Welcome to FORSYTH STARTALK RUSSIAN LANGUAGE camp!

Forsyth County Schools are delighted to announce a three-week Russian STARTALK summer camp 2022. The program is open to 15 motivated students in grades 6–11 with no prior knowledge of the language and 15 heritage Russian speakers.

During the three weeks of camp, students will learn the basics of the language from the native speakers and professional instructors. We will practice communicating in Russian through a variety of fun, engaging, and meaningful, activities while learning about the life of young people in the Russian Federation. All campers will be introduced to authentic Russian folklore, cinema, music, art, and cuisine and will immerse in real-life learning experiences, such as online communication with the Russian-speaking peers abroad, cultural field trips to university and local Russian-speaking community centers, and interaction with the native guest speakers.

The program has two parts:

● Summer Camp at NFHS June 6, 2022 - June 24, 2022

• M-F 8:00am - 12:00pm 20 hours/week x 3 = 60 hours

● Virtual Component August 4, 2022 - May 25, 2023 2

• 21 virtual meetings x 2 hours = 42 hours

Since this is an intensive program focused on learning Russian language and culture, we will only accept highly motivated students.

Upon successful completion of the program, all students will be offered proficiency testing and can be awarded World Language high school credits.

Cost: The program is offered for free

STARTALK is a federal grant program funded by the National Security Agency.

STARTALK grants fund innovative programs with strong language learning outcomes for K-14 students and support three important goals: increasing the number of students enrolled in critical language studies, increasing the number of highly effective critical language teachers in the U.S., and increasing the availability of quality teaching and learning materials. STARTALK grants currently support programs offered in the following critical need languages: Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, and Russian. Find out more about STARTALK here.

What

An intensive three-week summer camp program that will allow beginning students of Russian to develop both speaking and writing abilities as well as the understanding of Russian culture. The program will include classroom instruction as well as cultural field trips. The virtual component of the program will maintain the engagement and support the students and their language proficiency via online meetings. This program is sponsored by Forsyth County Schools in collaboration with STARTALK.

Sample daily schedule

● 8:00 -8:30 morning meeting, news, announcements

● 8:30 - 9:30 language class

● 9:30 - 9:45 tea break (tea, candy and pastry will be provided)

● 9:45 - 10:45 language class

● 10:45 - 11:00 games and movement activities (outdoors if weather permits)

● 11:00 - 12:00 language through art class

● 12:00 - dismissal

No homework will be assigned, but the students might be asked to complete a few asynchronous tasks (watch a movie, read news and current events).

Who

Rising 6th – 11th grade students who are highly motivated and enthusiastic about learning Russian in an intensive program. This is a non-residential program for students who reside in Forsyth County.

Where

North Forsyth High School, 3635 Coal Mountain Drive, Cumming, GA 30028

When

June 6 - June 24, 2022 from 8:00 to 12:00 Monday through Friday.

Cost

The program is offered at no cost to students.

How

Please complete the application Here 

Contact information : FCSStartalk@forsyth.k12.ga.us