Yes. The program is designed to accommodate students who are complete novices and who have never learnt these languages before.
The program is only offered to non-heritage students who have no prior knowledge of the language.
Yes, the cost of the program (tuition, facilities, materials, guest artists and speakers) is covered by the federal STARTALK grant which allows us to offer it free of cost. The only cost to participants is the subsidized payment towards the undergraduate college credit, which is optional.
We ask all our participants to put down a deposit of $150 to ensure their participation in the entire program. The entire deposit will be returned to students who have completed the program in full.
We review all the applications on a rolling basis. You will know the outcome of your application within two to three weeks of submitting it. There are only a limited number of spots; therefore it is highly recommended to apply early. Other details, pertinent only to those who are accepted, are mailed to students once they are accepted. This includes: orientation information, daily schedule details, graduation ceremony information, etc.
The program does not provide lunches. Students can bring food or money to purchase food.
The program is accepting only students who in August 2024 started Grade 9, 10, or 11.
No. Only students who can attend the entire program (pre-summer session, summer camp, post-summer follow-up session) will be admitted.
In order to be considered for participation, all students must fulfill the eligibility criteria and commit to the entire program. We urge all applicants to carefully craft their personal statement as this will be given serious consideration during the selection process. We might also interview the applicants.
All students will be provided with a clear assessment of their progress from the start to the end of the program.Self-assessment and peer assessment are also an integral part of the program.