Total-Immersion Japanese Language

&

Culture Camp for High School Students

 

October 15, 2007

Dear Teachers,

Welcome to the WATJ Total-Immersion Japanese Language & Culture Camp.  We hope that this experience will be as meaningful for you as it will be for your students.  This year’s Camp dates are March 21 & 22, 2008.

The Camp’s goals are to:

·         Create an atmosphere and environment outside of the regular classroom to use the Japanese language.

·         Encourage the abilities and build students’ confidence to use their language skills.

·         Allow students to participate in cultural activities that are not readily available in the classroom.

·         Further motivate students to continue their language studies.

·         Allow teachers to interact with other teachers in the area.

·         Expose teachers to the National Standards and how scenarios can be used.

·         Expose teachers to immersion instruction techniques.

In order to achieve these goals, we have set some regulations to qualify teacher/school participation. 

Participating teachers must:

·         All participating teachers MUST attend both General Immersion Camp Meetings.  The dates are:

Saturday, February 9, 2008                                 Saturday, March 8, 2008

3:00 p.m. ~ 5:00 p.m.                                             9:00 a.m. ~ 3:00 p.m.

Shorecrest High School (Tentative)                 T.B.A.

                                                                               

·         Put in extra hours to prepare for the camp (typically five to ten hours).	·         Arrange for student transportation to and from site (own students).
·         Enforce total immersion at all times.	·         Supervise mealtime conversations.
·         Teach at least one section (language or culture).	·         Help screen/recommend students to the camp.
·         Stay overnight at the campsite.	·         Arrive at the campsite by 8:00 AM.
·         Monitor students’ behavior & enforce discipline policy.	·         Supervise cleaning duties.

Returning Teachers

Returning teachers who would like to teach a different class MUST attend both meetings.

Clock Hours

All participating teachers applying for 15 clock hours through the University of Washington must attend the both meetings scheduled on February 9^th & March 8^th, 2008.

Students’ Health Condition Information

Participating teachers need to query their students about any special health concerns (e.g. diabetes).  Follow district guidelines on collecting and maintaining individual student insurance and medical information.
 

Teaching Materials

The camp will provide all teaching materials for the language classes.  If you are assigned to a cultural class, you must provide your own teaching materials, and submit a lesson plan in advance to the committee.

Teaching Assistants

Teachers will be assigned assistants to their classes.

Tuition
The camp tuition and deadlines are as follows:

Final Registration postmarked by:                              November 30^th, 2007 (Friday)

                       Tuition $70.00

Applications accepted after this date will be charged $50 late fee per school   No applications will be accepted after December 14th. 

·         Tuition includes Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch.

·         Cancellations will be accepted through February 29^th, 2008 (Friday).  Tuition costs will be refunded minus an office fee of $10.00.  There will be no refunds after this date.

·         Due to limited enrollment and increased demand to attend, we encourage early registration.

·         Maximum of eight (8) students per participating teacher.

There is no teacher fee if you are a WATJ member.  For non-members, the fee is $85.00.

Participating teachers are responsible for gathering checks and documents from students and sending the complete packet to the Camp Director with the school registration form for the Total-Immersion Japanese Language and Culture Camp by the two dates listed above.  We encourage early registration due to limited enrollment.  Only completed packets submitted by the due dates will be considered.  Please send the packets to:

 

Taeko Tashibu

6556 16^th Ave. NE

Seattle, WA 98115

Approval from school

This is an overnight field trip.  Participating teachers need to get approval from their schools.  It usually takes some time to obtain this.  Please look into the procedures at your school as soon as you decide to participate in the camp.

Transportation

Must arrange own transportation.

There is one kitchen helper position available for teachers who are unable to attend one or both of the scheduled camp meetings, and would still like to have their students participate in the camp.  Please submit the attached application by (post marked) November 30^th, 2007.  Applications will be reviewed and we will notify each candidate by January 20^th, 2008.

Please find enclosed the following documents:

·         Teacher introductory letter	·         Lesson plan outlines
·         School registration form	·         Kitchen helper application form
·         Student application packet	·         General Camp Meeting Schedules
ü       Student application/Teacher recommendation form
ü       History and description of the Camp
ü       Rules Agreement form

Please include the following when submitting registration forms:

·         School registration form

·         Tuition (please note the different rates)

·         Student application/Teacher recommendation form

An acceptance letter will be sent out in early January stating the specifics of the camp.  This will include a map with directions, a list of what to bring, schedules, etc.  If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact me at the numbers listed below.  We look forward to working with you in creating the Total-Immersion Japanese Language & Culture Camp 2008 for our students!

Sincerely,

Taeko Tashibu

Camp Director 2008