April is National Arab American Heritage Month, a celebration of the rich culture and immeasurable contributions of Arab Americans to the United States. Arab American Heritage Month is also an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Arab American citizen diplomats engaged in international education, who bring their unique perspectives on culture, language, and identity while studying abroad.
American Councils recognizes that Arab American students face significant barriers to studying abroad. In recent years, we have prioritized increased access for students of color and other groups traditionally underrepresented in study abroad and educational exchange programs through such initiatives as the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Fund, which has provided $100,000 in scholarships for study abroad and cultural exchange programs since its inception in 2016.
As American Councils continues efforts to provide greater access to study abroad, we want to honor Arab American Heritage Month and the perspectives of Arab American participants who add value and insight into the benefits of cross-cultural experiences. This year, American Councils has the honor of speaking with Chirine Yamout, a two-time alumna of the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Chinese Program, about her time abroad in Taiwan, her identity as a Lebanese American, and her passion for citizen diplomacy.
Chirine Yamout moved from Nabatieh, Lebanon, to the United States after graduating high school in 2016. Before studying with the CLS Program, Chirine was fluent in five languages. “I have always had a fascination with learning languages,” Chirine shared. “I had the advantage of coming from Lebanon, a country where the educational system is multilingual.”
Moving to the United States expanded Chirine’s interest in language learning, meeting people from diverse backgrounds at Florida International University. She received her bachelor’s in international relations and a certificate in Chinese. Chirine began studying Chinese after the opportunity to participate in the International Scholar Laureate Program, where she was part of a diplomacy delegation to China. Her interest in Chinese international relations inspired her to study the intricacies of Chinese history, culture, and politics. Chirine is working to receive her master’s in international studies with a focus on Chinese-Middle East relations, where she hopes to incorporate her knowledge of Mandarin into her studies.
“Choosing to learn Chinese was a challenge for myself,” Chirine reflected. “I was very aware of the difficulty and complexity of the language, which only made me want to learn it more. I think the Arab-Resilience in me has always pushed me to accept challenges, no matter the difficulty level.”
Chirine advanced her Chinese language journey with the 2021 CLS Chinese Program hosted virtually by Tamkang University in Taiwan. Though disappointed that the COVID-19 pandemic prevented her from traveling abroad, Chirine notes her appreciation of the teachers and staff that made the virtual program as fulfilling as it was. “The teachers and people at Tamkang University went above and beyond to give us a taste of Taiwan,” said Chirine. “When I finally got the chance to go through the CLS program in person, I was even more appreciative of the opportunities I was offered.”
Chirine was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship again in 2022, finally able to study in person at Tamkang University. While in Taiwan, Chirine improved her language skills, made life-long friends, and shared her Lebanese American culture with her Taiwanese peers. “For many of the people I met, it was the first time they’d ever met a Lebanese person,” Chirine shared. “I was more than happy to teach them and tell them stories about that part of the world.”
Chirine’s time with CLS continues to influence and inspire her studies as she works to receive her master’s degree. “My experience in Taiwan has helped shape my perspective about the region,” Chirine reflected. “I’ve always said that it was one thing to learn something from books and another to learn directly from the source." After finishing her master's, Chirine hopes to work for the federal government. She aims to become a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State.
For students considering studying abroad, Chirine offered this advice: “Go with the intention of genuinely learning about the place you are visiting. Go with curiosity. Embrace the differences and diversity, and you will have the best time of your life, build relationships that will last you a lifetime, and make memories that will stay with you forever.”
American Councils proudly supports Chirine's international education journey through the CLS Program. We are elated to celebrate Chirine, her dedication to critical languages, and her identity as a Lebanese American person. Read more about Chirine here.
The Critical Language Scholarship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by American Councils for International Education.