Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes - WISLI

The inaugural WISLI Digital Badge is giving summer language scholars a new way to showcase their hard work to future employers and graduate programs! Issued as the International Division’s first Global Badge, this shareable micro-credential translates intensive coursework, reflection, and career mentorship into a verified resume asset. Read more →

New WISLI Digital Badge Elevates Summer Language Study This summer marked a major milestone for language education at UW–Madison with the launch of the inaugural WISLI Digital Badge. Offered through the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI), a unit under the Language Program …

“You will learn more than you thought possible. The moment that the language clicks in your head is a feeling unlike anything else,” shared one student from Hany Noviya’s Elementary course this summer.

Hany and Language Program Office Director Laura Hammond are all smiles as we reflect on another successful summer at WISLI. Our students accomplished so much in just eight intensive weeks, thanks in no small part to the dedication and expertise of our instructors.

Here’s to a summer of hard work, big strides, and plenty to celebrate! 🎉

We love seeing how WISLI students grow as language learners. In this reflection, SASLI student Nino shares how studying Sanskrit this summer offered a new way of thinking about language—and even a new perspective on Georgian, a language they grew up speaking with their grandparents. Read here:

Some reflections on learning Sanskrit this summer This summer, I took part in an 8-week Sanskrit language immersion program through Sasli. The hardest part of learning Sanskrit was not memorizing charts of noun declensions, which I oddly ended up looking forward to, but picking up the skill of language learning itself.

As WISLI 2026 nears its close, our community came together for Voices in Verse to showcase their newly developed language skills through poetry and song—all performed in the languages our students have spent the summer learning.

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us and shared their voice! We hope you’ve had an amazing WISLI summer!

Nepali traditions are for four-legged family, too! Last November, student Heidi celebrated Kukur Tihar with her dog, Rodger:

“The picture is of my dog Rodger celebrating Kukur Tihar, the second day of Tihar - Nepal's five-day festival of lights. The tikka and garland represent gratitude and respect for the loyalty, friendship, and protection dogs offer humans. Incense is burned and the dogs are given treats to eat.”

Meet SEASSI student Malaya's cat, Meow Meow! "Meow Meow is excited to learn . She likes to review flash cards and take notes too."

WISLI can happen anywhere! Proof of that: CESSI student Amanda joining a virtual conversation table from Venice, Italy. 🇰🇿✈️

This quote from reminds us that true vision is not just about what we see, but how we see.

That is also what language learning can offer: every new language opens up a new way of viewing the world, with more empathy, respect, and understanding. It can help us recognize ourselves in people whose lives may look very different from our own.

We’re thrilled to celebrate WISLI Academic Coordinator Razima Selim Chowdhury on her transition to Teaching Professor in Cornell University’s Department of Asian Studies, where she teaches ! 🎉

Razima joined SASLI as a Bangla Instructor in 2016 and has coordinated the program since 2019. More recently, she has also taken on coordinating CESSI, MEDLI, and SIPI, bringing her care and expertise to programs across WISLI.

On top of this incredible transition, Razima was also named a recipient of Cornell’s Sophie Washburn French Instructorship, an award recognizing excellence in language instruction across the College of Arts & Sciences.

We’re so lucky to have Razima on our team. Congratulations, Razima—this is so well deserved!

Meet another WISLI pet! 🐾 Skippyjon is keeping an eye on SEASSI student Eli—and brushing up on a few vocabulary words and proverbs himself along the way. 📚🐶