The University of Washington STARTALK Student Program, “Russian in the Sky and in Outer Space,” offers high school and early college heritage language speakers of Russian at the Intermediate level an opportunity to explore STEM topics in Russian while expanding their language proficiency to an Advanced level.

This year the program has a new format, which includes a three-week summer camp (75 hours of instructional time) conducted entirely in Russian, includes units on Airplanes and Voyage to Mars, field trips to the Museum of Flight Challenger Learning Center and Aviation Learning Center, and elective projects on STEM topics with a final student conference. The summer camp is preceded in late winter by a series of information sessions and learning opportunities to introduce students to project topics in preparation for the summer camp. The program extends into the fall with interviews with Russian-speaking STEM professionals, language testing, and closing ceremonies. Students may be able to earn three University of Washington Russian language credits from the summer session. Students will also have an opportunity to complete language proficiency assessments that high school students may use to earn up to four high school competency-based credits in Russian and qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy, as well as the Global Seal of Biliteracy.

Highlights:

• 5 UW credits by enrolling in RUSS 499 through the Slavic Department
• Up to 130 hours of total instructional content with emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
• Elective Projects beyond STEM topics
• Increased linguistic accuracy and sensitivity to cultural norms
• Two exciting trips to the Museum of Flight: the Aviation Learning Center and the Challenger Learning Center
• Interviews with Russian professionals
• Expenses covered for language proficiency testing, and the possibility for high school students to earn up to 4 competency-based credits for high school world languages, the State Seal of Biliteracy and the Global Seal of Biliteracy

Goals of the Program

• to sharpen and expand students’ use of formal Russian language beyond intimate family speech
• to strengthen students’ reading, writing, speaking and listening ability, especially in formal Russian language in varied disciplines
• to prepare students to take their Russian language skills out into the Russian community and the world