About the Program
There is a demand among academic researchers for appropriate high quality in-country immersive Khmer language training. However, not all have completed the two years of academic training in Khmer required for Advance Study in Khmer (ASK).
The CKS Khmer Language and Culture Program aims to meet that demand and provide the opportunity for those with less Khmer language experience to benefit from study in-country. Like their ASK counterparts, participants in the CKS program will receive four hours of intensive language training during morning sessions. In the afternoon, they will take part, alongside the ASK program participants, in fieldtrips and other cultural activities, including visits to local governmental and non-governmental institutions, where their language skills can be used in real-time situations.
Click here for information about the ASK program.
Program Goals
The program goals reflect CKS’s broader agenda of promoting research and international scholarly exchange through programs that increase understanding of Cambodia and its region:
- To provide in-country language training for students interested in Cambodia and Khmer Studies.
- To enable faculty, post-graduate researchers, and undergraduates to advance their level of Khmer language skills in preparation for fieldwork and study in Cambodia,
- To promote cooperation and educational exchange among individuals, institutions and Cambodia.
Program Instruction
To ensure the quality of the program, the group will restrict to 8 individuals.
Instruction is given by trained Cambodian instructors and linguists and follows the ASK curriculum at the appropriate level for the group.
Tuition and Administrative Costs
CKS will cover the costs of tuition, administration, and local travel on field visits for participants. Participants are responsible for their international travel and living expenses including accommodations and food during the program.
Participants must have health insurance and will be responsible for any entry fees into Cambodia that are imposed by the Cambodian Government including visa fees, Covid-tests, quarantine, etc. if applicable.
*You can keep up with the updates of the Covid-19 situation and travel requirements in Cambodia via:
Eligibility
Generally, an applicant may be among the following:
- Students and researchers working or studying in social sciences, humanities, foreign languages, and area studies. *
- A faculty member at a U.S. University, or a U.S. citizen working at a foreign University.
- A graduate student, or junior or senior at a university, who is a prospective teacher in the areas afore-mentioned.
- A graduate student, or junior or senior in an institution of higher learning, who plans to apply his/her language skills and knowledge of countries vital to the United States’ national security in fields other than teaching, including government, the professions, or international development.
- A teacher in an elementary or secondary school, or an experienced education administrator responsible for planning, conducting or supervising programs in modern foreign languages or area studies at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level.
- Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States may benefit from specific subsidies.
- Participants who are fully vaccinated and healthy for traveling
Who is not eligible?
- An individual who has participated in either the US/ED Group Project, Advanced Program or Seminar Abroad Program in the past three years (2016-2018); or
- An individual who has had two awards with either the US/ED Group Projects Abroad Program or Seminars Abroad Program, unless the award was received 10 years ago.
- An individual who is currently unemployed.
- An individual who is an educated native or near-educated native speaker.
*Area studies means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a society or societies including the study of geography, history, culture, economy, politics, international relations, languages.
How to Apply
Summit your completed application with the subject, “Application for KLCP 2022” or any question related to the program, please send to: juniorfellowships@khmerstudies.org.
If you do not have access to email, you may mail the completed application form and all required documents to:
Center for Khmer Studies (CKS)
PO Box 9380 Wat Damnak
Siem Reap, Cambodia
