Summer Intensive Teacher Training Program 2008: Hindi and Urdu New York University, July 7-16

This teacher training program in Hindi and Urdu is supported by a STARTALK grant from the National Foreign Language Center. It is part of a larger, ongoing U.S. government initiative to support increased training and education in “critical languages.” The program’s curriculum was developed collaboratively by NYU-SCPS’s Foreign Languages, Translation, and Interpretation department, the NYU College of Arts and Science’s Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, and the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

This intensive, ten-day residential workshop is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of current and prospective school, community, and college teachers of Hindi and Urdu. Participants learn the most-up-to-date, standard-based teaching methodologies and are required to develop, observe, and critique classroom procedures, strategies, and teaching techniques. The program includes a cultural component in which participants learn how to use the resources available in the community environment. Classrooms are equipped with audio-visual equipment and classes are held on the NYU campus, located in New York City’s Greenwich Village neighborhood.

The program is based on a New York State-approved course, part of the regular curriculum of the master’s program in Foreign Language Teaching at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The workshop provides 30 contact hours of classroom instruction and 20 contact hours of hands-on and field work, which is equivalent to a one-semester course. Participants taking this course for undergraduate or graduate credit are required to submit additional work after the course is completed. All participants receive a final grade and a transcript from NYU. Enrollment is limited to 20.

Housing and Meals

Out-of-town participants stay at a residence hall on campus. Housing expenses and group breakfast and lunch are covered by the grant, at no cost to participants. Grant, tuition, and fees do not cover the cost of additional meals or travel expenses to and from New York University.  

Credit

The basic program is a continuing education, non-credit training workshop. However, participants may apply to earn either three graduate or four undergraduate credits from New York University. Those interested in earning credit should apply following the procedures outlined, with the application included below. Further information about academic requirements, procedures, and costs will follow.

Applicants currently employed as teachers should confirm with their employer whether the workshop meets outstanding tuition reimbursement and continuing education requirements.

Cost

The continuing education course tuition is $900, of which the STARTALK grant covers $650. Participants are responsible for the remaining $250, plus a $20 registration fee.

Applicants interested in the for-credit option should please contact the NYU’s STARTALK program coordinators at startalk.nyu@nyu.edu for tuition costs and other information.

Who Should Apply

Applicants must be fluent speakers of Hindi or Urdu and English, and should have at least a bachelor’s degree. It is expected that participants’ language proficiency is at the superior to native level on the ACTFL scale.

Those currently enrolled in an accredited bachelor’s degree program and planning to be teachers are also invited to apply.

How and When to Apply

To apply to the program, please submit the following:

• Completed STARTALK application form
  Please download, print and complete this application form

• Completed STARTALK questionnaire
  Please download, print and complete this questionnaire form
  

• Résumé or C.V.
  
  
• Two (2) one-page statements of purpose describing educational and language background, teaching experience, if any, and reasons for taking this course. The first version must be in Hindi or Urdu, and the second must be in English; each version should be at least 300 words. The essays are reviewed to establish literacy level. Definitive oral interviews may be required.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until April 4, 2008, or for as long as space is available.

Please mail application material to:

STARTALK
Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
New York University
50 Washington Square South, Room 200
New York, NY 10012

If you have any questions, please contact the NYU STARTALK Summer Intensive program at startalk.nyu@nyu.edu, 212-992-9623 (phone), or 212-995-4689 (fax).