Russian Teacher Program

Preparing Russian Teachers for the 21st Century

July 8-19, 2013 at the University of Washington Language Learning Center in Denny Hall.

The STARTALK Teacher Program, "Preparing Russian Teachers for the 21st Century", aims to enroll ten or more teachers who are currently teaching Russian in the community or who would like to work toward obtaining a P-12 World Language Endorsement in Russian for teaching Russian language in Washington K-12 public schools. The program is designed to teach them STARTALK best practices in language teaching and curriculum development, as well as the content knowledge needed to pass the Washington Educator Skills Test - Endorsement (WEST-E) for World Languages and the pedagogical experience that would prepare them for the Performance-Based Pedagogical Assessment (PPA) for those teachers for whom it is required for state endorsement, and to provide scholarship assistance to complete the required assessments (WEST-E and ACTFL OPIc and WPT). This Teacher Program will prepare native (or near native) speakers of Russian to teach in a standards and content-based program, focused on developing communicative proficiency and accuracy in heritage speakers of Russian. A special focus on integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) into language instruction will prepare teachers to work effectively with today's students.

The program includes one intensive week of instruction for teachers alone, including a full day of teacher professional development at the Museum of Flight Challenger Learning Center and Aviation Learning Center, followed by one week of practicum experience working with students in the STARTALK Russian Student program. Total instructional hours will be 50 hours for the two-week Teacher Professional Development Workshop for which teachers will receive 5 credits for EDC&I 495 from the University of Washington College of Education. In addition, teachers who would like additional practicum experience may register for 3 credits of RUSS 499 through the UW Slavic Department and have an opportunity to develop lesson plans and practice teaching during the final three weeks of the Student Program.

Highlights:

• 10 or more teachers who are heritage (or near native) speakers of Russian
• 2-week Intensive program for teachers, 5 hours a day, including one week of lesson planning and microteaching with the STARTALK Russian Student Program (total of 50 instructional hours)
• option for additional 3-week practicum experience working with students in the STARTALK Russian Student Program (total of 30 instructional hours)
• 5 credits for EDC&I 495 from the UW College of Education
• option for 3 credits for RUSS 499 from the UW Slavic Department
• Standards and content-based program, focused on developing communicative proficiency and accuracy in heritage speakers of Russian
• Emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
• Content knowledge to pass the Washington Educator Skills Test - Endorsement (WEST-E) WL
• Pedagogical experience for the Performance-Based Pedagogical Assessment (PPA)
• Scholarship assistance for required assessments (WEST-E and ACTFL OPIc and WPT)

UW Summer Quarter Registration Fee for the Teacher Program: $42

Program Director: Veronika Egorova

Teacher Program Lead Instructor: Vinton Eberly

Heritage Language Consultant: Elena Eremenko