Foreign Language Programs for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 55 foreign language programs for high school students. Of these, 19 are free to participate in and 22 offer virtual participation. Examples include AFS-USA Intercultural Programs, Alliance Française de Seattle Teen Summer Program, and American Sign Language Honor Society (ASLHS).
- 55
- listed
- 19
- free
- 22
- virtual
- 55
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are foreign language programs for high school students?
- Foreign Language Programs for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in foreign language. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these programs free?
- Yes — 19 of the 55 programs listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 22 of the 55 programs listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are foreign language programs good for a college application?
- Yes — foreign language programs are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in foreign language on college applications.
Related Categories
55 activities found·Browse by category
AFS-USA Intercultural Programs
Nonprofit exchange organization offering U.S. high schoolers ages 15-18 semester, summer, and year-long homestay programs in over 50 countries to build language skills and intercultural competence.
Alliance Française de Seattle Teen Summer Program
A half-day French immersion summer camp for teens ages 13-17 that combines language classes with cultural activities, run by the Seattle chapter of the international Alliance Française network.
American Sign Language Honor Society (ASLHS)
National honor society sponsored by the American Sign Language Teachers Association recognizing high school and college students for academic achievement in ASL studies, Deaf-community service, and leadership.
Arabic Speaking Competition (Qatar Foundation International)
Two-round international competition where secondary students studying Arabic submit a recorded oral presentation and, if selected, present live to judges.
Bay Area Arabic Academy
Fremont-based Modern Standard Arabic school offering leveled courses for 7th-12th graders, approved for high school foreign-language credit in two local districts.
California Language Student of the Year Award (CLTA & CIEE)
Statewide award honoring top California world‑language students with large study‑abroad scholarships.
CAMWS High School Latin Translation Exam
A national one-hour Latin translation exam administered through schools each fall, offered at intermediate (Latin II-III) and advanced (Latin IV+) levels by the Classical Association of the Middle West and South.
Chinese Bridge Speech Contest (China Institute of America)
Regional qualifying round of the international "Chinese Bridge" competition for non-heritage U.S. high school learners of Mandarin, featuring a keynote speech, culture quiz, and talent showcase, with top winners advancing to a summer camp in China.
CIEE High School Study Abroad
Language & Culture summer (3-4 week) and semester/year immersion programs for U.S. high schoolers in 40+ destinations worldwide, combining daily language classes with homestays for full cultural immersion.
CLTAC Mandarin Chinese Speech Contest (Northern California)
Regional Mandarin speech competition run by the Chinese Language Teachers Association of California; long‑running and respected in NorCal.
Concordia Language Villages
Residential summer immersion camps in Bemidji, Minnesota teaching 18 languages through cultural activities, camp life conducted entirely in the target language, and optional high school course credit.
Delta Epsilon Phi (National German Honor Society)
National honor society for high school students of German, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German, recognizing students who complete at least three semesters of German with a high GPA.
Gallaudet University National Literary Competition
Annual national competition open to deaf and hard-of-hearing students in grades 6-12, judging writing and storytelling/poetry performance in both ASL and English.
Goethe-Institut San Francisco Teen Summer Camp
A two-week German-language summer camp for teens ages 14-17 in San Francisco that combines language instruction with project work on sustainability and social issues.
Hương Việt Vietnamese Language School
Long-running Oakland-based Saturday language school teaching Vietnamese language and culture to Bay Area youth.
Immerse Into ASL (Gallaudet University)
A weeklong, 24/7 residential American Sign Language immersion camp at Gallaudet University for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students entering grades 10-12 who are new or beginner-to-intermediate signers, combining ASL instruction with Deaf culture and history.
Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS)
National honor society administered by AATJ that recognizes high schoolers for sustained excellence in Japanese language study.
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad
State Department merit scholarship sending U.S. high schoolers for a full academic year to live with a host family and attend school in a country with a significant Muslim population, building language skills and cross-cultural understanding.
Korean American Center – King Sejong Institute Korean Classes
Live one-to-one and group Korean language classes for K-12 students offered nationally (online or in-person) by the Korean American Center, a King Sejong Institute. Builds reading, writing, speaking, and cultural fluency from beginner through advanced levels with credentialed Korean instructors.
Korean Honor Society (KHS)
National honor society jointly sponsored by AATK and KLTA-USA, recognizing high schoolers for excellence in Korean language study.
Kyung Uhn Scholarship Speech Contest
National English-language speech contest hosted by The Korea Society for U.S. high schoolers on Korean culture and its global impact.
Mandarin Language and Cultural Center (MLCC)
25+ year Bay Area Mandarin Chinese school in Milpitas and Saratoga offering Heritage, Chinese-as-Foreign-Language, and AP-track classes.
MBK Hindi Language Center
Bay Area nonprofit offering a UC-approved, four-year Hindi curriculum for high schoolers, recognized as foreign-language credit by several districts.
Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy (MMLA)
A four-week residential language immersion program for students in grades 8-12 offering Arabic, Chinese, French, German, or Spanish, built around Middlebury's signature 'Language Pledge' that requires English-free communication throughout the program.
National Chinese Honor Society (NCHS)
National honor society sponsored by the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools recognizing high school students (grades 9-12) with high scholastic achievement after four semesters of Chinese study.
National Chinese Language Speech Contest (CLTA‑US)
Nationwide Mandarin speech contest assessing pronunciation, fluency, and content through prepared speeches in Chinese; regional winners advance to national level.
