From November 17–21, 2025, institutions across the United States and around the world will observe International Education Week (IEW)—a global initiative recognizing how learning across languages and cultures connects people, strengthens communities, and expands opportunity.
“Though language learning has a multitude of benefits, including enhanced cognitive and communicative abilities, my favorite by far is its transformational power. Intercultural experiences are often life-altering,” — Anna Carson, Vice President of the International Center for Language Studies (ICLS).
These life-altering experiences are at the heart of ICLS’s mission. Through language, learners not only gain skills—they experience growth that shapes how they see themselves and the world around them.
Established by the U.S. Departments of State and Education in 2000, International Education Week celebrates 25 years in 2025. The event highlights how education abroad, language learning, and cultural exchange prepare individuals for success in a globally interconnected world.
This year, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, The Forum on Education Abroad, and the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) are coordinating the national observance, encouraging schools, organizations, and communities to join in promoting international understanding and collaboration.
For ICLS and programs like ours, this week underscores a shared truth—language and culture together create the foundation for meaningful global engagement.
Whether advancing English skills for career growth, studying Arabic for diplomacy, or learning Spanish for community engagement, our students show that language learning is more than acquiring words—it is an act of transformation. Anna Carson, Vice President of ICLS, describes it this way:
“Language learning challenges the learner’s sense of self, their cultural identity and their worldview, potentially leading to a lasting change in self-concept and an increased openness toward individuals of other cultures and backgrounds.”
We witness that transformation every day as learners move beyond grammar and vocabulary to discover new perspectives, deeper empathy, and a stronger sense of belonging in a global community.
International Education Week reminds us that education is a bridge—not only between languages, but between people and ideas.
At ICLS, we’re honored to join educators, students, and communities around the world in celebrating the lifelong impact of language learning. We recognize that every learner’s journey is unique, and that diversity of language, culture, and experience makes our classrooms—and our world—richer. If you resonate with these values, we're waiting for you to become our student.