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Twenty-four high school students from across the country gathered at the University of Oregon campus in June 2014 for the third annual Shule ya Umoja: Swahili College Readiness Academy, the only residential STARTALK Swahili program, offered by the Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS).

For two weeks, students attended classroom instruction in the morning led by UO Swahili Instructor and co-PI Mokaya Bosire and participated in hands-on activities in the afternoon facilitated by long-time CASLS staff member Lindsay Marean.

"I really enjoyed being able to have an environment where communication during classes was encouraged," one student said of the program and its instructional activities.

In an effort to give students a taste of college life, they stayed in the premiere Global Scholars Residence Hall for the duration of the program under the guidance of CASLS staff member and co-PI Li-Hsien Yang and graduate student Marko Mwipopo.

"The program has allowed me a glimpse of college life and how to pick the right college for me," a program student shared.

On the final day of the program, students shared their classroom project work, gave a presentation on a topic of their choice, and sang songs in Swahili. A student-led group also gave a dance performance.

Students have the option of continuing their Swahili study by enrolling in an online language and culture learning program offered by CASLS. Those who complete both the summer program and the fall online program earn one high school language credit.

Shule ya Umoja: Swahili College Readiness Academy is funded by the STARTALK program administered by the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland. The University of Oregon Office of International Affairs and the Yamada Language Center also provided financial support.