Russian Teacher Program

Preparing Russian Teachers for the 21st Century

July 9-20, 2012 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 OPI 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 two intensive weeks of instruction and classroom observations and practicum experience working with students in the STARTALK Russian Student Program for teachers alone followed by one week of practicum experience working with students in the STARTALK Russian Student program and in the UW's Intensive Russian summer program. Teachers will have an opportunity to develop lesson plans and practice teaching during the Student Program over the summer or in their own community-based language programs. Total instructional hours will be 50 hours for the two-week Teacher Professional Development Workshop and practicum in the Student Program for which teachers will receive 5 credits for EDC&I 495 from the University of Washington College of Education.

Highlights:

• 10 or more teachers who are heritage (or near native) speakers of Russian
• 1-week Intensive for teachers alone, 6 hours a day, followed by 1-week practicum experience working with students in STARTALK Russian Student Program (total 50 instructional hours)
• 5 credits for EDC&I 495 from the UW College of Education
• 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: Dr. Michele Anciaux Aoki, World Languages Program Supervisor, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction michele.aoki@k12.wa.us

Teacher Program Lead Instructor: Dr. Bridget Yaden, Associate Professor, Department of Languages and Literatures, Pacific Lutheran University

Heritage Language Consultant: Galina Zakashanskaya

Technical Lead: Veronika Egorova

Teacher Program 2011