The Central Eurasian Studies Summer Institute (CESSI) was founded in 2011 by a consortium of international and area studies centers at major U.S. universities. Co-administered at UW–Madison by the Language Program Office and CREECA, CESSI is dedicated to training students, faculty, and professionals in the languages of Central Eurasia through its primary and secondary missions:
Primary Mission
CESSI’s primary mission is two-fold: [1] to provide high-quality instruction in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) and [2] to prepare instructors with strong training in language pedagogy. To this end, CESSI offers intensive eight-week summer programs in four Central Eurasian languages, from elementary to advanced levels, along with pedagogy workshops on best practices and innovative teaching tools. The small, proficiency-based classes focus on developing learners’ ability to use language confidently in real-world situations.
Secondary Mission
CESSI also seeks to expand the number of global professionals with strong language and cultural expertise who can navigate diverse cultural contexts. In addition, CESSI aims to support heritage language learners and address the multilingual needs of local communities. To advance these goals, CESSI contributes to a national community of practice for LCTL instructors and learners, promotes collaboration with institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and champions LCTL study through a variety of outreach initiatives.
Visit the CESSI website for more information.