Grace Enz ’26 selected for Critical Language Scholarship to study Swahili in Tanzania
Enz is excited to dive deeply into language learning and cultural immersion in Arusha, Tanzania. She plans to use the language skills she gains in a future career in immigration law.
Grace Enz ’26 has been selected for the 2025 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program. Enz will be one of about 600 U.S. students participating in the program this year, building on a long history of Carls receiving the award. Enz will spend the summer studying Swahili at the MS Training Center for Development Cooperation in Arusha, Tanzania.
Enz was inspired by the program’s unique opportunity to receive extensive classroom instruction in Swahili while being immersed in Tanzanian culture.
“I’m excited to live with a host family, interact with language partners, and develop meaningful relationships during my time in Arusha,” Enz said.
For Enz, language is a powerful way of experiencing new cultures.
“I’ve always been curious about the world and interested in talking to and learning from the people around me,” she said. “Language study expands my ability to connect with people from various countries and broadens my perspectives on the world.”
Enz traveled to Tanzania last spring when she studied abroad with Associate Professor of History Thabiti Willis on the Carleton off-campus studies (OCS) program History, Culture, and Commerce: Africa and Arabia. Enz stayed with a host family in Zanzibar for five weeks, which pushed her to learn more Swahili.
“My host mom didn’t speak English, so my roommates and I researched vocabulary and grammar in order to speak with her at meals,” Enz said. “Through our basic understanding of Swahili, we bonded with her over our attempts to communicate and laughed at our grammatical mistakes. This was one of the most rewarding aspects of my OCS program and planted the seed for me to begin studying Swahili in a more formal setting.”
Enz plans to return to East Africa after graduating from Carleton to continue her language study, with the goal of eventually working for an immigration law center.
“Knowledge of Arabic and Swahili will be critical to communicate directly with immigrants and refugees in their native language and better understand their experiences,” she said.
Students interested in applying for future CLS programs may consult with the Office of Student Fellowships.