Explore Albanian at CLI
The Critical Languages Institute is a national training institute for less commonly taught languages, offering summer intensive courses and study-abroad programs around the world.
Every summer, CLI brings students from across the U.S. together to develop their linguistic and cultural competency rapidly and effectively through intensive in-person immersion programs. Students live on the sprawling Arizona State University campus alongside faculty and staff or in Albania while speaking, studying, and living in Albanian.
Arizona State University is a large, metropolitan university. The main campus, housing over 64,000 students, is located in Tempe, 15 minutes by light rail from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Emblematic of the lively, eclectic atmosphere of Tempe is the city's main street, Mill Avenue.
Explore the tabs below to learn more about the Albanian course offerings at CLI.
Course Options
First-year Albanian in Tempe, Arizona
First-year Albanian in Tempe, Arizona
First-year Albanian provides beginners a solid introduction to Albanian grammar and conversation. Students who complete the course successfully will reach a proficiency of Novice High or Intermediate Low.
Students will be able to communicate in day-to-day situations in Albanian, will be able to read and write effectively on familiar topics, and will have a solid foundation for further study or travel.
The program introduces Albanian culture through authentic materials and media, as well as activities in Albanian and structured interactions with Albanian speakers.
First-year Albanian combines 4 hours a day of classroom instruction as well as daily informal activities in Albanian led by facilitators representing Albanian-speaking communities from around the world.
First-year Albanian Online
First-year Albanian Online
First-year Albanian provides beginners a solid introduction to Albanian grammar and conversation. Students who complete the course successfully will reach a proficiency of Novice High or Intermediate Low.
Students will be able to communicate in day-to-day situations in Albanian, will be able to read and write effectively on familiar topics, and will have a solid foundation for further study or travel.
The program introduces Albanian culture through authentic materials and media, as well as activities in Albanian and structured interactions with Albanian speakers.
First-year Albanian combines 4 hours a day of classroom instruction delivered virtually alongside in-person students as well as daily informal activities in Albanian led by facilitators representing Albanian-speaking communities from around the world.
Students who choose to enroll in this synchronous online course will have virtual access to all CLI events, speakers, and culture nights as well as any additional resources provided to in-person students.
First-year Albanian in Tempe, Arizona and 4-week extension in Tirana, Albania
First-year Albanian in Tempe, Arizona and 4-week extension in Tirana, Albania
First-year Albanian students enrolled in this program introductory course will immerse themselves in Albanian culture while strengthening their mastery of the language through specially designed courses and extramural activities.
A 30-minute taxi ride to the Adriatic beaches of historic Durres and a short cable-car ride to the pine forests of the Dajti Mountains, Tirana is Albania's administrative, cultural, economic, and industrial center. Tirana is a vibrant, youthful Mediterranean city with a thriving cafe and night life. This small, flexible program is customized to meet the needs of each participant.
Excursion and activity schedules vary year to year, but have included:
- Downtown Tirana: The National Museum, the Ethem Bej Mosque, Sahat Kulla, several ministries, and Rinia Park
- National Art Gallery
- Tirana Archeological Museum
- Grand Park
- Sky Tower
- Cave of Pellumbus
- Kruja and Kruja fortress
- Durrës: Durrës Amphitheater, Durrës Archeological Museum Dajti Nature Reserve
- Adriatic Coast
The CLI Summer in Tirana program is administered for CLI by American Councils, in conjunction with the resident director.
Program Fee
The first-year Albanian in Tempe, Arizona and 4-week extension in Tirana, Albania program fee of $3,500* includes:
- 60 hours of instruction
- 3 academic credits
- 4 weeks housing
- excursions and activities
- rides to and from Tirana airport
- insurance
- phone and phone card
Not Included:
- international travel
- lunches
- books and materials
- personal expenses
*All prices and descriptions on this page are subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts
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Second-year Albanian in Tirana, Albania
Second-year Albanian in Tirana, Albania
Second-year Albanian students will solidify their command of Albanian and raise their listening, speaking, and communicative skills to the Intermediate Low level or better. Graduates can interact in day-to-day life in Albania with ease and comfort.
A 30-minute taxi ride to the Adriatic beaches of historic Durres and a short cable-car ride to the pine forests of the Dajti Mountains, Tirana is Albania's administrative, cultural, economic, and industrial center. Tirana is a vibrant, youthful Mediterranean city with a thriving cafe and night life. This small, flexible program is customized to meet the needs of each participant.
Excursion and activity schedules vary year to year, but have included:
- Downtown Tirana: The National Museum, the Ethem Bej Mosque, Sahat Kulla, several ministries, and Rinia Park
- National Art Gallery
- Tirana Archeological Museum
- Grand Park
- Sky Tower
- Cave of Pellumbus
- Kruja and Kruja fortress
- Durrës: Durrës Amphitheater, Durrës Archeological Museum Dajti Nature Reserve
- Adriatic Coast
The CLI Summer in Tirana program is administered for CLI by American Councils, in conjunction with the resident director.
Program Fee
The second-year Albanian in Tirana, Albania program fee of $7,700* includes:
- 160 hours of instruction
- 8 academic credits
- 8 weeks housing
- excursions and activities
- phone and phone card
- traveler's insurance
It does not include:
- cost of travel to Tirana
- lunches
- personal expenses
*All prices and descriptions on this page are subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts
Funding Options
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships
The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships program provides allocations of academic year and summer fellowships to institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions of higher education to assist meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies. Eligible students apply for fellowships directly to an institution that has received an allocation of fellowships from the U.S. Department of Education.
The Melikian Center offers both academic year and summer-length FLAS Fellowships. The application for the Summer 2023 FLAS Fellowship will close on January 27th, 2023.
