2025 STARTALK - Sewanee Chinese Language Camp

Sewanee: University of the South invites students to apply to participate in the STARTALK - Sewanee Chinese Language Camp, June 15 - June 29, 2025. More information here.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Students must be between 14 and 17 years old during the camp.
2. Students are NOT required to have prior Chinese language experience.
3. Students should be prepared to participate in moderate outdoor activities, including potential hiking, biking, swimming, farming, and caving.
4. Students must commit to forty hours of pre-camp and post-camp online, synchronous learning.
5. The cost of the program is FREE and all applications must be submitted before December 1. If you have any questions, please contact Marcus Murphy.
6. Students will receive college credit for their successful participation in all portions of the program.
7. Students must be US citizens.

Applicant Information

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Preferred Name

Email Address

*Confirm Your Email Address

Permanent Home Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Is your mailing address different from your permanent address?

Current Mailing Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

U.S. Phone Number (xxx)xxx-xxxx

Birthdate

City of birth

Country of birth

Sex

If you would like, please share more about your gender identity below.

Academic Information

Current High School

High School CEEB Code

City

Country

Term in which you expect to enroll in college

Student Type (hidden, pre-populated)

Upload a copy of your high school transcript.

Parent / Guardian Information Section

Please fill out this section with all the information that applies to your parent /guardian.

Parent / Guardian First Name

Parent / Guardian Last Name

Parent / Guardian Phone Number

Parent / Guardian Email Address

Is your address the same as the above parent/guardian address?

Parent / Guardian Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Application Questions

This year's STARTALK Sewanee Chinese Language Camp is targeted towards beginners. Previous experience is not required, nor will it disqualify you from being a competitive applicant. Please give details about your previous engagement with Mandarin Chinese language study and Chinese culture. Please include both formal (i.e. classroom learning and levels, STARTALK, camps) and less formal (e.g. Chinese club member, previously visited China, etc.) experiences.

Why do you want to study Chinese and what are your goals in increasing your language proficiency through this program?

Do you foresee any major barriers to attending an online Zoom class on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings for one hour in the spring and fall of 2025? The class time will likely be for one hour between 5:00 and 8:00 pm Central time. It will likely be two evenings most weeks.

Teacher Recommendation Section

Please have one teacher at your school write a letter of recommendation. Ideally, that recommender can speak to your ability to study complex languages independently and your cultural curiosity. As well as your general performance as a student and community member.

Below, you will be asked to provide us with some general information about your recommender: name, school title, teacher, home number, and email address.
Once your application is officially submitted, your recommender will receive an email with a link to the STARTALK - Sewanee Chinese Language Camp Recommendation Page.

It is your responsibility to confirm your teacher or counselor received the recommendation form via email. If they cannot find the email, please have them check their junk or spam mailbox. The email will have the following subject line: STARTALK - Sewanee Chinese Language Camp Recommendation. We prefer they use the recommendation email because it will link them directly to your application.

Teacher's Name

Teacher's School Title

Teacher's Phone Number

Teacher's Email Address

Your electronic "signature" below indicates that to the best of your knowledge this application is complete, honestly presented, and factually correct.

Admission & Aid

2025 STARTALK - Sewanee Chinese Language Camp

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