The Language Flagship is an initiative of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO)

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The Language Flagship

The Language Flagship

The Language Flagship is a multiyear program designed to guide talented undergraduate students enrolled full-time at a Flagship college or university in any major(s) toward graduating with professional-level proficiency in a language critical to U.S. national security...

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At the core of The Language Flagship is the objective to improve how foreign languages are taught and learned across the U.S. The commitment is evident in the work toward diffusion of successful Flagship practices throughout higher education, and the growing interest nationwide...

The Language Flagship

At the core of The Language Flagship is the objective to improve how foreign languages are taught and learned across the U.S. The commitment is evident in the work toward diffusion of successful Flagship practices throughout higher education, and the growing interest nationwide...

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Programs

Programs

The Language Flagship produces students with professional-level language ability and practical experience overseas using their language skills. Flagship’s goal is to produce graduates who can operate successfully in positions requiring professional use of a given target language...

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Government

Government

The Language Flagship produces students with professional-level language ability and practical experience overseas using their language skills. Flagship’s goal is to produce graduates who can operate successfully in positions requiring professional use of a given target language...

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Featured News

Open Competitions Announced

We are pleased to announce two new open grant competitions: The 2026-2028 Chinese and Arabic Language Flagship Program Open Competition and the new 2026-2027 ROTC Flagship Summer Language Program Open Competition. 

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Language Flagship Experience

The Language Flagship provides students with a unique college experience that is focused on Global Engagement, Professional Skills and Language Proficiency, Community and Service. Our Four Principles Include:

Community

Community

Flagship students become part of a close-knit academic and cultural community built around shared language learning goals.
Global Engagement

Global Engagement

Flagship prepares students to navigate global environments by developing deep cultural understanding alongside language proficiency.
Professional Skills and Language

Professional Skills and Language

Flagship ensures students graduate with both linguistic proficiency and career-ready skills.
Service

Service

Flagship encourages students to use their language skills in service of others by engaging with local and global communities.

The Language Flagship locations offer immersive academic experiences that combine advanced language study, cultural engagement, professional preparation, and real-world application. Flagship languages are important for U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. The perception that these languages are too complex and difficult to learn for most English-speakers has resulted in too few speakers of these languages. Flagship programs are intended to change that perception.

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For Educators

The vision of The Language Flagship model is to institutionalize foreign language teaching and learning practices and to create a pool of graduates from all disciplines with professional language capacity and significant overseas experience.

The Language Flagship model is focused on achieving proven results, producing highly skilled and trained language practitioners, and challenging educators to bring innovation and advanced level teaching to the classroom.

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For Government/Private Sector

The vision of The Language Flagship model is to institutionalize foreign language teaching and learning practices and to create a pool of graduates from all disciplines with professional language capacity and significant overseas experience.

The Language Flagship model is focused on achieving proven results, producing highly skilled and trained language practitioners, and challenging educators to bring innovation and advanced level teaching to the classroom.

Learn More