Stories

The NSLI-Y program languages include Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indonesian, Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian and Turkish. Listed below are all multimedia stories written, and shared by NSLI-Y students, alumni, partners, and supporters. These stories include all NSLI-Y program languages and are ordered chronologically from the most recent post.

Alumni and current students, join the conversation by submitting your own story.

Click on a language below to see stories and media related to a specific NSLI-Y program language:

Displaying Arabic stories from .

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Arabic

From Court to Connection: How Sports Help Build Cultural Bridges

Ronak, alum of the 2023 NSLI-Y summer program in Marrakesh, Morocco, shares how basketball served as both a way to unwind and a source of cultural connection.
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Arabic

Navigating Identity: My Journey Between American and Arab Cultures

Hamza, a 2024 NSLI-Y summer Arabic alum, shares how his time in Jordan expanded his view of what it means to be Arab American.
Bayan Zeqlam Wadi Rum

Arabic

NSLI-Y Honors Arab American Heritage Month: Bayan Zeqlam

Bayan Zeqlam, a 2023 Summer Arabic alum, feels that NSLI-Y equipped her with tools to dismantle misconceptions of Arabic, Arab culture, and Jordanian culture.
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Arabic

Alumni Spotlight: Bayly Winder

Bayly Winder, an alumnus of the 2008 Arabic summer program in Jordan, reflects on how NSLI-Y prepared him for a career in public service.
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Arabic

Model United Nations in Morocco

Jamison Celio, an Arabic academic year 2023-2024 student, shares the story of his cohort's participation in a regional Model United Nations in Rabat, Morocco.
Constanza Petra

Arabic

NSLI-Y Honors Black History Month: Constanza Biney

Constanza Biney, an alumnus of the Summer 2023 NSLI-Y Arabic program, used her NSLI-Y experience to connect with her Ghanaian culture and prepare for a future as a travel doctor.
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Arabic

Art of عمّان

Raha, an alumna of the 2023 summer Arabic program in Jordan, shares her NSLI-Y experience and how she sought out art in every corner of Amman.
Asma leaning up against a rock.

Arabic

Alumni Spotlight: Asma

Asma is an alumna of the 2012 Arabic Summer Program in Rabat, Morocco. Asma was initially interested in Arabic as she had many family friends from the MENA region. She was curious to learn conversational Arabic, in addition to the formal Qur’anic Arabic she was already familiar with. Asma fell in love with Arabic while in Rabat and developed strong relationships with her NSLI-Y peers, some of whom she’s still in touch will more than a decade later!
Audrey as a camp counselor.

Arabic

Alumni Spotlight: Audrey Reflects on Continued Engagement with the MENA Region

Audrey reflects on how her NSLI-Y experience has helped her academically and professionally. Since completing the NSLI-Y program, she has found multiple opportunities to continue studying and applying her Arabic skills.