Students in grades nine through 12 in Hamilton County will have an opportunity to learn Chinese this summer.
Ball State University will offer the STARTALK Chinese Summer Camp for high school students from July 6-30. The program is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lunch is provided. Students need little or no formal Chinese training to participate. If accepted into the program, tuition is free.
Each student in the program will interact daily with Chinese teachers, learn to converse in Chinese with native speakers, participate in cultural activities and design projects to enhance cross-cultural awareness in the community.
Interested students must apply by May 21. There is a $50 registration fee if accepted, and space is limited to 20 students.
Liu Li, an associate professor of Chinese at Ball State University, said the program is supported by a United States Dept. of Defense grant.
“Chinese is not taught in Fishers High School or (Hamilton Southeastern High School), and it’s a very important, critical language to the U.S.,” Li said. “It’s not taught in any schools in Indiana. We wanted to promote Chinese to students to have this opportunity to learn the language and culture a little bit.”
Li said students will learn the Chinese language and the nation’s culture.
“Asian culture is very different from American or European cultures,” Li said. “Japan and China are the second- and third-largest economies in the world, but we know so little about them.”
The camp is open to all students, not only to those who live in Fishers. But Li said transportation will not be provided. The program will offer three dual-credit hours for high school students.
“It’s a good chance to enhance global awareness,” Li said.
For more, email Li at [email protected].
