Strand H – Student Strand – Becoming a Teacher: Be an Agent of Change

The Student Strand introduces college undergraduate language majors and minors to world language education as a viable and meaningful career path. The workshop empowers participants to become agents of positive change in each student’s life through the teaching of languages, cultures, and global competency. Participants will explore and examine the credentialing processes and support mechanisms, as well as high leverage teaching practices, lesson design, teaching philosophies, standards, and the framework. Guided by the co-facilitators and several inspiring guest speakers, we will learn by actively participating and engaging in group work, role-play, interviews, projects, and presentations as well as by reflecting on our learning experiences. We will also have the opportunity to interact and network with the participants of the summer seminar. 

Strand Facilitators – Mio Nishimura & Carmen Ríos-Álvarez

This Strand will meet in the Flying A Room in the Ucen.

Students – How to Apply

To be considered for selection as a candidate, please follow the following directions.

All applications are due by June 15th, 2023

To Qualify for Selection:

1. Complete and submit the application by clicking on the yellow tab below. This form automatically collects your email address, so you will have to sign into your email account to submit the form.
2. Submit a TYPED Personal Statement – See the details about your statement and the prompt below.
3. Submit a copy of your academic transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable). You will upload this as a file in the application. Please submit a PDF or a PNG / JPG file.
4. Request a letter of recommendation from one of your university instructors after you have completed the application. Your instructor will submit the recommendation directly to us on this page of our website by clicking on the purple tab below. You MUST NOT submit the recommendation yourself. Please provide the link to this page to your professor.

Personal Statement

In addition to filling in the application form, please submit a personal statement following these guidelines:

• Your Personal Statement needs to be TYPED in COLLEGE English
• Up to two pages, double spaced
• 12 pt font – Arial, Times New Roman or Helvetica only
• Check for spelling and grammar
• Create your document in Word or in Google Docs
• You may submit a PDF, a Word file or a Google Doc.
• Share your document as “anyone with the link can view”
• Post the link to your document into the application form

Prompt for your statement:

Using standard college-level English, please type a cohesive personal statement explaining why you are considering teaching a world language as a profession. 

NB: Your personal statement is essential to help us to determine who will qualify for the scholarships to attend the seminar. Please help us get to know what kind of student you are and why are considering becoming a teacher. Please show us your very best academic work.

Please note:

1. Submitting the on-line application will signify your commitment to participate in the ENTIRE program from July 21st (afternoon) through July 26th (at noon). If selected, we  want you to experience the whole program.
2. All students who are selected to attend will receive a scholarship for room and board. You are responsible to get to UC Santa Barbara yourself. You may want some personal funds for incidental purchases. Housing and meal expenses are covered by us while on the campus at UCSB, with the exception of dinner on Monday evening when everyone at the seminar goes out to enjoy Santa Barbara.
3. For questions & further information, please contact Don, Liz, or Margaret by phone or by email. Their information follows below.