NSLIY Questions

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

Hi guys, I am a semi finalist for NSLIY and my interview is coming up. My preferences were Arabic (summer), Turkish (summer), Persian (summer). I have a few questions and if you can answer them that would be super awesoe!:slight_smile:

  1. And tips for the interview?
  2. Do most people get their top choice?
  3. What was the typical day during the program?
  4. How much language learning and improvement did you get (how far did you advance in the program?)
  5. Did you participate in the fast during Rammadan? If you didn’t was it because it was frowned upon to do so?
  6. Were there options for attending Church?
  7. What was Morrocco/Jordan/Oman/Turkey/Tajikistan like?
  8. Was there a lot of freedom?
  9. What sort of activities did you do with your group?
  10. Did your host family seak English?
  11. For Arabic, do they ask you which country you want to be placed in? If not how do they decide?

Thanks a million!

2
  1. For the interview, to prepare I would recommend answering all the questions on here (http://iamhanseoulo.blogspot.com/2014/04/nsli-y-semifinalist-interview.html) because they asked some of those during my interview.
  2. I've never heard of people getting their second or third choice but if they give us the option of choosing them there's got to be a reason.
  3. There should be options everywhere you go but you're probably going to attend the church of your host family unles you specified that you need a place to go to church on your app.
  4. It depends on every host family but unless they have a teenage kid or something, probably not.
  5. None of the other programs let you pick your city or country, so I doubt it. Hope that helped!
3

Hello! I am actually a Turkish summer alumna! :slight_smile:

  1. I had an interview over the phone so I can't really speak for in-person interviews. However, as cliché as it may sound, be yourself! Know how to justify why you want to learn the language. This is a language-based program afterall...
  2. I haven't met anyone that received their second or third choice yet, so I would answer yes.
  3. I had language classes from around 8:00-1:00, and then we would either have our cultural excursions or volunteer activities. If that didn't happen, I would go exploring with my host sister and friends or go back home and work on some homework or catch up on some reading.
  4. A whole lot.
  5. Yes I did, and the countries that you listed would not frown upon you for fasting; quite the contrary, they would be ecstatic if you did as it shows you are open to their culture and their religion!
  6. Yes, but I would always let you host sibling and parents/resident director know where you will be, just in case something pops up! Stuff happens and it is always best to have someone you know with you.
  7. Only my host siblings and host father did. My host mother did not but this was helpful since it encouraged me to learn Turkish in order to speak with her. Keep in mind that each host family is different and although you will feel more comfortable speaking English, always try to challenge yourself not to!
  8. I think for the Arabic program you get placed where they see you best and you cannot rank them in your preference.

No problem! Best of luck! :smiley: