Linguistics programs for high schoolers.

All linguistics programs

1. ELASH / Bebras US

   Bebras Computing Challenge (US)

   An international computational thinking and informatics competition. Students can take the test remotely or through a local school coordinator.

   📍 Online⏱ 45 minutes📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
2. CIEE

   CIEE High School Summer Abroad

   Summer abroad programs in 25+ countries with language and cultural focuses.

   📍 Global⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12

   Moderate
3. Concordia College

   Concordia Language Villages

   Immersive summer language villages in 15+ world languages for ages 7-18.

   📍 Bemidji, MN⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12

   Highly Selective
4. Global Citizen Year

   Global Citizen Year

   Gap-year program placing students in Brazil, Ecuador, India, Senegal for cultural immersion.

   📍 Global⏱ 1 year📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12

   Highly Selective
5. NACLO/UKLO/OzCLO

   International Linguistics Olympiad — National Rounds

   National linguistics olympiads (NACLO, UKLO, OzCLO, etc.) that select for the IOL — many are open worldwide via school registration.

   📍 Global (national organizers)📅 January–February🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
6. IOL

   International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL)

   Puzzle-based olympiad in theoretical, mathematical, and computational linguistics — no prior knowledge of the languages required.

   📍 Rotates by host country⏱ Multi-day contest📅 National selection: winter/spring🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
7. Middlebury College

   Middlebury Monterey Language Academy

   Four-week language immersion for grades 8-12 (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Spanish).

   📍 Vermont/California⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 8–12

   Highly Selective
8. Scripps

   National Spelling Bee

   Premier US K-8 spelling competition culminating in nationals.

   📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 1–8

   Moderate
9. U.S. State Department

   NSLI-Y (Critical Languages)

   Fully-funded US government scholarship for high schoolers to study languages like Arabic, Mandarin, Korean abroad.

   📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks or academic year📅 Early November🎓 Grades 10–12

   Selective
10. US Dept. of State

    NSLI-Y National Security Language Initiative

    Fully-funded scholarships for HS students to study Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, Turkish abroad.

    📍 Global⏱ 6 weeks - 1 year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12

    Highly Selective
11. Goethe-Institut

    PASCH-Initiative

    German government initiative offering scholarships to attend summer language and STEM courses in Germany for students at partner schools worldwide.

    📍 Germany⏱ 3–4 weeks📅 January (school-nominated)🎓 Grades 10–11

    Selective
12. Putney Student Travel

    Putney Student Travel

    Summer global education programs in 30+ countries (community service, language, gap year).

    📍 Global⏱ 2-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12

    Moderate
13. Rotary International

    Rotary Youth Exchange

    Long-term (year) and short-term cultural exchanges for ages 15-19.

    📍 Global⏱ 1 year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12

    Selective
14. Sorbonne Université

    Sorbonne Université Summer School

    Short summer courses in French language, humanities, and science in Paris.

    📍 Paris, France⏱ 2-3 weeks📅 June🎓 Grades 11–12

    Highly Selective
15. Aspen Institute

    The Stevens Initiative Virtual Exchange

    A high school program focusing on international affairs and cultural exchange between US and Middle Eastern students. Online workshops.

    📍 Online⏱ 6 months📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–11

    Selective
16. Where There Be Dragons

    Where There Be Dragons

    Experiential semester and summer programs in Asia, Africa, Latin America.

    📍 Global⏱ 2-12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12

    Moderate
17. U.S. State Department

    YES Abroad

    Fully-funded year-long high school exchange to countries with significant Muslim populations.

    📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Academic year📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12

    Selective

Other research areas