1. Dr. Laura K. Murray National Security Agency
AN OVERVIEW OF
Dr. Laura K. Murray
National Security Agency

2. STARTALK Video Highlight

3. What is ?
Office of the Director of National Intelligence & National Security Agency $$$ National Foreign Language Center Summer Students Teachers
Funded originally by ODNI, now by NSA. NSA has executive oversight of the program.
Annual funding for programs has ranged from $12-15M
NFLC at UMD administers the STARTALK program in partnership with NSA
Primarily intensive programs administered each summer in 11 critical-need languages
Programs for both students and teachers

4. STARTALK Goals
Increase the quality and supply of teachers of critical languages throughout the nation
Stimulate significant increases in the number of students enrolled in the study of critical languages
Improve the quality and effectiveness of critical language curricula
Source: ODNI, 2009

5. Critical Need Languages
2007 – Arabic, Chinese
2008 – Hindi, Persian, Urdu
2009 – Swahili, Turkish
2010 – Dari, Russian
2011 – Portuguese
2015 – Korean
All 11 are continuing in 2018

6. STARTALK Participants
2007–2017
Students: 56,268
Teachers: 12,420
Total = 68,688
We have surveyed participants every year immediately after their STARTALK program, and in 2017 we surveyed them about the longer-term impacts of STARTALK on their lives and careers.

7. Who Can Get STARTALK Funding?
Types of institutions:
Postsecondary institutions
State and regional educational agencies
School districts
Public and private schools
Community organizations
Language associations
Corporations

8. Managing for Quality
The STARTALK program does not just write a check for the program and walk away. Quite the opposite. STARTALK programs are set up for success by a variety of means that you will see in the next few slides. We believe that providing adequate and continuously improving support to program staff during all phases of the STARTALK experience is critical.

9. STARTALK: The Annual Cycle
Proposals
Award
Spring Conference
Summer Programs
Site Visits
Fall Conference
During the proposal phase, there are guides to help the applicant understand what proposal reviewers are looking for, along with help-desk support and FAQs.
Once a program is awarded, we conduct a spring conference where professional development opportunities are offered. team leader who works with program staff in developing a curricula and learning plans. online resources to support their programs.
During the summer program, there is a supportive site visit to validate the program’s strengths, and address challenges.
A Fall Conference is convened to celebrate successes, review lessons learned, and begin planning for future programs. And, increased knowledge and improved skills are included in the proposal for the following year.

10. STARTALK: Quality Control
Proposing the Program
The Proposal
Program goals
Key staff
Three reviews
The Curriculum
Plans, assessments, and learning experiences
Review, approval, and co-approval process
The Site Visit
Learning plans
Observations
Interviews
Constructive feedback
During the Program
Planning the Program

11. STARTALK-Endorsed Principles
Implement a standards-based and thematically organized curriculum
Facilitate a learner-centered classroom
Use the target language and provide comprehensible input
Integrate culture, content, and language
Adapt and use age-appropriate authentic materials
Conduct performance-based assessment
Data analysis from 2007 listed these behaviors present in those programs that were rated most successful by students, program directors, and instructors
We listed these principles as STARTALK-endorsed, built resources around them.

12. https://startalk.umd.edu/public/searchresources
STARTALK Resources
Filter by language, proficiency level, audience, or resource type
Search by keywords
We recently redesigned our website with an enhanced search tool to access our resources. You can now filter by language, audience, or resource type, or perform keyword searches to find what you’re looking for.

13. Based on STARTALK Principles and TELL Framework
Professional Learning Resources to Support STARTALK-Endorsed Principles
Since 2014, 6 sets of resources based on the STARTALK Principles and TELL frameworks developed, based on different topics. Each set includes processing guides, infographics, videos, and other tools. These resources can help teachers like you to conduct performance assessments, empower your students to use the target language, and check for understanding in your classrooms.
6 sets of resources have been developed for conducting performance assessments, developing learning targets, checking for understanding, using the target language and providing comprehensible input, empowering student target language use, and engaging language learners. These resources are in English and applicable to all language classrooms, and support the TELL Framework
Professional Learning Resources
Processing guides, infographics, videos, and other resources to support teachers
Based on STARTALK Principles and TELL Framework

14. LangCred: Language Credentialing
Up-to-date information on credentialing routes and requirements for all 50 states
Compare credentialing routes
Search by state for teacher preparation programs
One stop shop for information about credentialing programs for ALL languages with credentialing routes in all US States and territories. It allows you to search and compare what you need to do to become certified, based on your education, where you live, and what experience have, and in 2015 it was updated to now not only tell you what you need to do to become certified, but where programs are for you to take those steps in each state.
As mentioned, both of these resources support teachers of all languages. Next, I want to share one of our language specific resources

15. “I am currently working as a diplomat with the Department of State and I can say without a doubt that my STARTALK experience helped me accomplish that goal. It opened my eyes to language learning outside of just an academic context. In addition, it made me more competitive for my first Department of State internship which eventually led to my being hired full-time.”
Many more quotes like this. Around 1/5 of respondents said that STARTALK influenced their career choices or choice of major in college, and/or created more career opportunities.
22% “influenced my career choices”
21% “created more career opportunities”
18% “contributed to my choice of major in college”
Also, 45% of respondents said it increased their confidence more generally.

16. Teacher Longitudinal Impact Survey
“STARTALK is the backbone of my professional development. I attended it yearly to refresh, reflect, and improve my teaching. It’s also an important opportunity for teachers to share and learn from each other. It gives me hope when I think that, in summer, I will be in a community where it effectively helps me to become a better, more capable teacher, with less stress from my work, because my students will learn better and more happily.”
48% of respondents participated in more than one STARTALK program.

17. QUESTIONS?