Teacher Program

Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2018 program. Please check this website for information about the 2019 program or email startalk@uw.edu if you have any specific questions.

Where

University of Washington
Language Learning Center
in Condon Hall

Information from the 2016 program:

The STARTALK Teacher Program, "Preparing Language Teachers for the 21st Century," will prepare from 12 to 16 native (or near native) speakers of Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, or Russian to teach in a standards and content-based program, focused on developing communicative proficiency and accuracy in students learning these languages and on integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) into language instruction. The program is designed to teach participants the STARTALK principles and standards-based 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. Teachers will be able to work toward obtaining a P-12 World Language Endorsement for teaching these languages in Washington K-12 public schools or earn continuing education units in support of the Residency Certificate. The program also provides scholarship assistance to complete the required assessments (WEST-E and ACTFL OPIc and WPT). In 2016, the program will include three sessions of 25 hours each for two to six UW credits of EDC&I 495 from the University of Washington College of Education and will run from June 20 through July 22, 2016 with both online and in-person components. The program includes two and a half intensive weeks of instruction and classroom observations and practicum experience for the Russian teachers working with students in the STARTALK Russian Student program. Russian teachers will have an opportunity to develop lesson plans and practice teaching during the STARTALK Student Program over the summer or in their own community-based language programs. Korean, Persian and Portuguese in the UW intensive summer courses or in their own community-based language programs.

Highlights:

  • 12-16 teachers who are heritage (or near native) speakers of Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian or Portuguese
  • 10 hours of pre-program online component starts on June 20
  • 13-day Intensive program for teachers, 5 hours a day, including 3 modules (total of 75 combined online and classroom hours)
  • one week of lesson planning and micro-teaching
  • 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
  • Scholarship assistance for required assessments (WEST-E and ACTFL OPIc and WPT)
Program Director: Angelina McMillan-Major
Teacher Program Lead Instructor: Dr. Bridget Yaden

Consultants
Dr. Michele Anciaux Aoki Dr. Julie Kang, Korean Dr. Eduardo Viana da Silva Sara Standish

These are the resources shared by Lead Instructor, Dr. Bridget Yaden. We are pleased to make them available for teachers of any language.

STARTALK Teacher Program Flyer in English (PDF)


1. Course Syllabus and Curriculum Template


2. Course Presentations and Information Sheets


3. STELLA Modules for Teacher Development


4. STELLA Module: Environment


5. STELLA Module: Planning


[P1] Standards


[P1] Communicative Modes


[P2] Unique Needs of Students


[P3] Backwards Design


[P4] Accommodating Different Learner Needs


[P6] Lesson Planning

6. STELLA Module: The Learning Experience

http://www.tellproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/TELL_SelfAssessment_LE.pdf
[LE4] Comprehensible Input


[LE5] Meaningful Context


7. STELLA Module: Performance & Feedback


[PF2] Providing Feedback


8. STELLA Module: Learning Tools


9. STELLA Module: Collaboration

http://www.tellproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/TELL_SelfAssessment_C.pdf


10. STELLA Module: Professionalism

http://www.tellproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/TELL_SelfAssessment_PR.pdf

[PR2] Linguistic Competence


[PR3] Reflective Practitioner

Testimonials:

Thank you very much for bringing the STARTALK program to Russian teachers. It was a wonderful learning experience. Every day was delightful to participate in the STARTALK program. I truly enjoyed the program, learned a lot, and realized that teaching and being part of teaching Russian is the only thing I want to do. I apply STARTALK principals all the time in all my teaching (not only language) and I see the difference and progress of my students' learning. Thank you!"

"My confidence in teaching the target language has increased. I got many helpful resources. All my teachers were amazing and professional."

"I liked the collaboration of all teacher participants and instructors of this program. I felt we were working as a team and learning together and from each other. I appreciate the resources that were introduced and feel confident to use them in my teaching."