10 Linguistics Internships for High School Students

If you’re interested in languages, communication, or even the way machines process language, linguistics could be the perfect field to dive into. Linguistics is more than just the study of language structures—it’s about understanding the evolution of languages, the social and psychological dimensions of communication, and how technology interacts with human language.

Linguistics is versatile, connected to various subjects: it enhances your understanding of education, psychology, artificial intelligence, anthropology, and more. By understanding how language works, you can open doors to diverse opportunities—from helping people regain the ability to speak, to contributing to groundbreaking AI developments. 

However, mastering linguistics isn't just about theory—practical experience is vital. Internships allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, whether analyzing speech patterns, developing language software, or assisting in linguistic research. Gaining hands-on experience will solidify your understanding and help you discover specific areas of interest and build valuable skills for your future careers. 

If you’re eager to explore the world of linguistics and gain hands-on experience, take a look at these 10 Linguistics Internships for High School Students. 

1. Stanford University’s SHTEM Summer Internships

Location: Virtual 
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship
Application Deadline: Applications generally close in February. Be sure to check their website for updates on application dates for the 2025 cohort.
Dates: June 17 - August 9, 2024
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (11th or 12th grade) who are at least 14 years old by the start of the program can apply. 

The Stanford Summer Humanities and Technology (SHTEM) Internship Program offers linguistics enthusiasts the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research that intersects language with fields like psychology, computer science, and the arts. Mentored by Stanford faculty and researchers, participants will work on cutting-edge projects related to communication and information processing. These internships highlight the interconnectedness of language, technology, and human cognition, allowing students to gain practical research experience in an academic setting.

The program offers you early exposure to academic research, demonstrating how humanities and the human aspect are deeply intertwined with STEM. If you're eager to delve into the connections between language, technology, and the arts, then this experience is for you.

2. National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)

Location: Various locations, including China, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Morocco, Taiwan, and Türkiye, among others.
Cost: Fully funded. The scholarship covers all program expenses, including round-trip travel, tuition, housing, meals, visa costs, and health coverage.
Application Deadline: For the 2025-2026 cohort, applications typically open in August and close in November.
Dates: The program generally runs in the summer, but exact dates vary depending on the country and program type.
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, 15-18 years old, and enrolled in grades 9-12 at the time of application. They must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

The U.S. Department of State’s NSLI-Y program offers fully-funded scholarships for high school students interested in learning critical languages, including Arabic, Mandarin, Russian, and Turkish. Through summer and academic year programs, students immerse themselves in intensive language study and cultural experiences in host countries, gaining linguistic fluency while living with local families. No prior language experience is necessary, making this an accessible opportunity for students of all backgrounds.

Participants enhance their language skills through formal classes and daily immersion, while also learning about the culture, history, and people of their host countries. This experience can spark a lifelong interest in languages, enriching both your education and career prospects.

3. Concordia College Language Villages

Location: Bemidji, Minnesota, with various camps spread across the state.
Cost: Program costs vary depending on the language and camp chosen. Two-week residential youth camps start around $2,000, but scholarships and financial aid are available to help offset the cost.
Application Deadline: Applications for the Summer 2025 cohort open on September 4th, 2024.
Dates: Camps run throughout the year, with most summer sessions starting in June and continuing through August.
Eligibility: The program is open to high school students. Specific eligibility requirements depend on the camp selected. 

Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota offers an immersive language-learning experience designed to inspire courageous global citizenship. With programs in over 15 different languages, students live in culturally authentic environments where the focus is on learning through experience. Camp activities, meals, and interactions are all conducted in the target language, providing a unique and engaging way to improve language proficiency. Whether you're interested in learning French, Japanese, Arabic, or another language, these camps create an atmosphere where you don’t just study the language—you live it. 

The program encourages you to engage with global issues creatively and critically, fostering compassion and a commitment to a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. In this diverse setting, everything reflects the culture of the language you are studying. 

