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The Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) extends its congratulations to Portland Public Schools (PPS) for kicking off their first STARTALK Summer programs. STARTALK, a component of the National Security Language Initiative designed to expand the teaching and learning of strategic world languages, began fulfilling its mission to increase the number of U.S. citizens learning, speaking, and teaching critical foreign languages in 2006.

PPS already began its teacher training program for instructors of Russian and Chinese and will begin its student programs later this month. These student programs include a Russian Bridging Summer Academy and a Chinese Bridging Summer Academy for the elementary grades, each with a STEM focus. Additionally, PPS is offering a Chinese Bridging Summer Academy for advanced secondary learners. This program will utilize a place-based language learning curriculum developed by the team at CASLS (https://casls.uoregon.edu/student-programs/bridging-project/). 

Congratulations, PPS, and thank you for your continued commitment to world language education!