Regular classes may be out for the summer, but language learners from across the country and the globe have flocked to Madison to participate in the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI). WISLI’s commitment to preserving and promoting less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) is not just a regional or academic endeavor but a crucial contribution to national interests.
The program, which runs for an eight-week session during the summer and is equivalent of two semesters worth of learning, provides an intensive crash course into languages. It allows students to start, continue or nearly perfect their language skills in beginner, intermediate and advanced courses.
“These are Wisconsin languages, these are heritage languages spoken at home, and these are languages important for international collaboration and engagement. For all of these reasons, it is really important to us to make sure that we are preserving the diversity of language education,” said Felecia Lucht, Academic Director of the Language Program Office (LPO), the administrative unit for WISLI and other programs including Project GO (PGO), the Regional Flagship Language Initiatives (RFLIs), and the American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS).
Many of the languages taught by WISLI have been designated as critical languages–important to U.S. security and prosperity–by the Department of Defense, including (but not limited to) Arabic, Bengali, Hmong, Indonesian, Javanese, Kazakh, Pashto, Tibetan, and Urdu.
Programs like WISLI fill a high need for less commonly taught languages–though that doesn’t mean less commonly spoken–drawing students from across the nation who take advantage of these rare offerings.
One of the remarkable aspects of WISLI is its ability to adapt and expand its language offerings based on student interest and demand. “This year, we were able to offer three languages we either have never offered or haven’t offered in ages,” Lucht noted. These include Dari, Gujarati, and Nepali, highlighting the institute’s flexibility and commitment to meeting diverse linguistic needs.
Students in WISLI language courses include those funded by Project Global Officer, which supports language study for ROTC students, and the Regional Flagship Language Initiatives (RFLIs), part of the Boren Awards for International Study.
The programs are not just about language acquisition but developing global citizens. “Language learning as a part of becoming a global professional is something we’ve been really underlining,” Laura Hammond, Director of the Language Program Office emphasized.
The institute emphasizes intercultural competency, allowing students to reflect on their own cultural lenses while understanding others’. This skill set is invaluable for anyone, especially those pursuing international careers.
The institute also sees a number of returning students who continue to build on their language skills summer after summer. These returnees highlight the program’s success in creating a supportive and effective learning environment.
WISLI’s dedication to fostering multilingualism is encapsulated in their tagline, “Your future is multilingual.” This vision is not just a slogan but a reality, as students from diverse fields, including STEM and policy, come together to learn languages that will enable them to engage with the world in meaningful ways.
WISLI is hosting 187 language learners across 21 languages this summer. Several participants from this summer’s session shared why they enjoy language learning, why they chose WISLI, and what plans they have for their new language skills:

Harry Keatts Chenault, Jr., Hindi
Harry Chenault, or “Keatts” as he’s known in the WISLI program, is a lifelong language learner and nine-time returnee to the program. Chenault earned his undergraduate degree at Fort Bragg and a master’s degree at Shippensburg University during his time in the Army.
After his service, he went on to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to pursue a PhD. As part of his degree, he was required to take three languages—Arabic, Hebrew and French. Chenault went to Cairo, Egypt on a Fulbright scholarship where he continued his language learning of Arabic. His choice of language would eventually lead him to UW–Madison and the WISLI program.
“My Arabic professor at Hebrew University is the reason I’m here because she came here to do her M.A. at Wisconsin. I was studying in another program, and she said ‘no, you’ve got to go to Wisconsin,’” Chenault shared. “Well, that was nine years ago.”
Through WISLI, Chenault has completed advanced Arabic, all three levels of Farsi and is now in intermediate Hindi, a language chosen for his Boren fellowship.
With all of these languages under his belt, as well as his international experience with the Army, studying and living overseas, Chenault is ready to “go out and do all he can to help with this very dangerous world that we’re now living in.”
Francesca Zetar, Arabic

Francesca Zetar, a passionate learner with a background in international relations, emphasizes this in her experiences. Having studied Spanish, French, Arabic, German, Chinese, Russian and American Sign Language she values the insights languages offer into different ways of life. Her journey began with a Guatemalan foster family, sparking her interest in Spanish, which she pursued despite initial obstacles.
Francesca enjoys languages for their cultural depth and unique expressions. Arabic, for instance, fascinates her due to its frequent references to God, such as “inshallah” and “mashallah,” reflecting a deep cultural appreciation. She also finds Arabic script aesthetically pleasing.
Her goal in WISLI is to achieve fluency in Arabic, enabling her to communicate effectively with native speakers and understand their culture deeply. “I’m curious about just making my own deductions comparing languages and cultures,” Zetar said.

Jacob Aehl, Tajik
Jacob Aehl is another passionate learner with a rich linguistic background. He has studied Russian, Kazakh, and is now learning Tajik. His journey began in high school with a Russian history course, leading to a trip to Russia that ignited his interest in the language and culture.
His experiences in the Russian Flagship Program during his time as an undergraduate at UW–Madison and now WISLI have enriched his understanding and skills, providing valuable opportunities for immersion and community learning.
Jacob’s interest in Central Asia, personal connections through language, and future aspirations in federal service drive his language studies. “Being able to communicate with a wider range of people is a big reason I enjoy studying these languages,” Aehl said. “I hope to eventually go into federal service, and it would be good to have another language under my belt.”

Fatimah Arifin, Arabic
Fatimah Arifin, born in West Borneo and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, is a dedicated language learner studying intermediate Arabic. With a background in accounting from university in Jakarta and a semester of Spanish at Madison College under her belt, she is enthusiastic about expanding her linguistic horizons. Encouraged by her Spanish professor to apply for WISLI, she embraced the opportunity to delve into a new language and culture.
“I like to challenge myself, and I thought this is an amazing opportunity to learn something that is completely foreign to me,” she shared. Arifin values language as a bridge to connect with others and strengthen communities. Her experience with Spanish underscored the importance of communication, motivating her to continue her studies. “I hope in the soon future I’d to be able to help connect, facilitate and build our communities starting from the heart of Dane county,” Arifin said.

Landon Bradley, Thai
Landon Bradley, a recent University of Mississippi graduate with a background in international studies and Spanish, joins the WISLI program as a Boren scholar. Bradley believes learning languages allows for deeper exploration and connection with people, as “people want to talk about things that are important to them in their own language.” This connection fosters a richer understanding of different cultures and enhances travel experiences.
Bradley noted that he finds language learning humbling and enriching, improving his study habits and making him a better person. His passion for languages drives him to continually seek new experiences and connections, reinforcing the importance of communication in fostering global understanding.
As part of his Boren scholarship, and to continue fostering his global understanding, Bradley will study in Thailand. After his initial semester, he will continue his studies in Bangkok for another semester as a Boren independent scholar.
Story by: Jaya Larsen