Group Projects Abroad in Southeast Asia

1. Group Projects AbroadinSoutheast Asia Ruth Mabanglo, University of Hawaii MarmoSoemarmo, Ohio University ChhanySak Humphrey, University of Hawaii Thomas W. Gething, University of Washington BacHoai Tran, University of California, Berkeley U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

2. Group Projects AbroadinSoutheast Asia The Vietnamese Advanced Summer Institute The Vietnamese Language Studies Saigon Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Bac Hoai Tran University of California at Berkeley bact@berkeley.edu U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

3. Program began in 1996 under the umbrella of GUAVA • Average number of participants: 12 • Most recent annual grant amount: $74,899 U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

4. Relations with the U.S. Title VI Centers • Universities that support the program: Hawaii, Washington, Berkeley, Wisconsin, Michigan, Cornell (6 NRCs) • Type of support: Each contributing $1,500 U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

5. U.S.–based Organizational Matters • U.S. host university facilities and personnel: CSEAS, staff of 4 • Grant processing: IAS & SPO • Transfer of money to students: Airfare, tuition, lodging, some meals, subvention • Transfer of money to in-country host: Invoice, wiring • Responsibility for annual reporting to USED: PI, Field Director(s), students • Triennial/quadrennial grant application U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

6. Relations with the in-country host site • Type of in-country host: VLSS • Selection of instructors: By VLSS from a pool of 30 instructors • Annual cost and change in cost in recent years: No figures from previous years • Exchange rates: 16,500 -17,000 Vietnamese dong per US dollar • Social events and home stay: Reception, closing ceremony, conversation partners, short home stays • Field trips: fewer from now on U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

7. Recruitment of students and related matters • Advertising: Website, flyers • Application procedures: 0nline form • Screening of applicants: Selection Committee (GUAVA members) • Visa arrangements: By students • Travel Booking: Travel agency in Oakland • Student Fees: Application fee ($25), program fee ($1,000) • Student Stipends: Subvention U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

8. Experience of heritage vs. non-heritage students • Linguistic issues: According to some teachers, heritage students better at _____ and non-heritage at _____; 3 levels & tutorials as solution • Cultural issues: Again, according to some instructors, heritage students more into _____ & _____ and non-heritage into _____ & _____ • Challenges in host country: Climate & culture shock? U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

9. Materials • Text, audio, film materials: Handouts of authentic materials, mini-lecture series • Role of host-site in materials preparation and selection: . Course reader, handouts with exercises added, natural/idiomatic Vietnamese . Autonomy as an issue U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

10. Testing • Placement testing: ESP & VLSS • Achievement testing: Individual projects/presentations • COTSEAL’s assessment workshop by Carl Falsgraf at NCOLCTL in April? Workshop Description: From Assessment of Learning to Assessment for LearningThe purpose of assessment is not just to assign grades, but to improve teaching and learning. This workshop will show how to create a balanced assessment system that includes project work, performance tasks, multimedia evidence, and, yes, tests. Participants will learn how to make better assessments and how to use the results of those assessments to become better teachers and to motivate students to become confident, self-directed lifelong learners. Participants will develop a set of expectations for a class they are teaching or supervising, outline a system for demonstrating that those expectations have been met, create specific assessments, and develop a plan for using data to improve teaching and learning. U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

11. Follow-up presentation by students after return to the U.S.: Feasibility as an issue • Alumni tracking: New requirement; submission of lists U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

12. VASI / SEASSI • In general, we have been seeing a closer relationship between VASI and the Vietnamese program at SEASSI in terms of methodology and participation. VASI is moving toward a modular approach, and more and more students of Vietnamese have become participants of both programs. Some students do one or two SEASSIs before taking part in VASI; others do VASI and then go to SEASSI for the next level(s). In this way, many American students of Vietnamese, among whom doctoral candidates in the humanities covering SEA have always formed a key constituency, are enjoying the best learning experience ever provided that will enable them to go far in their own fields where a high level of fluency makes all the difference. U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009

13. Conclusion • In other words, we cannot stress enough how important the federal government support is to the continuation of these language programs, both at home and abroad. U.S. Department of Education Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference March 2009