HISTORY

The history of LEX America begins in 1968 with the founding of the Language Research Foundation (LRF) in Cambridge, Massachusetts by Yo Sakakibara, a Japanese educator. LRF was founded with the mission of promoting collaborative research on language acquisition by linguists at MIT, Harvard, and other institutions. In 1981, Sakakibara founded the LEX Institute in Tokyo which sponsors Hippo Family Club, community-based group focused on promoting language acquisition. Sakakibara first established an international exchange program in 1972 in partnership with 4-H, a U.S. government sponsored youth education program.

LEX America was founded in Cambridge in 1985, mainly to facilitate LEX exchange programs in the United States. LEX America organizes international exchange programs, language clubs, and lectures on linguistics and language acquisition. LRF, which is now part of LEX America, publishes books on language, mathematics, and natural science.

LEX America offers need-based scholarships for individuals and families who participate in its programs. The Kumi Greissman Exchange Scholarship, founded in 2003, provides funding to members who participate in LEX exchange programs. The Paros Scholarship Fund, founded in 2006, allows new members to participate in LEX language programs and purchase LEX materials at a discount.