The World Languages and Literatures Department at the University of Nevada, Reno has received a nearly $60,000 grant from STARTALK, a project funded by the National Security Agency and administered by the National Foreign Language Center. The grant will fund "Studying Chinese through Three Legends and Drama," a summer Chinese immersion program for local high school students, as a part of the STARTALK 2017 program.

According to STARTALK's mission, the program looks to increase the number of United States citizens in learning, speaking and teaching critical-need foreign languages. STARTALK believes by learning, speaking and teaching these languages the United States will improve its international relations and solidify its national security and global economic competitiveness in the future.

The organizers of the program include Casilde A. Isabelli, department chair and associate professor of Spanish at the University and director of the program; Lin Li Hall, lecturer of Chinese at the University and the lead instructor of the program; the College of Liberal Arts and the Office of Sponsored Projects.

According to Hall, the theme of the program will be "Studying Chinese through Three Legends and Drama." By integrating cultural content into daily instruction of the target language, students will learn and practice the language content by following the simplified storyline of three traditional Chinese legends: "Nian" from the Chinese New Year, "Qixi" the Chinese Valentine Festival and "Chang-E" from the Mid-Autumn Festival. Students will also produce a mini drama each week in Chinese.

The Chinese immersion program will be offered during summer 2017 as a free program at the University for local high school students. Students will be provided all course materials, field trip tickets, daily lunches and snacks throughout the program. "Studying Chinese through Three Legends and Drama" plans to host 25 local high school students, grades 9-12, who have no or very limited Chinese language background.

According to Hall, once the students have completed the STARTALK program, they will be able to reach ‘novice mid-level,' meaning that speakers can communicate minimally by using a number of isolated words and memorized phrases, according to ACTFL World-Readiness Standards.

"Students will be able to interpret cultural topics in the target language, perform drama, recognize and write Chinese characters, relate to themselves, and compare and synthesize the cultural differences between China and the United States," Hall said.

Isabelli and Hall are excited to receive the grant because they believe the program will bring growth to the Chinese program at the University, to local high school language education programs, and culture to the community.

After the students have successfully finished the course and received their certificates of completion, Hall would like to see these students continue to study the Chinese language and culture at their respective high schools and to later pursue the Chinese Studies minor at the University.
{{RelatedPrograms}}
According to Isabelli, a Chinese minor at the University complements those who pursue degrees in international affairs, political science, international business, engineering and biochemistry.

"Many Chinese language students have expressed their wishes to pursue governmental, educational, technological and intercultural exchanges between China and the United States as their future career paths," Isabelli said.

She further explained that there are various scholarships and exchange programs available for students at the University to study abroad through USAC and other higher educational institutions in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

High school students interested in being considered for the summer immersion program are encouraged to fill out the application online. The deadline for applications is April 17, 2017, and selected participants will be notified on May 1. Any additional questions may be emailed to Isabelli or Hall.