courses related to their field of specialization among local students at NJU (average 4-6 hours/week), such as Sociology of Education, Corporate Finance, and Marketing.
  • Host Family/Living Arrangements: All participants live in two bed-room apartments with a NJU student as a roommate. Participants with dependents are not required to rent a two bedroom apartment; however, they will be required to have additional tutoring hours.
  • Scheduled Cultural Events/Learning:  Exposure to host culture and country through frequent trips to local museums and destinations of historical significance, including the Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum. 

Internship Component: American Councils for International Education oversees the internship component of the Capstone experience under the Chinese Nanjing program.

  • Program Length: 4 - 6 months long (Fall entry: January to July; Spring entry: August to December)
  • Directed Language Instruction: Participants spend two hours weekly for 16 weeks in individual tutorials with an experienced NJU language instructor and have the option to request additional tutorial hours.
  • Internship: Students participate in an unpaid internship at a local organization or company for a minimum of 40 hours per week for 16 weeks and seek out their own assignments. Approved internship locations are Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Past internship sites include Edelman Beijing, Shanghai Daily, AIDA in Nanjing, and the Redford International School in Shenzhen. 
  • Host Family/Living Arrangements: All participants live in apartments or shared housing.

Russian

  • Host Institution: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • Program Length: 9 months long (late-August to mid-May)
  • Directed Language Instruction: Participants  -
    • study Russian in intensive and small classroom environments
    • spend four hours weekly in individual tutorials with an experienced language instructor and have the option to spend time with a Russian Language Partner 
    • have the option to study elementary Kazakh language two hours/week
  • Direct Enrollment: During fall semester, students enroll in a course related to their field of specialization among local students at KazNU (average 3 hours/week), such as Introduction to Sociolinguistics, History of International Relations, Botany, Foreign Policy Proaganda in Mass Media, and Principles of Translation Theory. 
  • Internship: During spring semester, students participate in an unpaid internship at a local organization or company on Wednesdays (7-8 hrs/week). Past internship sites include 365 info.kz Analytical Web News Portal, the Central State Archive, A. Kastayev State Museum of Arts, Cardiology Center, Colibri Law Firm (corporate law), and the Kazakhstani Fund for Cultural, Social, and Educational Development. 
  • Host Family/Living Arrangements: All participants live with Russian-speaking host families.
  • Scheduled Cultural Events/Learning:  Exposure to host culture and country through frequent trips to local museums and theaters, as well as longer trips to destinations such as Astana, Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lakes, Chundzha Hot Springs, and Aktau.

Turkish

  • Host Institution: Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL) in Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Program Length: 9 months long (mid-September to mid-June)
  • Directed Language Instruction: Participants - 
    • study Turkish in intensive and small classroom environments
    • spend four hours weekly with a Turkish Language Partner  
  • Direct Enrollment: During both semesters, students attend content course lectures (on topics such as sociolinguistics and the Turkish Political System) at AUL (2 hours/week) and meet with an individual tutor to work on course material (2 hours/week)
  • Internship: During spring semester, students participate in an unpaid internship at a local organization or company one day per week (7-8 hrs/week). Past internship sites include Azerbaijan State University of Economics and a local Turkish lyceum.
  • Host Family/Living Arrangements: All participants live with Turkish-speaking host families.
  • Scheduled Cultural Events/Learning:  Wide array of cultural activities and excursions such as frequent trips to museums and cultural centers around Baku, including the Heydar Aliyev Center, Atesgah (temple), and Gobustan (mud volcanos), and longer excursions to important sites in Azerbaijan, such as Sheki, Gence, and Sahdag.

Domestic Flagship Programs

Before students participate on summer or academic year Capstone Overseas Flagship Programs, they are required to study their target critical language at a Domestic Flagship Institution. Known for innovative language and cultural instruction, Domestic Flagship Institutions are located across the country and accept a wide variety of undergraduate students into their programs. To view a full list of Domestic Flagship Programs by language, please choose your desired language below:

Funding Opportunities

Flagship Undergraduate students participating in Domestic Flagship Programs may be eligible for limited Flagship student support. For more information, students should contact their Domestic Flagship Program directly. Many Flagship students seek additional/outside funding for their study overseas through competitive scholarships, including:

 

 

The Language Flagship is a national initiative to change the way Americans learn languages. The Language Flagship sponsors 25 programs at 21 universities in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Turkish. Together the Flagship programs strive to graduate students from an array of majors with an exit proficiency of ILR 3 in one of The Language Flagship's target languages. Domestic Flagship Programs develop articulated language learning pathways to guide students from all majors and language backgrounds through formal instruction and guided interventions towards advanced-level language proficiency. Overseas Flagship Centers provide directed language instruction, direct enrollment opportunities and professional internship experiences that foster the attainment of professional-level language proficiency during an overseas Capstone year experience. The Language Flagship graduates students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of proficiency in one of ten languages critical to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. Read more.

The Language Flagship is a public/private partnership sponsored by the National Security Education Program (NSEP) of the Department of Defense and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The contents of this website do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Government or IIE and no official Government or IIE endorsement should be inferred.

 

 

Founded in 1974 as an association for area and language professionals, American Councils has focused its expertise on academic exchange, professional training, distance learning, curriculum and test development, and research.  In its four decades, American Councils has developed into one of the premier American education and international training organizations, offering quality-assured, intensive overseas language study and research programs for U.S. undergraduates, graduate students, teachers and scholars. Read more.