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<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">Dear Colleagues,</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">We are pleased to announce that the application for the 2021 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is now open! We welcome your
 students to apply now to learn a critical foreign language next summer on a fully-funded study abroad program. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt">The application is now live and available online at: </span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.clscholarship.org/apply" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">https://www.clscholarship.org/apply</span></span></a></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt">Applications are due Tuesday, November 17, 2020 by 8:00pm EST</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><a href="https://clscholarship.org/" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">The
 CLS Program</span></span></a></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks
 abroad studying one of <b>15 critical languages</b>. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">Most
 languages offered by the CLS Program (9 of 15) do not require applicants to have any experience studying critical languages.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">CLS, a program of the<b> U.S. Department of State</b>, is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying
 and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century's globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">The CLS Program offers instruction in the following languages: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla,
<span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Chinese</span>, Hindi, <span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">
Indonesian</span>, <span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Japanese</span>,
<span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Korean</span>, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu. Resources for advisors are available on our web site at: </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><a href="https://clscholarship.org/advisors" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">https://clscholarship.org/advisors</span></span></a></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">The CLS Program will host weekly <b>webinars</b> for students and advisors throughout the fall. Each webinar will begin with a brief informational
 presentation about the program followed by ample time for audience questions and answers. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">A full calendar of these events and corresponding registration links is available on our web site: </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><a href="https://clscholarship.org/events" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">https://clscholarship.org/events</span></span></a></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="bcx0"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><br>
<span class="normaltextrun">For other questions, please contact us at: </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:cls@americancouncils.org" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">cls@americancouncils.org</span></span></a></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">Sincerely,</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Christopher Stiles</span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Program Officer<br>
Critical Language Scholarship Program</span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">American Councils for International Education</span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">1828 L Street N.W., Suite 1200</span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Washington, D.C. 20036</span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">T </span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">202
 833 7522</span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">F </span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">202
 572 9182</span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#201F1E"><a href="mailto:cstiles@americancouncils.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563C1;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">cstiles@americancouncils.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#201F1E"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><img border="0" width="221" height="58" style="width:2.3in;height:.6in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D67C93.85A38050"></span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">The CLS Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and
 Cultural Affairs</span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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