Application open for KCA STARTALK Program 2024-25

The Kalamazoo Chinese Academy STARTALK Institute is a year-round student engagement program that will take place from spring 2024 to spring 2025. This year’s program is for students in 5th to 9th grade (beginner to intermediate-level) to learn the Chinese language in an immersive environment. The program theme is “Amazing Beijing” and this theme will guide all standard-based instruction and learning throughout the program. Students will undergo a virtual cultural tour to Beijing in Mainland China. Classes will have a cap of 12 students per class to make it possible for the instructors to work closely with the students and to take account of individual differences in their backgrounds and learning styles.

This program is funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and participation in this program is totally FREE; however, participation in all four semesters is required. Here is an overview of the semesters:

Spring 2024 (January 18-May 30): 30 hours of virtual pre-camp outreach activities (2 hours a week for 15 weeks)
Summer 2024 (July 15-August 2): 70 hours of non-residential, in-person summer camp experience (10 hours virtual first week, 30 hours per week in-person second and third weeks on WMU’s campus) or virtual summer camp experience (three weeks virtual for out-of-town students)
Fall 2024 (September 6-December 22): 30 hours of virtual post-camp outreach activities (2 hours per week for 15 weeks)
Spring 2025 (January 23-May 7): 30 hours of virtual post-camp outreach activities (2 hours per week for 15 weeks)

For more information, visit kzooca.org/startalk or contact: startalk@kzooca.org

Application Deadline: Thursday, November 30, 2023

Click to apply