Summer STARTALK Institute on Fostering Multidisciplinary Connections in Arabic and Chinese Language Programs

Funded by: National Security Agency through the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland, College Park

Project Duration: 2005 to present

Partners: McDaniel College, Westminster, Maryland

Overview

STARTALK is part of a federal initiative to enhance the national capacity for critical need languages (Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Hindi, Persian, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu). The goal of these programs is to increase the number and expertise of students and teachers in these critical languages. The STARTALK program offers Arabic and Chinese language instructors an opportunity to better their K-12 teaching skills in a summer institute. STARTALK is a four week, 90 hour program, available for three graduate course credits. The summer institute and follow up workshops are located at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. Following the National Standards for Foreign Language Education (communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities) CHS’ STARTALK program aims to enhance the quality and quantity of students and teachers learning, speaking, and teaching Arabic and Mandarin. For more information link to the STARTALK Project website.

Key Activities

The CHS/McDaniel Summer STARTALK Institute offers:

• Assistance to prospective teachers to navigate the state certification process
• A balance of current theories in second language acquisition, research, and best practices in teaching Arabic and Chinese
• Instruction in proven strategies, the use of appropriate technologies, and culturally appropriate communication strategies to reach diverse learners

For more information

Please contact Grogan Ullah at gullah@urc-chs.com or Ruby Costea at rcostea@mcdaniel.edu.