STARTALK is a component of the federal National Security Language Initiative (NSLI). It seeks to expand and improve the teaching and learning of strategically important world languages that are not now widely taught in the US. Its mission is to increase the number of Americans learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages by offering students (K–16) and teachers of these languages creative and engaging summer experiences that strive to exemplify best practices in language education and in language teacher development.

2011 Chinese Language Camp for Students <Theme: Past, Present and Future>

Twenty-four middle and high school students with no or minimum experience (no more than one year) in Chinese language studies are selected to participate in a three-week residential program on the UH Manoa campus to acquire basic listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture skills in Mandarin Chinese. Participants learn language along with sports such as martial arts, and engage in a variety of activities focusing on Chinese culture. Language lessons consist of learner-centered, interactive, task-based activities designed to encourage learners to communicate in Chinese. Weekend excursions to sites around scenic Honolulu led by native speakers of Chinese provide additional practice, and the Chinese ethnic presence links classroom practice with real-world usage of Chinese.

Click here for 2011 Program Information for Students

Chinese Language Camp video archive and Media coverage of camp and institute

2011 Chinese Teacher Training Institute

Fifteen Chinese language teachers (either experienced or new to the field) who are interested in observing and teaching according to standards-, performance-, and task-based principles are selected to participate in the camp. A three-day preparation workshop is the lead-off to introduce participants to the principles of a standards-based curriculum, as well as to available resources to teach following such a curriculum.
Once the concurrent student camp begins, teachers observe and participate in all scheduled activities, as the institute’s lead instructors demonstrate a variety of teaching approaches. All instruction is followed by critique and friendly feedback. After the first week of instruction, institute participants are invited to teach selected modules together with or in place of the lead instructors. By the last week of the Institute, participants are in charge of all instruction—lead instructors serve as guides and consultants. Daily summative feedback sessions allow for on-going reflection.

Instructional modules (Forthcoming)

Click here for 2011 Program Information for Teachers

2011 Camp Leaders

Cynthia Ning, PhD - Camp Director and Lead Language Instructor. Associate Director at the Center for Chinese Studies and US Co-director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Hawai‘i. Author, Communicating in Chinese & Exploring in Chinese, Yale University Press.

Kristine Wogstad, MA – Lead Language Instructor. Mandarin teacher at the Highland Park High School, St. Paul, MN. Sub-group coordinator, Mandarin Chinese Project: Minnesota DOE. Co-author, Kaiming Intermediate Chinese, Cheng & Tsui.

Stephen Tschudi, MA – Lead Language Instructor/Language Pedagogy Consultant. Specialist in Technology for Language Education, National Foreign Language Resource Center, University of Hawai‘i. Past recipient of the Hawaii Association of Language Teachers Excellence in Teaching Award. Co-developer, BRIX course management system.

Jialin Sun (Sunny), MS – Camp Coordinator. Project Coordinator at the UHM’s Center for Chinese Studies and its Confucius Institute.

Qikeng Li, PhD – PRC Co-Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Hawai‘i. Professor at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Ning Shu – Confucius Institute teacher at the University of Hawai‘i. Teacher at the School of Chinese Language and Literature at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Yuning Tang – Confucius Institute volunteer teacher. 2nd year graduate student at the Beijing Foreign Studies University majoring in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language.

Yen Chun, MBA – Camp Public Affairs Coordinator.  Director and Vice President of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation and Director of Chinese Chamber of Commerce.  Yen is consultant for US-China business and works closely with the Soong Ching Ling Foundation in Beijing and Shanghai on cultural and educational exchanges.

Xiu Zhang, MA – Assistant Professor of Chinese at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Lead Martial arts lead instructor. Founder and chief instructor of the Hawai‘i Wushu Center; former leader, Shandong Provincial Wushu Team; former wushu instructor, Beijing University of Physical Education.

These key staff members will be joined by numerous dorm counselors, teaching assistants, camp assistants, and volunteers. An additional ten Chinese teachers-in-training and experienced language faculty will be observing and assisting with instruction.

2011 Schedule & Itinerary

Download: 2011 tentative daily schedule

All student participants are expected to arrive at the University of Hawai‘i campus on Monday, July 4 (check-in starts at 2 pm), and depart on Saturday, July 23 (check-out by noon).  If notified by parents in advance, escorted pick-up and drop-off service at the Honolulu International Airport can be provided for coordinated flights.

Out-of-state participating teachers are expected to arrive at the University of Hawai‘i campus on Thursday, June 30 (check-in starts at 2 pm), and depart on Sunday, July 24 (check-out by noon). In-state participating teachers are expected to check-in on July 1 in the morning before the workshop starts. If notified in advance, escorted pick-up and drop-off service at the Honolulu International Airport can be provided for coordinated flights.

2011 STARTALK Scholarship & Cost

All participants are required to live on UHM campus (except Honolulu-residing teacher trainees) and to participate in all scheduled events, including evenings and weekends, during the duration of the program. STARTALK Fund will cover these items for each participant (both student and teachers): tuition, housing accommodation, daily meals, texts and materials, Honolulu-based excursion costs, and fees.  Individual financial share of the addition cost lists as the follows —

1) Out-of-state students: you will be financially responsible for your RT airfare from your current residing city to Honolulu, Hawaii and $600 to cover needed administration cost (need to submit with the acceptance packet once selected).

2) In-state students: $300 to cover needed administration cost (need to submit with the acceptance packet once selected). If you are from a neighbor island, you will be financially responsible for the RT airfare from your residing island to Oahu.

3) Out of state teachers: you will be financially responsible for your RT airfare from your current residing city to Honolulu, Hawaii and $300 to cover needed administration cost (need to submit with the acceptance packet once selected).

4) In-state teachers: $100 to cover needed administration cost (need to submit with the acceptance packet once selected). No housing accommodation will be provided to teachers who reside on the island of Oahu, unless a special request is submitted at the time of application.  If you are from a neighbor island, you will be financially responsible for the RT airfare from your residing island to Oahu.

Contact

Jialin Sun (Sunny)
Center for Chinese Studies/Confucius Institute
University of Hawaii at Manoa
1890 East-West Rd. Moore Hall #416B
Honolulu, HI 96822
Office: (808) 956-2663
Fax: (808) 956-2682
jialin@hawaii.edu