FAQ

STARTALK’s 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, forming an extensive community of practice that seeks continuous improvement in such criteria as outcomes-driven program design, standards-based curriculum planning, learner-centered approaches, excellence in selection and development of materials, and meaningful assessment of outcomes.

Resources can be retrieved from the website of https://startalk.umd.edu/about

What are the goals of this 2018 STARTALK-CHELER Program? Top

The STARTALK/CHELER Chinese Leadership Program is designed to help experienced teachers who teach heritage learners and/or leaders of community-based Chinese heritage schools/programs (CHS) improve the learning of students from preK-12 with diverse linguistic backgrounds. Heritage speakers have the highest potential to reach advanced and professionally functional levels of proficiency. Therefore, strengthening heritage language education and the untapped language and culture resources in community is a shortcut to building the critical language capacity for a competitive force of the U.S. The 2018 program will provide participants with differentiated learning with two-tier curricula to better meet the needs of new and returning STARTALK participants and to provide opportunities of stimulating exchanges of success stories and lessons learned. Participants this year will also learn about integrating technology into teaching and learning for Chinese heritage learners.The goals of the STARTALK-CHELER Leadership Program are to prepare participants in the development of innovative curricula and teaching practice to meet the needs of diverse Chinese heritage learners for a language program that advances high levels of communicative and cultural competence. The participants will be able to: (1) design standards-based thematically organized unit/lesson plans that address learner needs with backward design planning, differentiated instruction, and technology support; (2) develop the literacy skills of Chinese heritage learners and to meet their diverse needs; and (3) understand and develop assessment practices that reflect student learning experiences.

The goals for returning STARTALK participants are to further their understanding of the STARTALK-endorsed principles by created model curriculum with emphasis on self-reflection and with the mentoring from master teachers. Returning participants will work with mentors throughout the fall semester in implementing their lesson plans.

What makes 2018 STARTALK-CHELER different with other Summer STARTALK Institute? Top

STARTALK-CHELER Program differs from other STARTALK Teacher Programs in that STARTALK-CHELER Program targets at teachers and/or academic directors of Chinese heritage schools to address the needs of learners at the Chinese heritage schools in the United States. While the STARTALK-CHELER Program emphasizes the importance of Standard-based and STARTALK-principled curriculum, the Program also takes into account special situations in Chinese heritage schools/programs. Unlike the traditional STARTALK teacher programs, STARTALK-CHELER Chinese Leadership Program aims at fostering sustainability of a vital critical language community and building the capacity of advanced the American speakers of Mandarin Chinese for the global community.

What are the key dates for 2018 STARTALK-CHELER, in particular, the start and end dates? Top

The program starts on Wednesday, June 13, with an online preparation that concludes on July 11, 2018, and then continues with a face-to-face workshop (a one-week residency program at the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio) from July 15, through July 22, 2018. A follow up online forum will provide the continuous support and mentoring during summer and fall semester of 2018.

Can I get credits by attending 2018 STARTALK-CHELER Program? Top

Six Continuing Education Units (CEU) will be granted to the participants who successfully complete the requirements of 2018 STARTALK-CHELER Program. The University charges Continuing Education Units (CEU) fee but the grant will cover the cost while participants receive the certification of completion of the program. The CEUs usually are necessary for teachers with a teaching certificate or license for K-12 in-service teachers to meet their continuing education requirements.

Can I receive graduate credits as well? Top

It is possible to earn graduate credits of a course offered in the College of Education, with additional tuition payments to the University of Toledo. A limited scholarship is available. For details, please send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What are the on-campus residential expectations? Top

The on-campus residential portion, July 15 12:00 p.m.-July 22, 1:00 p.m., requires participants to attend class activities, program requirements, and actively participate in the discussions of all planning sessions—and arrive on time at the appointed meeting places.

What is the cost of the 2018 STARTALK-CHELER Program? Top

Tuition, housing, meals, program materials are provided to all accepted applicants out of town. Tuition, lunch, program materials are provided to all local accepted applicants. Limited travel support will be provided to some participants as well.

Where is the funding coming from for 2018 STARTALK-CHELER Program? Top

2018 STARTALK-CHELER Program is one of the 33 STARTALK Chinese Teacher Programs grants given in the year of 2018 across the US. It is funded by NSA and managed by the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland.

If I am accepted into 2018 STARTALK-CHELER Program but live in Toledo or close by, do I have the accommodation for the one-week residential portion – from July 15 to July 22, 2018? Top

If you live in or close to Toledo, Ohio, you do not need to stay in the UT Housing. You still are required to attend class activities, program requirements, and all planned sessions—and arrive on time at the appointed meeting places. Tuition, lunch, program materials are provided for you during the on-site portion. Limited travel support will be available to those live out of Toledo.

Application

How do I make changes to the personal information saved on the application form? Top

You should be able to return to your application form within two weeks since the creation of the application form. Any problem, please send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CURRICULUM

Do I need to create a community-based program plan BEFORE coming to Toledo for the residential portion? Top

You will be asked to create a plan for a language and cultural program in your own community. Therefore, before the program begins, you are asked to make inquiries to (a) identify potential problems(improvement) you want to solve(make) in your class, school or program, (b) bring this information about those programs/community settings to 2018 STARTALK-CHELER program, (c) bring your own lesson plans and teaching materials used in the past to UT campus.