4. Indiana University Summer Language Workshop

Location: Indiana University, Bloomington (with some online and study abroad options).
Cost: Tuition for in-state nondegree online students is estimated at $3,333 for the 2025 program. This includes $2,580 in tuition for 8 credits and a $753 program fee.
Application Deadline: 
- Priority Admission: December 6, 2024
- General Admission: January 31, 2025
- Rolling Admission: March 14, 2025
Dates: Varies depending on the chosen program. Typically taking place from June to August.
Eligibility: High school students born before May 29, 2007, can apply. Prior language experience is not required for entry into 1st-year courses, but a placement test is necessary for advanced levels.

The Indiana University Summer Language Workshop provides in-person, online, and overseas language courses led by experienced instructors. The program offers intensive learning experiences in over two dozen languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and more. You'll engage in language and culture through activities such as conversation tables and networking events. The workshops aim to rapidly advance language proficiency through daily live instruction, cultural activities, and one-on-one conversations with native speakers.

The online programs last about two months, while immersion programs span 8-9 weeks. Classes meet for 4 hours daily, with some offering up to 45 minutes of one-on-one training and up to 2 hours per week of additional activities. You can expect 3–4 hours of homework daily. The program’s rigorous structure ensures significant progress in language proficiency, while the immersive activities enhance your cultural understanding. This intensive experience can be a standout addition to your academic and professional portfolio.

5. Summer Language Institute (SLI) by the University of Virginia

Location: University of Virginia campus, Charlottesville, VA
Cost: Costs vary for Virginia and non-Virginia residents. Go through their website for more information.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the program reaches full capacity.
Dates: June 16 – August 8, 2025 (8-week session)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply for this program.

The Summer Language Institute (SLI) offers an accelerated language learning experience with eight-week courses in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. You’ll attend classes five days a week, up to seven and a half hours daily, covering two years' worth of material in just two months. The program emphasizes all language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—in a student-centered environment.

The SLI offers a rigorous summer program, which is perfect for students gearing up for international experiences, advanced research, or new career opportunities. At the end of the program, you'll take a proficiency test at no extra cost.

By rapidly advancing your language proficiency and deepening your cultural insight, this program equips you with valuable skills and experiences for your professional career.

6. Middlebury Language Schools Summer Language Immersion

Location: Middlebury Language Schools, Vermont
Cost:  $12,320 for the full program, including tuition, housing, and meals. Additional expenses for books and personal costs are estimated at around $350 each. Financial aid is available, with need-based grants covering up to $5,360.
Application Deadline: Applications for the Summer 2025 cohort will open on November 1, 2024.
Dates: Programs vary by language, typically running from June to August.
- 7-week programs: June 27 – August 15, 2025, for many languages such as French, Spanish, and German.
- 8-week programs: Dates vary slightly for languages like Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.
Eligibility: Recent high school graduates or students aged 18 are eligible to apply. 

Middlebury Language Schools offer a range of summer immersion programs for high school students, featuring courses in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. The program is known for its Language Pledge, where students commit to speaking only in the target language throughout their stay.  This rigorous immersion is designed to rapidly advance language proficiency, making the program ideal for students preparing for international careers, higher education, or research.

The programs vary from 7 to 8 weeks, depending on the language, and are designed for learners from beginner to advanced levels. With a strong focus on both linguistic and cultural immersion, students also benefit from extracurricular activities and language-specific events. With over 1500 students participating each summer, you’ll gain valuable skills and cultural insights, enhancing both your academic and professional prospects.

7. University of Mississippi Summer Language Institute

Location: Residential College South, Oxford, MS
Cost: Program fees range from approximately $3,190 to $3,310, covering tuition, housing, meals, and additional expenses. A detailed break-up of the cost structure is available here.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2024
Dates: June 27 - July 26, 2024
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11 and 12 with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students can earn up to 6 college credits.

