<p>Anyone studying a "critical need" language this summer? My S'14 will be at IU's Chinese Language Institute.</p>
<p>My D’13 will be at Furman University’s Startalk Chinese program for students with previous experience. Anyone else?</p>
<p>These are summer scholarship programs to learn Mandarin, Arabic and other “critical need” languages. See [STARTALK</a> - Start Talking!](<a href=“http://startalk.umd.edu/]STARTALK”>http://startalk.umd.edu/) for next summer. Anyone else participating this year?</p>
<p>I didn’t see this before, but I’m doing the Chinese program at BYU. I did two years ago too and loved it. This is by far the best way to learn another language.</p>
<p>I just got back 2 weeks ago from China with Startalk at Bryant University. Startalk was great and the trip was amazing. We stayed in Chengdu and Beijing. I’d like to apply to the Furham Strtalk next summer and I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on it like whether it was worth it, did you actually learn anything, etc. Thanks!</p>
<p>My D thought it was very valuable. Some students were very advanced. She had studied Mandarin for a year in a 1st year college level class but she was in the lowest group. Some students had studied Mandarin for over 4 years. Her only regret was that it was only 2 weeks. My younger S did StarTalk at IU for 3 weeks and college credit. He was a complete beginner but there were many levels of students there, too. Both programs had their strengths and students at both seemed satisfied with their rapid progress. Good luck!</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about the Idaho StarTalk? It seems to be only their second year so I would like to know how well they ran the program.</p>