Dairen Castro ’28 selected for Critical Language Scholarship to study Arabic in Morocco
Castro looks forward to immersing herself in the language both inside and outside the classroom.
Dairen Castro ’28 has been selected for the 2026 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program. Castro was one of 315 students selected from a competitive pool of more than 4,500 applicants and will continue the longstanding tradition of Carls participating in the program. She will spend the summer studying Arabic at the Arab American Language Institute in Meknes, Morocco.
Having studied Arabic since her freshman year of high school, Castro is eager to accelerate her learning through extensive classroom instruction and cultural immersion.
“I’m really excited to come out of this program having learned a lot more Arabic speaking skills and cultural norms,” she said. “Of course, I won’t be anywhere near perfect after the program, but this is a great opportunity on my journey toward learning Arabic.”
Castro plans to take advantage of every aspect of the scholarship, even if it means speaking little or no English.
“I will be studying in the classroom, as well as staying with a host family,” she said. “There is also the option to take an oath to only speak Arabic for the entirety of the program, which I hope to partake in. That really tests your limits and makes you practice your Arabic for the entire time.”
She hopes her hard work will pay off, especially in the professional sphere. Even in high school, she chose Arabic with a potential career in mind. Now, as a political science and international relations major with an Arabic minor, she is excited to apply what she’s learned from textbooks in an abroad setting.
“Before freshman year of high school, I knew I wanted to work in immigration law or something of the sort,” she said. “Now, I’ve started to have more interest in international relations and diplomacy. So, either field would incorporate my passion to use Arabic in a career setting.”
Overall, Castro is excited to be learning Darija, a language dialect specific to Morocco, and get to know the surrounding culture, society, and politics.
“I am really grateful for the opportunity to not just be able to practice my language skills, but also have the privilege to immerse myself in the culture and the people,” she said. “It’s going to be a valuable experience for me to engage in the culture and participate in using Arabic in an everyday setting.”
Students interested in applying for future CLS programs should consult with the Office of Student Fellowships.