The University of Mississippi Summer Language Institute offers high school students a chance to earn college credit while studying critical languages like Arabic and Chinese. This program emphasizes both linguistic and cultural skills through immersive instruction and co-curricular activities. Students live on campus and participate in co-curricular activities, gaining valuable skills for future academic endeavors. 

The program is intensive, with daily classes and evening activities aimed at building proficiency and confidence in the target language. The Arabic program focuses on foundational skills for beginners, while the Chinese program enhances conversational and written abilities through themed courses and cultural experiences.

8. City University of New York (CUNY) Language Acquisition Research Lab Internship

Location: Hunter College, New York, NY
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Most interns work during the summer, however other placements are available year-round.
Eligibility: High school juniors, current college students, and individuals holding a BA or pursuing other degrees are eligible to apply. 

If you’re keen on exploring the intricacies of language acquisition and computational linguistics, the CUNY Language Acquisition Research Lab Internship program provides you with exciting opportunities. These internships, which last at least 8 weeks, offer a valuable opportunity to dive into research focused on first language development, bilingualism, and cognition.

You’ll engage in a range of activities, from analyzing existing corpora with Python to recording and transcribing natural speech between children and their parents. You'll also study how children imitate sentences and understand various types of sentences. Some students even transform their internship into a capstone or independent study project at their home school, making this a unique chance to gain practical experience in language research.

9. National Security Agency (NSA) STARTALK Language Program

Location: Various locations across the U.S., including universities and other educational institutions
Cost:  Fully funded by the NSA, covering tuition, materials, and sometimes housing and meals for certain programs.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by program, but applications typically open in the fall and close around early spring.
Dates: Programs typically run in the summer, with specific dates varying by location and language.
Eligibility: Open to U.S. students in grades K–12, depending on the program. High school students typically participate in grades 9–12.

The STARTALK program is a federal initiative funded by the NSA to encourage the study of critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Korean, and Persian. The program is designed to address national security needs by increasing the number of fluent language speakers. It offers immersive summer language programs where students can dive into both the linguistic and cultural aspects of their target language. The programs often include language lessons, cultural workshops, and interactions with native speakers.

Participants are required to commit to full participation in all activities, which can range from online components to in-person summer camps. The curriculum includes interactive activities, guest speakers, and sometimes virtual field trips to enrich the learning experience. This program not only boosts your language skills but also opens doors to future opportunities in both academic and professional realms.

10. Ohio State University Summer Linguistic Institute for Youth Scholars (SLIYS)

Location: Virtual
Cost: The tuition for SLIYS is $525 per week for both SLIYS I and II. A non-refundable deposit of $25 is required within two weeks of acceptance, with the remaining balance of $500 for a single session to be paid later.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May.
Dates: 
- SLIYS 1: June 10-14 & July 8-12, 2024 
- SLIYS 2: June 24-28 & July 15-19, 2024
Eligibility: This program is open to high school students aged 14 to 18. Although there are no strict GPA requirements, a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is recommended.

The Summer Linguistic Institute for Youth Scholars (SLIYS), hosted by Ohio State University's Department of Linguistics, offers a one- or two-week online summer program for high school students. This week-long experience is designed to familiarize participants with the structures and functions of language, covering phonetics, syntax, and semantics. Students will explore linguistic concepts such as language acquisition, cross-cultural communication, and language change.

The program is hands-on, incorporating native speaker consultations and the analysis of different languages. You’ll also learn how linguists collect data, engaging in consultations with native speakers of languages like Chinese, German, Greek, and more.

Applying to this program provides you with a unique opportunity to advance your linguistic knowledge and can set you apart in future academic and career pursuits.

Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships.

If you are interested in interning with startups and nonprofits in sports medicine and physical therapy, consider finding them through Ladder Internships. This selective, virtual program allows students to work with startups and nonprofits from around the world across various industries. As part of your internship, you’ll work on a real-world project that’s important for the startup and present your work at the end. In addition to collaborating with your startup manager, you’ll also receive support from a Ladder Coach throughout your internship. Apply now!