STARTALK and the

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• STARTALK and the
• Intensive Summer Institute for
• World Language Teachers 2007
• Northern Kentucky University
• Highland Heights, KY

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STARTALK language camp for the Intensive Summer
Institute for World Language Teachers
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ISIWLT

• Alternative certification program for world
  language teachers
• Included workshop on specific language
• Chinese Dr. Chenliang Sheng
• Arabic Dr. Katya C. Belhabib
• 1 week practice teaching for program participants
  Free language camp for local children

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Opportunity to share experiences

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Language camp

• Held at local private school
• Provided classrooms, technology and support,
  auditorium
• Publicized through school newsletter to parents,
  notices to local principals and language teachers
• Already have parents asking about this summer
  (2008)

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Advantages to language camp

• For community
• Chance to explore languages and cultures in low
  risk, non judgmental setting
• Short duration
• Free
• Exposure to less commonly taught world languages

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Advantages for program

• Provided context and motivation for methods
  course work
• Instruction geared towards the final week of
  practice
• assignments designed to help participants build
  their lesson plans for the language camp
• Participants could work in their teams and
  consult with their instructors to build their
  lessons
• Let us evaluate participants teaching, not just
  book work

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Caveats

• Student population self-selected motivated and
  well-behaved ? no classroom management issues
• No need for testing or grading
• Emphasis on fun and enjoyment in language
  learning
• Only one week, 3 hours a day lots of time for
  preparation
• small classes (5 10 students)

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Final presentations made during The Festival of
Celebrations!held on Friday July 20, 2007

• Arabic and Chinese classes demonstrated what they
  had learned during the previous four days of
  instruction.

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The Arabic Class demonstrated how to make hummus.
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They also learned a traditional dance.
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The Chinese classes learned to introduce
themselves and count.
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Performers ? ? ? ? ? ? ??? ???
? ? ? ? ? ?
Instructors ??? ??? ? ? ???
? ? ?
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They also honored the Chinese New Year.
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What did parents have to say?

• World Language Camp was GREAT. My favorite thing
  about the camp is that my daughter learned about
  another culture and language in a very fun way. 
  To be honest, she was hesitant to attend because
  she thought the camp would give her homework and
  notes to study. I am not sure how you did it
  ....but you passed on another language in a very
  amusing way and it did not feel like "work." She
  looked forward to going each and every day. 
• It is time to stop thinking about other
  cultures as "foreign".  I think programs like
  this are instruments of peace.

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What did parents have to say?(continued)

• The children were immersed in the culture and
  spoken to in the language during the camp, not
  just writing on the board or being given
  worksheets.  It was like living in the culture. 
  Nice class size enhanced the learning experience.
  It was a great experience for us, no complaints
  here!
• We cant wait for next year!

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Final Day

• Performance for family
• Good attendance
• Problems with video recording

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Recruiting

• For ISIWLT
• Word of mouth
• Website
• Through school districts and KY dept. of
  education
• For camp
• School newsletters
• Notices to principals and language teachers
• Word of mouth

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This year

• More master teachers
• More collaboration with master teachers before
  camp starts
• More students in each camp class
• Less range in ages
• More technicians to videotape during the camp