Startalk
GVCC/GVA AWARDED 2012 STARTALK GRANT!
Global Village Academy has been awarded a STARTALK grant for the 3rd year in a row. STARTALK is one of the component programs of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) announced by former President Bush in January of 2006. The initiative seeks to expand and improve the teaching and learning of strategically important world languages that are not now widely taught in the US. STARTALK is orchestrated the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland. STARTALK’s overall mission is to increase the number of Americans learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages by offering creative and engaging summer learning experiences for students and innovative professional development for teachers. For more information on the STARTALK Grant visit www.startalk.umd.edu
The teacher language immersion training in Russian and Mandarin Chinese will take place June 14 - 29, 2012.
The Mandarin Chinese and Russian immersion camps will run 8:30AM - 12:00PM, June 18 - 29, 2012. The fee for the two week camp is $100. Students are required to commit to attend both weeks. Registration is open to students entering K-6 grade. A limited number of scholarships are available.
The 2012 GVCC STARTALK Language Immersion Institute will offer teachers the opportunity to learn hands-on techniques for teaching through language immersion and students the opportunity to learn the cultural and physics of sound through Mandarin Chinese or Russian. With the help of Science Matters students will learn about Colorado Physical Science standards focused on sound while they practice listening, speaking, reading and writing Mandarin Chinese or Russian. Students will be encouraged to use the functional language of hands on inquiry-based explorations using real-world content. The two week camp will culminate with a student performance.
Enrollment is limited to students entering kindergarten to sixth grade who possess Novice to Intermediate Low Mandarin Chinese or Russian skills.
Teachers will develop skills in planning for and implementing hands on instruction through reflective unit and lesson planning. Two strands are offered.
Strand One: Novice Teachers is for aspiring to beginning teachers with three years or less experience. This strand will focus on standards based lesson planning, effective strategies, and assessment.
Strand Two: Teacher Leaders is for teachers with four years or more experience, including at least one year in an immersion setting or in a STARTALK program. Strand two will focus on developing teachers who can serve as immersion and content coaches and leaders for Chinese or Russian programs.