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.
2014 Chinese Language Camp for Students
Twenty 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 2014 Program Information for Students
Chinese Language Camp video archive and Media coverage of camp and institute
2014 Chinese Teacher Training Institute
Ten 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.
Click here for 2014 Program Information for Teachers
2014 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, Encounters: Chinese Language and Culture, Communicating in Chinese & Exploring in Chinese, Yale University Press.
Joanne Shang – Lead Language Instructor. Mandarin teacher at Durham Academy, North Carolina. Specialist in instructional technology for 21st Century language learning; co-author of Barron’s AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam preparation guide, and AP Chinese reader for the College Board.
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.
Terry Waltz, Ph.D – Lead Language Instructor. Director and TPRS Trainer, Albany Language Learning. Developer for the Carnival™ series of educational games, including Chinese Carnival, Chinese Culture Carnival and Sunzi the Game of War™.
Reed Riggs – Assistant Language Instructor. He completed his BA in Chinese Language and International Affairs at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA in 2005, and then moved to China to live and work. In 2012, Reed completed his MA in International Chinese Language Education at Sichuan University, under a full scholarship from the Confucius Institute. Reed is now working on his PhD at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa while instructing 1st-year and 3rd-year undergraduate Chinese Language courses. Reed has completed two full summers at the UH STARTALK Chinese program, and is looking forward to coming back for his third!
Xiu Zhang, MA – Martial Arts Lead Instructor. Assistant Professor of Chinese at the Defense Language Institute’s Foreign Language Center. Founder and chief instructor of the Hawai‘i Wushu Center; former leader, Shandong Provincial Wushu Team; former Wushu instructor, Beijing University of Physical Education.
Jialin Sun (Sunny), MS – Camp Coordinator since UH Manoa’s very first STARTALK program in 2007. 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 of American Studies at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Yunyun Zha –Confucius Institute teacher at the University of Hawai’i. Teacher at the School of Chinese Language and Literature at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Xu Dong -Confucius Institute teacher at the University of Hawai‘i. Teacher at the School of Chinese Language and Literature at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Yaojia Qu – a Master’s Degree candidate from the Beijing Foreign Studies University (one of the most prestigious language training institutes) majoring in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. She has been teaching Chinese since her second year in college, and this rich and global background in both Chinese and English enriches her to be a professional, dynamic and responsible Chinese teacher. Currently she assists more than 3 credit courses at UHM and instructs more than 4 courses (both adults and young learners) for the Confucius Institute of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
Meiyi Liu –a Master’s Degree candidate from the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) majoring in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. Currently teaches the Mandarin for Young Learners and Mandarin 1 classes for the Confucius Institute of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
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.
These key staff members will be joined by two dorm counselors and other volunteers. An additional ten Chinese teachers-in-training and experienced language faculty will be observing and assisting with instruction.
2014 Schedule & Itinerary
Download: 2014 proposed daily schedule
All student participants are expected to arrive at the University of Hawai‘i campus on Sunday, July 6 (check-in begins at 2 pm), and depart on Saturday, July 26 (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 to student participants for coordinated flights.
All participating teachers are expected to arrive at the University of Hawai‘i campus on Tuesday, July 2 (check-in begins at 2 pm), and depart on Saturday, July 26 (check-out by noon). For out-of-state teacher participants, if notified in advance, pick-up and drop-off service at the Honolulu International Airport can be provided for coordinated flights.
2014 STARTALK Cost and Scholarships
All participants are required to live on UH Manoa campus and to participate in all scheduled events, including evenings and weekends, during the duration of the program. STARTALK funding will cover these items for each participant (both student and teachers): tuition, partial housing accommodation, daily meals, texts and materials, Honolulu-based excursion costs, and applicable fees. Individual costs include the following —
1) Out-of-state participants (students and teachers): you are financially responsible for the RT airfare from your current location to Honolulu, Hawaii, plus $500 towards the total cost of your housing (this amount must be submitted with your acceptance packet).
2) In-state participants (students and teachers): $500 towards the total costs of your housing (this amount must be submitted with your acceptance packet). If you are from a neighbor island, you are financially responsible for the RT inter-island airfare to Honolulu.
Contact
Jialin Sun (Sunny)
Project Coordinator
Center for Chinese Studies/Confucius Institute
University of Hawaii at Manoa
1890 East-West Rd. Moore Hall #417
Honolulu, HI 96822
Office: (808) 956-2663
Fax: (808) 956-2682
[email protected]