June 17-July 14, 2012


This summer start on your way to advanced proficiency in the critical-need languages of Arabic, Chinese and Russia! Talk to your parents and guidance counselor about this unique opportunity and apply to the Regents STARTALK Foreign Language Academy!

• 2012 Application forms will be posted by March 1 on this site
• The program is intended for students with no prior knowledge of Arabic, Chinese and Russian
• The program is entirely free
• Students can receive up to 10 college credits
• Students live together in the newest dormitory on KSU campus: The Honors College (Johnson/Stopher)
• Students study in a supportive, culture-rich environment
• Teachers are experienced professionals from local colleges and universities
• Students are provided with a laptop computer and all necessary software for the course of the program
• Students must participate in a follow-up academic year component consisting of distance learning and monthly Saturday sessions (administered and funded through the Post Secondary Education Option Program, or PSEOP).
Schedule of Saturday Sessions: 9/15, 10/13, 11/10, 12/15, 1/12, 2/16, 3/16, 4/13, 5/11.

FLA Alumni have gone on to study these languages at the Intermediate level at such colleges and universities as Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Oberlin, Kenyon College, Ohio State, University of Texas at Austin, and Kent State. See what FLA Alumni had to say about the Academy:

• The program made me realize how much I love studying languages and it has totally changed my mind about a future career.
• I learned with what methods I learn best. I also learned the vast number of opportunities with foreign languages that I did not know about before and want to take part in.
• I learned that I can be good at languages.
• I learned that I truly can learn languages at a fast rate.
• It's not an easy thing to learn a language, but it's one of the most rewarding and useful things one can do.
• I am prepared for college and have formed good habits and a good attitude about academics. Having lived with my peers, I would say I am more ready than other students my age.
• I think that the academy showed me more of what I can be capable of when pushed to do so.

For more information, visit our website (fla.mcls.kent.edu). Application forms will be posted on the site by 1 March 2012. If you have any additional questions, contact FLA Director, Dr. Brian Baer, at bbaer@kent.edu.

Congratulations! If your name is listed below, you have been accepted to the 2012 Regents STARTALK Foreign Language Academy.* Please let me know at your earliest convenience whether you plan to attend the FLA. If your plans have changed and you are not able to attend, please inform me immediately so that I can offer your position to someone from the Waiting List. If you are not on the list below, you could be on the Waiting List. If so, you will soon receive an email to that effect.

*Please note: Your admission is contingent on verification of tuition payment for the academic year component of the program, either through PSEOP Option B or by payment of the tuition by the student.
To all applicants: This year’s applicant pool was especially competitive. All things being equal, we chose rising juniors and seniors over rising sophomores and graduating seniors. We also gave preference to applicants from schools with limited foreign language offerings and to new learners of critical languages. Success and persistence in the study of another foreign language was also an important factor. Finally, we read the essays very carefully to assess your level of commitment and motivation to the study of foreign languages.

I look forward to meeting you and your parents at our opening dinner on Sunday, June 17, 5-7PM. All accepted applicants will receive within the next two weeks a packet of information about the program as well as various permission forms that need to be turned in before the start of the Academy.

Best,

Dr. Brian J. Baer (bbaer@kent.edu)
Director, KSU Regents STARTALK Foreign Language Academy
 
Arabic
Bishop, Margaret (St. Joseph Academy)
Brown-Powers, Jessie (Brookside HS)
Burke, Joshua (Marietta HS)
Campbell, Patrick (Brookside HS)
Davis, Joshua (Perry HS)
Fullerton, Megan (McKinley HS)
Glowacki, Clifford (Claymont HS)
Grove, Anne (St. Joseph Academy)
Lyall, Abigail (Jackson HS)
McMinn-Bryant, Amelia (Marlington HS)
Montgomery, Megan (McKinley HS)
Morley, Alexander (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
Rogers, Anessa (Buckeye HS)
Stacey, Camden (St. Ignatius HS)
 
Chinese
Barrett, Seth (Brookside HS)
Blue, Ashley (Perry HS)
Dudley, Leandrea (Twinsburg HS)
Hazners, Adam (Westlake HS)
Irizarry, Jaggert (North Olmstead HS)
LaSpina, Emily (Cuyahoga Falls HS)
Long, Drake (West Branch Local HS)
Mohler, Melanie (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
Murray, Justin (Jackson HS)
Ruffin, Brianna (Beavercreek HS)
Sylvester, Hannah (McDonald HS)
Tien, Nora (Columbus School for Girls)
Wolfe, Allen (Lake HS)
Yozwiak, Daniel (Canfield HS)
 
Russian
Copley-Cunningham, Haleigh (Highland Local HS)
Dolph, Kodi (United Local HS)
Dreistadt, Samantha (Lakewood HS)
Flaesgarten, Caroline (Berea HS)
Howie, James (Jackson HS)
Matsubara-Rall, Frances (Theodore Roosevelt HS)
Nolen, Amber (Perry HS)
Sanders-Turner, Haley (Columbus International HS)
Saupe, Maya (Montessori HS)
Shannon, Grace (Lakewood HS)
Simmons, Trisha (Sandy Valley HS)
Stalter, Susan (Archbishop Hoban HS)
Tio, Cecelia (Marietta HS)
Wayman, Jessica (Tuslaw HS)