Are there other STARTALK programs that are available as references for preparing myself to participate in 2018 STARTALK-CHELER program at UT as a Chinese heritage school teacher? Top

Each STARTALK program has a special focus to make it unique. 2018 STARTALK-CHELER Chinese Leadership Program for Chinese heritage school teachers is focusing on improving the planning and teaching practice of the teachers who teach in a community setting with a diverse group of PreK-12 language learners. 2018 STARTALK-CHELER program focuses solely on this specific group of teachers—Chinese heritage language teachers, who teach in this specific context—community-based Chinese schools/programs. The technology portion of the program will address strategies and tools that meet the needs of learners from the community-based Chinese heritage schools.

The following link provides the information about the key elements respectively about teaching heritage learners are helpful resources to use.

http://startalk.nhlrc.ucla.edu/startalk/lessons.aspx

TRAVEL/ACCOMMODATION

What if I am flying or driving to Toledo, Ohio? Top

If you fly to Toledo airport (TOL), there are a rental car and taxi services from TOL to University of Toledo main campus to choose. We might be able to get volunteer drivers from the local area but we cannot be sure about the schedule and person at the point. The two airports near Toledo is the following:

TOL Toledo Express Airport

DTW Detroit Metro Airport

The transportation from the Toledo Express Airport and from the Detroit Metro Airport (MI) can be found here:

https://www.utoledo.edu/cisp/international/pdfs/arrivaloptions.pdf

If you drive to Toledo, here is the address to the University of Toledo

The University of Toledo- Main Campus

2801 W. Bancroft

Toledo, Ohio 43606-3390

If you take a bus or arrive Toledo by car, the following link can help you find the right information to University of Toledo main campus.

http://www.utoledo.edu/facilities/transit/TransportationOptions.html

Where will the residential portion be located? And what about transportation in Toledo? Top

The Residential portion is located at the main campus at the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio: Presidents Hall, (3045 Residence Dr. Toledo, OH 43606, Front Desk: 419.530.1700, http://www.utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/reslife/ResidenceHalls/PresidentsHall.html). Presidents Hall is conveniently located near Rocket Hall and 5-10 minutes’ walk to our class site. Complimentary parking is available for camp and conference participants in lot Area 27B (in between Ottawa East and the Transportation Center). Wi-Fi is also complimentary and access information is provided at check in.The University walking, jogging and bike path is nearby. If you want to explore the town, you may use TARTA, which is the transit system that services Toledo and many surrounding communities. TARTA can be used to go to anywhere in Toledo and has a dedicated stop at the Transportation Center on the main campus. You can also use TARTA to get to surrounding communities such as Perrysburg, Maumee, Rossford, Ottawa Hills and Spencer Township. Of course, taxi or rental car is an option as well.

Others

Where can I find basic information about the program? Top

Visit http://startalk.cheler.org to learn more about program details and the instructors.

Who should I contact with questions about 2018 STARTALK-CHELER? Top

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What is the format of the online course? Are we watching recorded videos or meeting live? How often do we meet? Top

We designed a blended online session and onsite workshop to meet the needs and schedule of Chinese school teacher's work hours. When you take the online session, you can expect to read articles, watch videos, discussion forum, and write a brief reflection weekly. There will be hour modules and you need to complete the work by the end of each week but you can read or do assignments during the time of your convenience. In addition, there will be at least synchronic online sessions during which you can join a live virtual meetings, video recordings will be available. Individual teachers should expect to work on the assignment 5-7 hours a week.

Who are the trainers this year? Do the instructors use Chinese or English during training? Top

If the instructor speaks Mandarin Chinese, Chinese will be used during discussion or lecture as much as possible. The guest speaker can lecture in Chinese, but he would be able to engage in more in-depth discussion if English is used. For a list of instructors, please refer to http://startalk.cheler.org/index.php/instructors-staff

What is the main content of the four-week online session and one-week workshop? Top

The online content is for concept orientation and topics include recent trends in teaching and learning of world languages in the United States, such as differences between heritage learners and foreign language learners, differentiated instruction. World-Readiness for the Learning of Languages, ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, Six Startalk Endorsed Principles, Backward Design planning, literacy development for Chinese heritage learners, performance-based assessment, and integration of technology into teaching and learning within the context of community-based Chinese heritage schools. The online portion of the course will require a dedicated person with strong self-discipline. Onsite training is only one week, and the focus will be an in-depth discussion of topics addressed during the online session and many hands-on planning and teaching practice in small groups.

For general questions, please contact the Program Coordinator:

Lan-Chi (Ivy) Gauler (林蘭琪)

STARTALK-CHELER Program Coordinator

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For additional questions related to the course and program, please contact:

An Chung Cheng, Ph.D. (鄭安中)

Associate Professor

Department of Foreign Languages

The University of Toledo

Memorial Field House 2400L,

2801 W. Bancroft St.

Toledo, Ohio 43606

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

419-530-2146

STARTALK-CHELER Program

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