Qualifications and Application

Program Application

The application deadline for the 2012 program has passed. Applications for the 2013 program will be available in January 2012.

The EHLS application process has three parts:

• Application: Each applicant must complete an online application or a paper application form and submit supporting documents. Applicants who are U.S. citizens may also apply for a scholarship using this form. The application and all supporting documents must be submitted to be considered for admission to the program. Read more >
• Telephone interview: Each applicant must complete a brief telephone interview. Applicants must schedule a telephone interview and attach a copy of the confirmation email to the application. Interviews will take place during Summer 2012. Read more >
• Language proficiency testing: Qualified applicants will be informed in late August if they should go on for this testing, and given instructions for doing so. Read more >

Paper Application
Telephone Interview
Criteria for Admission
Language Proficiency Testing

Paper Application

To apply for admission to the EHLS program, you must submit a completed program application and supporting documents.

On the program application, you will need to provide information about yourself and your education and work history. You will also need to provide self-assessments of your proficiency in English and your heritage language and short written essays on your professional goals and your reasons for applying to the program.

With the program application, you must submit these supporting documents:

• a current resume
• a copy of your transcript from the educational institution that granted your highest degree
• two or three letters of recommendation
• a copy of the email confirming the date and time of your telephone interview

All submitted materials must be in English.

You must complete an online application at www.ehlsapplication.org or send your program application and all supporting documents to IIE at this address:

Institute of International Education
English for Heritage Language Speakers Program
1400 K Street NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20005-2403
Tel: (866) 831 – 3012
Email: ehls@iie.org

Please do not send your application to CAL or to Georgetown University. Applications that are not sent to IIE will not be processed.

The application deadline for the 2012 program has passed. Applications for the 2013 program will be available in January 2012.

Telephone Interview

To apply for admission to the EHLS program, you must also complete a short telephone interview. The interviewer will ask you questions about your education, your professional background, and your interest in the EHLS program.

Interviews will take place during Summer 2012.

The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) will conduct the telephone interviews. After you sign up for an interview time, CAL will send you an email message that confirms the date and time of your interview and gives you the telephone number to call. Be sure to provide an email address that you check regularly when you sign up for your interview. You must include a copy of your email confirmation message with your program application.

Criteria for Admission

To be admitted to the EHLS program, an applicant must do the following:

• Submit a complete paper application with all required attachments to IIE by the due date.
• Sign up for a telephone interview with an interviewer from CAL by the due date, and complete the telephone interview.
• Demonstrate native language skills at ILR level 3 or higher through formal testing. Applicants will be notified by email in late October whether they should proceed with formal testing or not, and will be given instructions for doing so.
• Demonstrate English language skills at ILR level 2 or 2+ through formal testing. Applicants will be notified by email in late October whether they should proceed with formal testing or not, and will be given instructions for doing so.
• Demonstrate commitment to ongoing development of English language skills in relation to professional goals. Applicants demonstrate this through the narrative statements on the application, through the answers they give in the telephone interview, and through the letters of recommendation that they submit with the application.

Language Proficiency Testing

Your initial program application will be reviewed and you will be notified whether or not you are qualified to go on to the final step in the application process: formal assessment of your language proficiency in English and your heritage language. Read more >