STARTALK Chinese Language Camps for High School Students

July 17-August 8, 2007

BYU Chinese STARTALK 2007 is a three week Chinese language immersion experience for high school students serious about learning Mandarin. Through formal classroom instruction, cultural activities, and engaging hands-on learning, students develop basic proficiency in the four communicative skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing to help them function in Chinese culture. Students who complete the course and pass a standardized test receive two years of high school language credit.

This is an exciting opportunity for students to engage in an active, learner-centered curriculum. Courses are taught by experienced faculty. Language learning activities include performing skits and memorized dialogues, playing games, learning grammar, and practicing speaking, reading, and calligraphy. Extracurricular activities include martial arts, music, crafts, dragon dancing, and field trips. STARTALK students are immersed in Chinese language and culture. Tutorials and review sessions are offered daily.

Mandarin/English-speaking resident facilitators supervise evening and weekend activities. Students live on campus and eat in BYU cafeterias. The program culminates in an evening where student host parents at a banquet and program that showcase the achievements of an intensive three weeks of learning.

Tuition: $500 (Includes cost of housing, meals, tuition, texts, and all program costs. The National Foreign Language Center has provided a generous grant to reduce costs to students.)

Application: Please complete application through the Chinese Application (pdf) link. The deadline is 15 June 2007. The application decisions will be complete by the June 19th, 2007.

Accepted Applicants: Click here to fill out the Ropes Course Consent form (pdf)

Goals: STARTALK students should reach novice-medium Chinese language proficiency and be able to:

1. Understand everyday words, phrases, and questions about themselves and their personal
   experiences when people speak slowly and clearly.
2. Read familiar words, phrases, and simple sentences using 150 characters.
3. Ask and answer simple questions on familiar topics using structures already learned, be able to interact using memorized words and phrases.
4. Use simple phrases and sentences to talk about themselves and their surroundings.
5. Write simple notes and messages using memorized or learned phrases using 150 characters.

STARTALK students should gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for Chinese culture.