The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program provides fully funded immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world.

Each summer, over 500 American students enrolled at colleges and universities across the United States spend approximately eight weeks studying one of a dozen languages either overseas or virtually. 

Participants gain the equivalent of one year of language study, as the CLS Program maximizes language and cultural instruction in an intensive environment.

The Chinese Association of West Michigan (CAWM) is a non-profit cultural organization, serving the West Michigan region including the Greater Grand Rapids area, Holland, Muskegon, Grand Haven, etc. There are over hundreds of member families in the organization as of January 2025. While most of the members are of Chinese descendant, they have members who are from other ethnic backgrounds and welcome folks from various races and religious beliefs to be part of their organization.

Additionally, The Grand Rapids Chinese Language School, as a subsidiary to the CAWM, meets every Saturday throughout the semesters at the Eberhard Center at the Downtown Pew Campus!