Moraine Valley Community College student Priscilla Candelas, of Burbank, returned from a two-month experience this summer in Japan for an intensive language-learning program after receiving a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS).
More than 5,000 people applied for the CLS Program with Candelas being one of 500 applicants from U.S. colleges and universities selected to study overseas. This was her second time applying for the scholarship, and she was accepted in February to study at Okayama University in Japan from June 12 to Aug. 9.
“I always wanted to go to Japan and have been interested in Asian culture since I was a kid. I used to watch Rick Steves [travel] programs and wanted to travel,” Candelas said.
The CLS Program is part of a government effort to increase the number of Americans studying critical foreign languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Swahili, Urdu and Japanese. It includes intensive language education and cultural enrichment experiences to promote quick learning.
Candelas started studying Japanese in 2012 while attending college in California. She moved back to Illinois in 2017 and began taking classes at Moraine Valley. She happened to attend a presentation in the college Library when Michael Renehan, Moraine Valley professor of intensive English language and coordinator of Global Education and Diversity, mentioned the scholarship opportunity. Candelas had little time to send in an application and was not accepted the first time. To help boost her chances of being accepted and enhance her knowledge of Japanese culture and language, she joined the Japan America Society of Chicago in 2022. She was selected in the otherwise highly competitive process.
“It [this scholarship] is very difficult to win, and she is the first Moraine Valley student chosen,” Renehan said. “This is important because it allows students, who would not have the resources to study abroad, the opportunity to travel on a fully funded summer-long trip where they receive world-class language instruction and learn cultural competence, which allows them to participate in a globalized workforce.”
Once Candelas was in Japan, she was tested for placement in a Japanese class and placed in level one.
“It was more advanced than what was taught in school. At first, I felt out of my league and needed accommodations for my disability. I learned so much about Japanese culture and now am more fluent in the language,” she said. “It’s a hard program, and there were a lot of sleepless nights, but the teachers were more than willing to help you.”
Part of the immersion included field trips, which students later presented on. Candelas visited smaller towns such as Tsushima and Yakage, where she learned about more traditional ways of life. She also learned calligraphy and wore a yukata (a simpler kimono) to a festival.
“It was one of the best summers of my life. I highly recommend this program, especially since they have many languages available,” Candelas said. “I really connected with the language and found some pronunciation similar to Spanish, which I’m pretty fluent in as well. I’m proud of everything I accomplished there.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Moraine Valley student Priscilla Candelas earned a Critical Language Scholarship to study in Japan this summer.
For news media inquiries, contact Maura Vizza, Moraine Valley communications specialist and sports information coordinator, at (708) 974-5742 or Vizzam@morainevalley.edu.
