PHILADELPHIA -- The South Asia Center and the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania will host summer language programs to teach Hindi, Urdu and Chinese to students entering grades 9-12.  The programs, to be taught by Penn faculty, are funded by Startalk, the national effort to enhance Americans’ learning and teaching of less commonly taught languages in high schools.

The Hindi and Urdu programs for students will run concurrently on weekdays from July 7 to 27.  Each program will accept 20 students.  Prior knowledge or exposure to the languages taught is not required.  The Hindi program is free to students, but will require them to apply for a scholarship that will cover the $800 tuition fee.  There is a $300 charge for the Urdu program, where a full needs based scholarships is available.

The South Asia Center will also host a  two-week institute for Hindi and Urdu training for grade 9-12 teachers July 12-23.  Current or prospective Hindi and Urdu teachers in public or private schools, colleges, community organized weekend schools and those interested in language instruction are eligible to apply for the program.  The Chinese language program begins July 6 and will run until August 13.  Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be applied to the $1,876 tuition fee.  In addition a teacher development program specifically for high school Chinese language teachers, will run from July 6 to Aug. 13.

Those interested in participating in the Hindi and Urdu programs will find further information and an application form at www.southasiacenter.upenn.edu/.  Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rotating basis.  Interested candidates should apply as early as possible before the official May 30 deadline.  Those interested in the Chinese program will find further information and an application form at http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/ceas/.  The deadline for applications is May 24.