National Examinations in World Languages (NEWL)
College Board-endorsed online proficiency exams in Arabic, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian developed by American Councils, letting high schoolers demonstrate reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills for potential college placement credit.
National French Contest – Le Grand Concours (AATF)
Annual exam measuring achievement in French, administered nationally; students earn platinum/gold/silver/bronze medals and national rankings.
National German Exam (American Association of Teachers of German)
Standardized German exam with national percentiles, medals, and travel awards for top scorers.
National Italian Exam (American Association of Teachers of Italian)
Assessment and contest in Italian language and culture; students can earn medals, national rankings, and be considered for scholarships.
National Japan Bowl (Japan-America Society of Washington DC)
Quiz‑bowl style competition on Japanese language, culture, history, and society for high‑school teams; top teams invited to national finals.
National Japanese Exam (AATJ)
Online, standards-based proficiency exam in reading, listening, grammar, and culture for middle school, high school, and college learners of Japanese, administered by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese.
National Junior Classical League (NJCL)
The largest classics organization for students in the world, running local chapters plus a national convention with academic testing, the Certamen quiz-bowl, and creative arts competitions centered on Latin, Greek, and classical culture.
National Latin Exam (NLE)
International Latin exam with questions on grammar, vocabulary, culture, history, and classical literature; medals and certificates awarded based on national norms.
National Portuguese Exam (AATSP)
Annual proficiency exam for grades 10-12 students of Portuguese in the U.S., administered by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, with medals awarded to top scorers.
National Russian Essay Contest (NREC)
Annual timed essay competition run by the American Council of Teachers of Russian for U.S. middle and high school students of Russian, judged nationally with multiple award levels.
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
Fully-funded U.S. State Department scholarship that sends high schoolers to study critical languages (Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Indonesian) through immersive summer or academic-year programs abroad, or through a virtual option.
National Spanish Exam (NSE)
Nationwide standardized exam recognizing achievement in Spanish; high scorers earn medals, national rankings, and can access scholarships and travel programs.
NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth)
Fully-funded overseas summer and academic-year language immersion programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State for high school students to study critical languages (Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Persian, Russian, Turkish). Includes intensive language classes, cultural activities, and homestay experiences.
Olympiada of Spoken Russian
Oldest ACTR program for U.S. secondary schools, where students of Russian compete in conversation, poetry recitation, and Russian civilization at regional/state competitions.
Punjabi Pathways Youth Program
Live online Punjabi classes emphasizing Gurmukhi literacy and conversation, with a dedicated youth track for teens.
Rassias Center Youth Language Programs (Dartmouth)
Immersive summer and intensive language programs at Dartmouth College that use the energetic, drama-based 'Rassias Method' to accelerate learning in French, Spanish, German, and Italian for high school students.
Rotary Youth Exchange
Long-standing global exchange program sending students ages 15-19 abroad for a full academic year (or short-term) to live with host families, attend local school, and learn a new language, sponsored by local Rotary clubs.
Russian Scholar Laureate Award (RSLA)
National ACTR award recognizing one outstanding 10th or 11th grade Russian-language student per eligible school each year.
School Year Abroad (SYA)
Immersive academic-year, semester, and summer study-abroad program placing U.S. high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with host families and local partner schools in France, Italy, or Spain to build fluency while earning U.S. high school credit.
Seal of Biliteracy (State / District Level)
An official seal on your diploma and transcript recognizing functional proficiency in English and at least one additional language (AP/IB scores, AAPPL, etc.).
Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (AATSP Spanish & Portuguese Honor Society)
A national honor society for high school students of Spanish or Portuguese, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, offering senior scholarships and junior travel awards for members with strong academic records.
Società Onoraria Italica (National Italian Honor Society)
National Italian honor society for high school students, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Italian, recognizing students who maintain a 90%+ average in Italian beyond their second year of study.
Société Honoraire de Français (French National Honor Society)
National French honor society sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, inducting 10th-12th graders who have completed at least four semesters of French with strong grades.
STARTALK
A National Security Agency-funded network of free or low-cost summer programs hosted at universities nationwide that teach critical-need languages such as Chinese, Russian, Arabic, and Korean to K-12 students.
STARTALK Chinese Immersion Program (Appalachian State University)
A free, NSA-funded STARTALK program for rising 9th-12th graders with little or no prior Chinese exposure, combining virtual pre- and post-camp activities with a three-week residential immersion in Chinese language and food culture at Appalachian State University.
State & Regional World Language Student Awards (Example: CLTA, FLAVA)
Many state world‑language associations (California's CLTA, Virginia's FLAVA, etc.) grant "Outstanding World Language Student" awards recognizing high achievement and future language educators.
Summer Language Institute (University of Chicago Pre-College)
An online pre-college program in which high school juniors and seniors take a beginning-level intensive course in Ancient Greek, French, German, Japanese, Latin, or Spanish, meeting for at least 90 contact hours over six to eight weeks to build proficiency in all four language skills.
UM Summer Language Institute (University of Mississippi)
A residential summer institute at the University of Mississippi offering intensive, college-credit-bearing Arabic and Chinese language courses for high schoolers through the university's Language Flagship programs, combining classroom instruction with cultural co-curricular activities.
Youth For Understanding (YFU) USA
Nonprofit exchange organization sending U.S. high schoolers ages 15-18 abroad for summer, semester, or academic-year homestay programs in 35+ countries to build language fluency and cross-cultural skills.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.