The Summer 2023 Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) provides eligible students with a $2,500 stipend and $5,000 in tuition during the Summer 2023 semester for funding intermediate and/or intensive study of Albanian, Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Kazakh, Macedonian, Persian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Tatar, Turkish, Ukrainian, or Uzbek domestically or abroad.
A separate application is required to apply for this funding opportunity.
Title VIII Graduate Awards
Title VIII Funding
The Department of State's Title VIII program funds graduate students with U.S. citizenship to study less commonly taught languages.
Students who apply for an Arizona-only program may receive up to $5,000. Students who apply for an Arizona program with a 4-week abroad extension may receive up to $10,000. Students who apply for an 8-week study abroad program through CLI may receive up to $10,000.
Past CLI Title VIII fellows can be awarded the fellowship up to two more times, for a maximum of up to 3 fellowship awards, as long as they maintain their graduate student eligibility.
A separate application is required to apply for this funding opportunity.
Melikian Center Awards Program
Melikian Center Awards Program
Supported by the Melikian Center's endowment and by private donations, the Melikian Center Awards Program provides scholarships of up to $1,500 for superior applicants to study critical languages at CLI.
This funding opportunity is open to all CLI applicants. High school, community college, and non-students are especially encouraged to apply.
A separate application is required to apply for this funding opportunity.
Need-Based Fee Reduction
Need-Based Fee Reduction
The Melikian Center offers up to a $1,000 reduction of the published CLI program fee for qualified Pell Grant eligible students and non-students with an annual family income of $50,000 or less. This $1,000 reduction applies to Tempe-based or study abroad programs. Please note that a limited number of fee reductions are available; not all students who apply will receive a need-based fee reduction.
To qualify for this funding opportunity, please indicate your Pell Grant eligibility on your general CLI program application.
A separate application is not required to apply for this funding opportunity.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The State Department's Gilman Scholarship provides awards of up to $5,000 for students in financial need to study abroad, including in CLI overseas programs. Gilman applications require certification of the program by your institution's study-abroad office. If you apply for Gilman support, please contact cli@asu.edu for assistance in getting the required information to your institution.
Gilman summer study applications are accepted from August to October and January to March. Students interested in this opportunity should apply for the early competition, if possible, since applicants to the later competition will not learn their award status until after the deadline to commit to CLI study. Please contact cli@asu.edu for details on timing your Gilman application.
An external application is required to apply for this funding opportunity.
Dr. Elaine H. Berkowitz Awards for Albanian Language Study
Dr. Elaine H. Berkowitz Awards for Albanian Language Study
Through a generous fund created by CLI Albanian alumna Dr. Elaine H. Berkowitz, CLI is able to offer a limited number of awards of up to $500 for students of Albanian. This award is available to all CLI applicants regardless of citizenship or enrollment status.
No additional application is necessary for this scholarship opportunity, all CLI Albanian applicants are automatically considered.
About Critical Languages Institute Language Programs
Costs
Program Costs
Thanks to ASU institutional support, CLI does not charge tuition (in-state or out-of-state) for its credit-bearing courses. Instead of tuition fees, we charge a flat administrative fee of $1,750* for all domestic programs in Tempe. Please note that this fee covers academics only; it does not cover room and board, travel, study abroad program fees, books, or insurance.
This fee is the same regardless of language and number of credits taken. In-country extension programs may have additional fees.
*All prices and descriptions on this page subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts. For information about our reduced program fees for low income/Pell Grant eligible students, please see the Funding Options tab.
Dates and Times
Dates and Times
Russian and Indonesian in Tempe, Arizona:
May 22nd - July 14th, 2023
Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 12:40PM
Language programs in Tempe, Arizona (Excluding Russian and Indonesian):
May 30th - July 14th, 2023
Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 12:40PM
Language programs abroad:
June 19th - August 11th, 2023
Monday - Friday
4-week extension programs abroad:
July 19th - August 11th, 2023
Monday - Friday
Credit and Syllabi
Credit and Syllabi
Most CLI programs offer 8-10 undergraduate credits, though there are exceptions. All 4-week extension programs offer an additional 3 credits under the SLC 494 course designation.
Please view your program's course syllabus for detailed information.
Housing and Meals
Housing and Meals
CLI offers language-oriented on-campus housing at one of Arizona State University's Tempe campus dormitories.
ASU typically offers double-occupancy rooms for $35*/day, with bathrooms shared between two double-occupancy rooms. ASU has a very limited supply of single-occupancy rooms. Participants who wish to live in an ASU dormitory and require rooms with ADA accommodations should email cli@asu.edu as soon as possible. Bed linens are available to rent for an additional one-time $45* charge.
Typical amenities include: laundry facilities, kitchen facilities, vending machines, air conditioning, and basic cable. Kitchens are usually shared among residents of the hall and the CLI language clubs. CLI does not provide supplies for kitchen areas.
CLI students are not required to live in the ASU dorm or to eat on campus. Private summer sublets are available near campus; price and quality vary. CLI does not assist with off campus housing arrangements.
CLI participants may eat on campus or may make their own meal arrangements. ASU offers a food court in the student union. CLI does not offer a meal plan for any of its on campus programs.
*All prices and descriptions on this page are based on 2022 pricing and are subject to change. Once ASU provides us with 2022 pricing, we will update this page accordingly. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts.
Housing options for study abroad programs may vary.
Depending on program selection, students will live in dormitories, apartment-style housing, or with family home stays for the duration of their program. Further details will be provided to applicants via their application portal.
Placement Testing
Placement Testing
If you are applying for a 2nd-year course or higher, you must take a placement test before the start of your program. Each language test will consists of a short test or writing sample. Placement tests will be calibrated to account for mid-semester progress at the time of testing.