Paper applications will be sent home in April to all VBCPS fourth grade students. The application will be posted on this website at that time. Applicants must commit to attending all classes, June 25-July 19, 2018, (except July 4). Applicants will be selected by lottery to attend.

Students who attended the 2017 Elementary Chinese Academy will receive an e-mail link to apply online to the Advanced Chinese Academy. 

If your STARTALK student wants to continue learning Mandarin Chinese, consider classes at the Tidewater Chinese School located on the grounds of ODU's main campus in nearby Norfolk. Early registrants for Fall sessions (by 8/1) will receive a $20 discount. Download the flyer for details.

Students of Chinese will participate in an in-house field trip at Providence Elementary School today. STARTALK will provide an .authentic Chinese lunch and entertainment including traditional fan dancing, music, and folkloric instruments. Students will meet and interview members of the local Chinese heritage community using their newly acquired Mandarin Chinese language skills..

It is essential that students wear their Chinese STARTALK tee shirts for the field trip. Buses depart at 2:00 PM so plan accordingly to meet your student at the bus stop. Parent pick up will be at the side entrance by the cafetorium (site of Orientation Night). If you will be picking up your student, please arrive a few minutes prior to 2:00 PM dismissal to buses.  Xie xie!

Memrise is a free website with short videos of native speakers for your student to practice Mandarin Chinese during and after the 2017 Summer STARTALK Program. The application may be downloaded to your device. (Please note that you do not need to purchase anything.)

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, June 22 at 6:00 PM at Providence ES for  the Orientation Night. Students will meet their teachers and parents will receive important information. Staff will be on hand to answer questions you may have.

Your child has missed speaking Chinese, learning about Chinese traditions and customs, and spending time with STARTALK friends. In anticipation of the Chinese New Year, we are offering four afternoon Post-Sessions on four consecutive Fridays: 1/13/17, 1/20/17, 1/27/17, and 2/3/17 4:30 - 6:00 PM at Providence Elementary School.

Applications were e-mailed on 12/19/16 and are due 12/28/16 to the World Languages Office by e-mail or fax. Applications and Parent letters are available on this site as well.

A copy of a Chinese STARTALK Academy DVD Memories will be provided to each STARTALK student at his/her home school.  Opportunities to extend Chinese language and culture learning after STARTALK abound.  Below, please find a 2016-17 Tutor List. You may arrange for private or small group lessons by contacting one of the Tutors. In addition, we will e-mail parents information in August about upcoming after-school STARTALK Post-Sessions to be held during the regular school year.   

Elementary and Advanced Chinese students used their chopsticks to enjoy a Chinese luncheon at Buffet City before continuing on to The Hermitage in Norfolk.  Students there learned about the Silk Road, made kites, admired East Asian artifacts, and played games to strengthen their knowledge of Chinese culture, history, and artistic influence.

Field Trip tee shirts were distributed today at STARTALK.  Students of Chinese must wear them tomorrow, July 13, 2016. Regular classes will continue, including Daily Exercise tomorrow, so students must arrive at the regular time and wear close toed shoes.  We will travel by bus to a buffet luncheon at a Chinese restaurant and then continue on to The Hermitage Museum in Norfolk to view the East Asian artifacts and engage in fun, cultural activities.  Parent pick-up at Providence ES is at 3:00 PM. (Changed to 4:00 PM)

Ms. Christine Lee, a college student from Yorktown, visited the STARTALK classrooms today to talk about her experience studying abroad in China as part of the NSLI-Y program.  NSLI-Y provides high school students with an opportunity to stay with a family and study a critical language in an immersive setting for a summer or school year, all expenses paid.  Countries include Russia, China, Korea, Jordan, and Morocco.  For more information: http://www.nsliforyouth.org/
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