Program Description
The Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA), which is available only for China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, and Russia, is a feature of the Fulbright US Student Program, which, for Indonesia, provides an opportunity for some grantees to receive three months of intensive study of Indonesian as an enhancement to their Fulbright grants. Language instruction providers are approved by AMINEF.
The CLEA is offered to students once they have been awarded a Fulbright US Student grant. The purpose of the Critical Language Enhancement Award is to cultivate higher levels of language proficiency prior to and during the Fulbright grant period and beyond. Ultimately, Critical Language Enhancement grantees will achieve a high level of proficiency in a targeted language and will go on to careers or further study that will incorporate the use of the language studied and/or related languages.
The Critical Language Enhancement Award helps promote the Fulbright Program’s goals of cross-cultural exchange and dialogue. Fulbright grantees capable of communicating in the local language in their host countries are likely to form stronger bonds with their peers, conduct more meaningful research, and develop a greater understanding of a foreign culture. The experience grantees bring home after their Critical Language Enhancement Award and Fulbright grant will serve them in their chosen careers and throughout their lives.
Eligibility
CLEA grantees for Indonesia must:
Note: Those who have received a Critical Language Scholarship, administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC), in the same program year are ineligible.
Application
Application for a Critical Language Enhancement Award is made in conjunction with the US Fulbright Student application and reference to the language award application should be included in the Statement of Grant Purpose.
As an adjunct to the Fulbright US Student application, the following forms must be submitted with the Fulbright US Student application to apply for the Critical Language Enhancement Award.
Note: In the Statement of Grant Purpose applicants must show a clear connection between additional language study and their Fulbright project. Thus, if an applicant’s project can be completed, without loss in quality, without language training, it will not be considered a high priority for an award.
Commitment to the Language
In their supplemental Critical Language Enhancement Award statements, applicants should demonstrate and detail their commitment to developing their Indonesian language skills through current study, during their Fulbright grant tenure, and in their future career and/or educational plans.
Selection
Language award recipients are selected by AMINEF’s Educational Exchange Committee, which makes recommendations to AMINEF’s Board of Managers, and in turn to the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Changes to program assignment, schedule, or length may occur.
CLEA is a competitive grant program and applicants selected to receive a Fulbright grant will not automatically receive a CLEA. Please note that Fulbright applicants must demonstrate that they will be able to carry out the Fulbright project without receipt of the additional language study.
Additional Grant Requirements
To monitor and evaluate grantee and program achievements, language proficiency tests and grantee reporting are required. Failure to complete these stipulations could result in delayed Critical Language Enhancement Award or Fulbright grant payments until the requirements are fulfilled.
CLEA Funding
Language Instruction
CLEA grantees begin their language study in September and attend one of the institutions named below for a maximum of three months. In exceptional cases language training at other venues may be possible. The grants must be completed in full before beginning the Fulbright Student research grant. Applicants are responsible for indicating their preferred language institutions. Tailor-made programs can be developed upon request at some of the institutions listed below.
Contact
Additional questions may be directed either to AMINEF staff at infofulbright_usa@aminef.or.id or to Susan Muendl at IIE, New York, at smuendl@iie.org or +1-212-984-5366.
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