SASLI 2024 in Review

Forty-eight language learners from 31 institutions participated in online and in-person courses.

14 undergraduate, 21 graduate, and 13 non-traditional students from across the U.S. and abroad worked toward diverse multilingual, professional, academic, and personal goals.

10 courses ran for 8 weeks, each equivalent to 8 credits and 2 traditional academic semesters.

Dari (Elementary)
Gujarati (Elementary)
Nepali (Elementary)
Hindi (Elementary, Intermediate)
Sanskrit (Elementary, Intermediate)
Tamil (Elementary)
Urdu (Elementary, Intermediate-Advanced)

The SASLI community connected outside of class through a variety of cultural and social events.

All-WISLI Student Mixer
Cricket Match & Workshop
South Asian Board Game Social
Study Breaks with Samosas
Language Tables
American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) Social
Program Finale w/ Class Performances & Lunch

SASLI students explored interests and careers.

Academic Lectures
South Asian Textile Collection Tour
Film Screening
WISLI Student Conference
LCTL Career Fair
Professional Development Workshop
CIA Interactive Simulations

Dozens of funding packages supported SASLI scholars' language study this summer.

2 Project GO Students
3 SAFLI Boren Awards
7 WISLI Tuition Scholarships
9 SASLI Half Fee Remissions
9 Grants from Employers/Home Institutions
14 FLAS Awards
16 $1,000 SASLI Fee Remissions

Dari, Gujarati, and Nepali were offered ONLINE for the first time at the elementary level!

Dari and Nepali had never been offered; Gujarati had not run in 10+ years!

Post-program Oral Proficiency Scores for students in these virtual classes ranged from Novice High to Intermediate High, with most reaching Novice High or Intermediate Low.

"SASLI is a unique experience that genuinely changes your relationship with language learning and allows you to improve massively within a short period of time."

Intermediate Urdu Student

"My summer studying Nepali with the SASLI will go down as one of the most gratifying experiences of my academic career. I learned foundational language skills that have increasing my confidence in achieving my academic and professional goals. I also met some fascinating academic colleagues with whom I hope to keep in touch. Thank you, SASLI, for a truly great summer."

Elementary Nepali Student

"If you want to build a foundation for mastering a South Asian Language or continue in your study of one, and you are able to devote a summer to doing so, SASLI is a perfect opportunity. Through individualized attention from knowledgeable and experienced instructors, language practice with classmates in the same boat as you, and a curriculum tailored towards an intensive summer learning environment, if you put in the effort, you will see your language skills develop more than you ever could have thought in just 8 weeks."

Patrick M., Elementary Hindi

"The quality of instructors for the SASLI program blew me away. My elementary Urdu professor has given all of the students in my class the gift of communicating - in both a culturally-appropriate and grammatically-correct way. This experience far exceeded my expectations. I am coming away from 8 weeks of intensive summer learning both reading and speaking Urdu (both of which I couldn't do when the class began)! Amazing. Also, SASLI's unique way of approaching community building between the various language courses is just awesome. I so appreciated all of their many efforts to offer opportunities from food, social and sport to academic and scholarly. Thank you, SASLI!"

Holly B., Elementary Urdu