Ocwlp startalk program 2023
Putting Arabic Standards front and center

Program Description 

The Occidental College STARTALK: Putting Arabic Standards Front and Center program will train twenty-eight Arabic language educators from K-16 settings. They will be divided into three groups: leadership, intermediate, and novice, based on proficiency in standards-based and technology-enhanced instruction. 

Participants in all groups will use backward design with real-world, functional objectives that are age- and stage-appropriate, select authentic materials rich in language culture and content, make materials comprehensible with technology, and create learner-centered classrooms where students use technologies in interpersonal and presentational communication, demonstrating their proficiencies through performance assessments. The leadership group will develop standards-based, technology-enhanced units with a sequence of lessons culminating in an integrative performance assessment and develop skills to assist colleagues. The novice and intermediate group will adapt or create a sequence of learning experiences including technology-enhanced interpretation, real-world interpersonal activities, and presentational tasks that require culturally appropriate language use.

 

This program has four phases. The first two phases will be conducted virtually. They focus on setting personal growth goals, acquiring, and processing STARTALK principles, and their implementation. The summer camp will be conducted in person and in hybrid mode. It will include five-day in-person and two-day hybrid interactive activities and tasks. The last phase will focus on teaching segments of the learning experiences created during the summer camp. Participants will receive feedback from instructors and other participants and reflect on achieving the goals they set at the beginning of phase 1. 

Together, the online components, in-person, and hybrid camp yield 100 professional development hours. Should you wish, you will be able to purchase 10 continuing education credits from Stanford University Continuing Studies for an application fee of $115.

 
 

Program Structure

Phase 1
Orientation &
Setting Goals

Feb 26- March 10, 2023,

Participate in a 3-hour orientation,  and one-hour coaching session to identify your areas of professional growth and design a plan to achieve them with the help of your instructor.

  • Explore the program goals, activities, platform, requirements, and ways of communication. 

  • Work with colleagues and instructor

  • Become a part of the Oxy STARTALK Arabic Professional Community

  • Set your personal professional goals  

Phase 2
Pre-Summer Camp Activities

March 11 - May 20, 2023

Engage in 28-hour pre-camp synchronous and asynchronous activities that are designed to help you acquire and process STARTALK Principles to build your background knowledge before the in-person summer camp.

  • Participate in discussions that clarify and deepen my understanding of the concepts embedded in the learning targets. 

  • Analyze model units and/or lessons

  • Experience a lesson in a language you don’t know

  • Tap into a wide variety of resources and model instructional materials.  

  • Explore authentic texts and tasks focused on global competence and the three modes of communication through technology-enhanced world language practices. 

  • Learn how to use technology to engage learners in the three modes of communication.

  • Dive deep into student-centered technologies that can be used in the physical classroom and across multiple devices (laptop, Chromebook, or cell phone). 

Phase 3
Summer Camp Activities

July 7-15, 2023

Engage in 64-hour in-person sessions that focus on putting theories into practice tasks. Participate in collaborative work sessions to develop standards-based thematic units and/or lessons.

  • Design or revise a standards-based thematic unit plan (Leadership Group)

  • Design or adapt standards-based learning experiences (Episodes) 

  • Build the capacity for micro-teaching through carefully scaffolded activities.

  • Practice teaching each other in groups and receive feedback. 

  • Work individually or in a team of other instructors. 

  • Receive and provide feedback

Phase 4
Post Summer Camp Activities

July 16-31, 2023

Engage in 28-hour post summer camp asynchronous and synchronous tasks focusing on classroom implementation with coaching, and receive feedback and peer collaboration

  • Teach designed learning episode(s)  to students. 

  • Record or invite the instructors and/or other participants. 

  • Participants in a coaching session.

  • Reflect on and revise taught learning episodes. 

  • Celebrate and connect.