What is STARTALK?
Startalk’s mission is to increase the number of U.S. citizens learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages. STARTALK offers 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.
Watch the video below to learn more:
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Startalk for Teachers
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Startalk for Students
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What is the YHIS-Startalk Teachers Practicum program and who can attend?
The 2021 YingHua-STARTALK Practicum Program is meant for 8 teachers who are eligible to teach in the USA, and will be trained on how to deliver effective learner-centered world language classes to students. These 8 teachers in training will receive 20 hours of asynchronized and synchronized virtual sessions, April to June 2021 plus 10 days of in-person practicum session in June 28 to July 9, 2021. Teachers in training will collaborate with their respective mentors and be supervised by the Lead Instructor on how to plan, implement, reflect, and revise the lesson plans to meet the needs of the target learners in an authentic environment. To register, please complete:
- this online form, and
- the Teacher Reference Form, which should be emailed to .
What is the YHIS-Startalk Students program and who can attend?
YHIS has been approved and funded by NSA to offer Startalk for Students in the summer of 2021 so students of various proficiency levels of Mandarin Chinese - from novice to intermediate - can learn the language and culture in a fun and effective way. Motivated elementary and middle school students - entering 3rd to 11th grades in the fall of 2021 - are invited to participate in this four-week program where students attend language classes and participate in cultural activities—all in Chinese!
What are the dates for the 2021 YHIS-Startalk Students program?
The 2021 YHIS-Startalk Students program will be held from June 21 to July 16, 2021. The first week, from June 21 to 25, is asynchronous virtual learning. The subsequent three weeks, from June 28 to July 16, is synchronous virtual learning, from 8:45 am to 3:30 pm.
How and when do I apply?
YHIS-Startalk requires students to complete an online application form. The application starts March 9 and will close on April 10. All applications must be completed and postmarked on or before April 10, 2021. In addition, applicants will also need to submit via email their most recent progress report and two recommendation forms completed by their teachers, with one of them by their Chinese or foreign language teacher. The application is not complete and therefore will not be processed until such recommendation forms are received.
Click here to download the student recommendation form. Please submit two completed forms via email to .
We will consider all the applications and compare and weigh them against each other, then choose those students we think would be the most successful in our program. For submission and/or questions, please email our YHIS-STARTALK Program Director at .
What is the cost of the YHIS-Startalk program?
The federal grant money that supports the YHIS-Startalk covers almost 95% cost of the 4-week program, so every participant has to pay $ 50 to cover for individual supplies needed for the program.
When will I know if I have been accepted?
Once the application period closes, we will make our decisions and notify students by May 7, 2021. Students on the waitlist will also be notified; several of the students from this list are typically accepted into the camp later.
Thank you for your interest in YHIS-Startalk! If you have other questions not addressed in this FAQ, please contact our Program Director at .