OUR PROGRAMS

Balkan Language Initiative

Combining highly-individualized academic programming with structured overseas immersion, BLI enables students to make rapid gains in language proficiency and cultural knowledge while living and studying in Southeast Europe.


About The Program

The Balkan Language Initiative offers intensive, highly-individualized instruction in Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Serbian in six different countries. Through homestays, conversation partners, in-class instruction, and a wide range of extracurricular activities, participants enjoy an unprecedented opportunity to immerse themselves in daily local life in a region largely unserved by study abroad programs.

Academics & Courses

Participants receive 15 to 18 hours per week of classroom instruction - either individually or in small groups - designed to strengthen speaking, listening, reading, and writing proficiency in the target language. Course work typically includes classes in phonetics, grammar, and conversation as well as composition, oral comprehension, and reading. Language courses also cover topics in literature, history, politics, culture, and area studies. All classes are conducted in the target language by host-country faculty with extensive experience teaching foreign students.

Participants receive academic credit through Bryn Mawr College, an institutional member of American Councils. Upon successful completion of the program, Bryn Mawr College issues:

  • 8 undergraduate/10 graduate credit hours for the summer program;

  • 16 undergraduate/15 graduate credit hours for the fall or spring semesters;

  • and 32 undergraduate/30 graduate credit hours for the academic year program.

Languages & Locations

BLI currently offers the following languages:

  • Albanian in Tirana, Albania

  • Bosnian in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

  • Bulgarian in Sofia, Bulgaria

  • Macedonian in Skopje, North Macedonia*

  • Serbian in Belgrade, Serbia

  • Montenegrin and Serbian in Podgorica, Montenegro

*Summer only

Conversation Partners

To aid cultural integration and support academic learning, participants have the opportunity to meet with conversation partners two hours per week. Conversation partners introduce participants to local people, accompany participants on sightseeing tours, organize cultural activities (cinemas, museums, etc.), and provide students with academic support. The conversation partners are expected to speak only the target language.

Excursions & Activities

As part of the program, participants engage in a number of excursions and cultural activities. Activities outside the classroom are designed to give participants a deeper understanding of life, culture, and history in the Balkans. While excursions and activities vary from year to year and by location, past participants have enjoyed excursions to the following sites:

  • National Museum of History (Tirana, Albania)

  • Cathedral of Saint Alexander Nevsky (Sofia, Bulgaria)

  • Stari Most (Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

  • Kale Fortress (Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Old City and Fortress along Bay of Kotor (Kotor, Montenegro)

  • Ada Cigalija (Belgrade, Serbia)

Volunteer Opportunities

Program participants are encouraged to pursue volunteer opportunities in their host country. American Councils staff can provide advice and assistance in identifying volunteer opportunities in fields which are of interest to students. Engaging with the local community offers a unique insight into the host country society, rich cultural experience, and a deeper sense of personal fulfillment.

Housing & Meals

All program participants live with a host family for the duration of the program. Living with a host family provides valuable cultural experience to complement the academic program. Host families expose participants to authentic, everyday life in the host country while also providing a supportive environment for students to practice their growing language skills. While staying with a host family, participants are provided with a private room, two meals per day, and keys to the apartment or house. All host families are screened, selected, and monitored by American Councils staff.

Financial Aid 

Multiple sources of financial aid are available to prospective study abroad participants to help pay for programs abroad, including private, federal, university, and American Councils scholarships. Learn more here.  

Support Services

All program participants are required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. at the start of the program. Orientation sessions address health & safety, academic culture, host-family life, culture shock, and strategies to maximize language gain. Students also have a chance to meet and get to know fellow participants during the orientation. Lodging and meals are provided. Upon arrival in the host country, participants attend an informative in-country orientation.

While overseas, participants have access to in-country program staff that provide around-the-clock emergency support. The local American Councils office, employing both expatriates and host-country nationals, arrange the academic program, cultural excursions, housing, in-country orientation, and medical care. During the program, the AC Study Abroad Team in Washington, D.C. stays in close contact via email and telephone with in-country program staff and provides updates as needed to study abroad offices, university partners, and family members.

Participants are enrolled in comprehensive overseas health, accident, and evacuation insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) for the duration of the program. CISI provides medical coverage of up to $250,000 per accident or illness. Enrollment in the CISI plan also provides full coverage for emergency medical evacuation.

All participants are provided with a single-entry visa (if applicable) to the host country for the duration of the academic program. It is the student's responsibility to obtain any other visas required by their individual itineraries. Visa application information and forms are provided upon acceptance to the program.

 

Program Snapshot

Program Focus

Balkan Languages, Area Studies

Language of Instruction

Albanian, Bosnian/Croatian/
Serbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Montenegrin

Program Locations

Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

Program Dates

Spring 2024
January 22 - May 10, 2024

Summer 2024
June 10, 2024 - August 2, 2024

Fall 2024
September 2 - December 13, 2024

Spring 2025
January 27 - May 9, 2025

Dates are approximate and may vary slightly depending on country. Start dates mark the pre-departure orientation.

Program Cost

Summer: $6,900

Semester: $15,800

Academic Year: $28,800

Applications Deadlines

Summer: February 15

Fall & Academic Year: March 15

Spring Semester: October 15

Eligibility / Prerequisites

  • At least two semesters of college-level instruction or the equivalent in the target language or a related language

  • Minimum GPA of 2.7

  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the application deadline

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