L2TReC Supports Russian Immersion Summer Camps

In preparation for Russian joining Utah’s Dual Immersion Program in Fall 2016, L2TReC helped run a Russian immersion teacher training workshop and two Russian immersion student camps during July 2015. Both programs were funded by a federal grant from STARTALK, whose mission is to “increase the number of Americans learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages by offering students (K–16) and teachers of these languages creative and engaging summer experiences that strive to exemplify best practices in language education and in language teacher development…”

The four-day teacher workshop taught by Ms. Brandee Mau (Utah German and Russian DLI Director) and Dr. Jane Hacking (Director, L2TReC) provided eight Russian speaking participants with foundational language proficiency training and an introduction to principles of immersion teaching. Participants then taught at two Russian immersion day camps (July 13-23), one at the University of Utah and one at Harris Elementary in the Tooele School District. The camps enrolled 108 elementary aged children and provided them with an engaging and culturally rich Russian language experience.