Cultural Facts Language Preview Hear from our students Program Info
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 immersion programs. Explore the tabs above to learn more about the Macedonian course offerings at CLI.
Dive into the Language
Population:
Spoken by over 3,000,000 people
Vibrant Celebrations:
Saints Cyril and Methodius Day: Celebration of the founders of Slavic literature, also coinciding with the Catholic feast day of Cyril and Methodius.
Ilinden (Republic Day): Republic Day taking place alongside Saint Ilija's Day.
The Macedonian alphabet has:
31 letters
26 consonants
5 vowels
Official Symbol of Macedonia
On the flag, the eight-rayed sun represents Denes nad Makedonija, also known as the national anthem of Macedonia. This is also referenced as the “new sun of Liberty” in Macedonian culture.
Architecture of the Culture
Some of the most famous landmarks in Macedonian culture include the beautiful Lake Ohrid, the ancient Kokino Observatory, and the stunning Matka Canyon near Skopje, each showcasing the country's rich history and natural beauty.
Savor the Flavors
The national foods that represent Macedonian culture include Tavče gravče, a bean stew; ajvar, a red pepper spread also called "Macedonian caviar"; and rakija, a fruit spirit.
Language Preview
"How are you?"
Kako si?
како си?
"Have a nice day!"
ubav den
убав ден
"Good Morning"
Dobro utro
Добро утро
Hear from our students
Location of Language
Macedonian, originating from the Old Church Slavonic, boasts a distinct linguistic heritage and plays a crucial role in the cultural identity of the Balkan region. The language is an official language of North Macedonia and has significantly influenced the local dialects and cultural expressions of neighboring countries, fostering a sense of national pride and continuity among Macedonian speaker.
Program Information
Course Options
First-year Macedonian provides beginners a solid introduction to Macedonian grammar and conversation. Students who complete the course successfully will reach a proficiency of Novice High or Intermediate Low.
Dates: May 27 - July 11, 2025 (May 26, July 4 Holiday)
Students will be able to communicate in day-to-day situations in Macedonian, 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 Macedonian culture through authentic materials and media, as well as activities in Macedonian and structured interactions with Macedonian speakers.
First-year Macedonian combines 4 hours a day of online classroom instruction as well daily informal activities in Macedonian led by facilitators representing Macedonian-speaking communities from around the world.
Number of Credits: 8
Program Fee: $2,000
Apply Now
In the summer of 2025, students of Macedonian at ASU's Critical Languages Institute will have the opportunity to accelerate and expand their fluency by attending the International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature, and Culture in Ohrid, North Macedonia. Organized by the University of Ss Cyril and Methodius, the intensive 2-week seminar will run from approximately August 16 to August 31. Award-winning faculty, including CLI first-year Macedonian instructor Borče Arsov, provides instruction. Classes meet for four hours every day, with afternoon programming that introduces students to the town and its surroundings, recognized by UNESCO as a site of natural and cultural heritage. This includes Lake Ohrid, the deepest lake in Europe: and churches, museums and architecture that reflect the town's rich history as a center of Slavonic scholarship and Orthodox Christianity dating back over 1000 years.
Students who complete either the 100-level Macedonian class offered at CLI (May 27th through July 12th) with a B grade or better can attend the International Seminar for no additional fee: the costs of accommodation (in 2-person shared rooms), board and instruction are covered by their CLI fee and the University of SS Cyril and Methodius. Students are responsible for their air travel to North Macedonia, and any ground transfer costs; scholarships are available for qualified students.
Funding Options
Foreign Language and Area Studies 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 both Academic year and Summer 2025 FLAS Fellowships will close on January 31st, 2025.
The Summer 2025 Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) provides eligible students with a $3,500 stipend and $5,000 in tuition during the Summer 2025 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.
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 $2,000 for superior applicants to study critical languages at CLI's domestic programs and up to $6,000 towards CLI's study abroad offerings.
This funding opportunity is open to all CLI applicants. High school, community college, and non-students are especially encouraged to apply.
An application for this funding is included in every CLI Language Program application.
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 online, online plus study-abroad, 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.
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.
Title VIII Graduate Awards
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 online-only program may receive up to $5,500. Students who apply for an online program with a 4-week abroad extension may receive up to $10,500. Students who apply for an 8-week study abroad program through CLI may receive up to $10,500.
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.
