Founded in 1991 as a boutique program for ASU graduate students studying Macedonian, the CLI has evolved into one of the largest summer training facilities in the U.S. for less commonly taught languages, offering courses in 9 languages at up to 5 levels to over 150 students each summer.
The signature of the CLI are its hybrid courses, where classes are conducted in two segments, a 7-week course on the ASU campus and an optional 4-week overseas program. CLI instruction is proficiency-oriented and practical. Curricula in Arizona are designed to prepare students to interact confidently and appropriately overseas, while simultaneously improving their grammatical accuracy and formal mastery of the language. Overseas courses are designed to review and expand on material covered in the U.S.-based segment, while at the same time providing additional cultural exposure in an immersion environment.