Arabic Artist in Residency 2015-16 at Chicago Public Schools
On behalf of Intercultural Music we are honored to have the opportunity again this year to offer our Arabic residency program to Lindblom, Lane Tech, Taft, and Lincoln Park high schools thanks to a grant from STARTALK !
Gaining cultural awareness is an important part of achieving competency in a World Language. In order to enhance students’ ability to effectively communicate in Arabic, the CPS Office of Language and Cultural Education in partnership with Intercultural Music Production is implementing an artist-in residency program at select Chicago public schools with an Arabic World Language Program. This program will provide funds on behalf of a STARTALK grant for a visual or performing artist to come to select schools during the year to collaborate with Arabic World Language teachers and students. High schools that have attended the STARTALK program at the University of Chicago during the summer have been selected for participation this year.
About STARTALK
STARTALK is the newest of the component programs of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) announced by former President Bush in January of 2006. The initiative seeks to expand and improve the teaching and learning of strategically important world languages that are not now widely taught in the US. Other programs under the NSLI umbrella include Title VI/Fulbright Hays programs of the US Department of Education, The National Security Education Program (NSEP) of the US Department of Defense, and study abroad and exchange programs of the US Department of State.
STARTALK’s 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, forming an extensive community of practice that seeks continuous improvement in such criteria as outcomes-driven program design, standards-based curriculum planning, learner-centered approaches, excellence in selection and development of materials, and meaningful assessment of outcomes.