CofC Student Named a Critical Language Scholarship Finalist

College of Charleston senior Jack Watson has been named a finalist for the 2024 Critical Language Scholarship.

Operated through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Recipients spend 8–10 weeks abroad in intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment designed to promote rapid language gains and cultural proficiency in one of 14 critical languages.

Watson is majoring in international studies and French and Francophone studies and will be studying the CLS Arabic program at the Jordan Language Academy in Amman, Jordan, this summer.

“I am so thrilled for this opportunity to continue my study of the Arabic language after my exchange semester at the American University in Cairo,” he says, explaining that – in addition to working with the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland; traveling through Greece while studying with the International Scholars program; and studying abroad in the College’s La Rochelle, France, program – he completed an exchange in Cairo in the spring of 2023. “I will be intensively learning Modern Standard Arabic at JLA, and I will also be living with a Jordanian host family who I am sure will be instrumental in my learning of the Jordanian dialect. Having worked with Syrian clients before through my internship with Global Refuge in fall 2023, I know the importance of having both Modern Standard Arabic and dialect aptitudes, and I am thrilled to improve upon my base in the Arabic language this summer on my path to proficiency.”

First-year student Michael Arambula, majoring in biology and minoring in neuroscience and computing in the arts, was named an alternate for the CLS Spark virtual program in Chinese. 

The CLS is a popular program nationwide, but a limited number of spots makes it a competitive application process.

“Only 15% of applicants will move forward to be considered for a finalist spot,” says Sidney Woram, associated director of the Office of National Competitive Awards. “Jack and Michael both put a great deal of time and effort into their applications, and I am pleased that CLS recognized the strength of their work.”

CLS is fully funded, meaning the participants receive room and board, instruction, books, airfare and more at no cost.

Applications for the Critical Language Scholarship will be due in November 2024. Interested students may contact Sidney Woram in the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards for more information.