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More About Foreign Language Evaluations
Understanding the language requirement for your host country is a very important part of the application process for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. As Fulbright explains, "You must possess the necessary language skills to successfully complete the project you are proposing."
When Language Skills Are Required
A professional language teacher, ideally a faculty member within a higher education setting, must complete a Foreign Language Evaluation Form for you. You must register this person in the Fulbright portal. Please provide the person with this guidance. In addition, you, as the applicant, are required to fill out the Language Self-Evaluation Form, available via your online application.
From Fulbright:
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"Submission of both the Language Self-Evaluation portion of the application and Foreign Language Evaluation form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. The application system will not allow the submission of an application if a required Foreign Language Evaluation form is not registered. Failure to submit required language forms may result in your application being deemed ineligible for consideration."
When Language Skills Are Recommended/Not Required
Sometimes, a country may only recommend language skill. However, if you have skill in the language (or languages), you will still definitely want to spotlight that through the submission of a Foreign Language Evaluation Form and completing the Language Self-Evaluation Form. This will help demonstrate for application reviewers that you can make the most of your experience living in the country.
From Fulbright:
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"It will be beneficial to have your language ability documented, even if it is not required for the award. Remember, even if a country indicates that English will be sufficient for carrying out the proposed project, for purposes of engaging with your host community, at least a basic level of language skill should be obtained prior to leaving the United States for the host country."
Plans to Learn a Language
In a situation where language skill is not required for a grant, but you will work to develop proficiency before the Fulbright grant begins, you can illuminate your plan in the Language Self-Evaluation Form. Do not have a professor complete a Foreign Language Evaluation Form.
From Fulbright:
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"If language proficiency is not required for the award and you have little or no knowledge of the language relevant to the host country, but plan to acquire proficiency prior to the start of the grant, you may discuss your plans in the Language Self Evaluation. In this case, you should not obtain a Foreign Language Evaluation."
When English Is a Language of the Host Country
No forms need to be submitted if English is one of the languages of the host country. That said, if your project requires skill in a language other than English, you will still need to submit the forms.
Who Should Complete the FLE Form?
From Fulbright:
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"For Commonly-Taught Languages: The Foreign Language Evaluation should be completed by a professional language teacher, preferably a university professor. The language evaluator cannot be related to the applicant."
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"For Less-Commonly-Taught Languages: If a professional language teacher is not readily available, a college-educated native speaker of the language can be used. The language evaluator cannot be related to the applicant."
Can My Language Evaluator Also Recommend Me?
Yes! The same individual can submit the Foreign Language Evaluation Form and also be one of your three recommenders.
Be sure, if you plan to do this, to register the individual twice for: (1) a Recommendation and (2) a Language Evaluation.
Below is a screenshot of the section of the Fulbright application where you register your three recommenders and, if required, your language evaluator.
Tip: In the "Personal message to recommender," be sure to thank the recommender and evaluator, while noting, "This recommendation or language evaluation is due no later than September 1, 2026, at 12 PM NOON ET."
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