Thursday, August 27, 2020

SEALC Workshop on Heritage Language & Project-Based Learning at UCLA, Oct 23-24, 2020

SEALC Project

Professional and Materials Development to Strengthen Southeast Asian Language Instruction

Institute for Regional and International Studies  

608-262-0646 SEALC@intl.wisc.edu


Joint COTSEAL/SEALC Workshop on Heritage Language & Project-Based Learning at UCLA

Organized in collaboration with UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies 

and UCLA National Heritage Language Resource Center


COTSEAL and SEALC invite Southeast Asian language instructors from any US university or community college to apply to participate in the Heritage Language (HL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL) Workshop hosted by UCLA.

Part 1 of this workshop will take place virtually on Zoom on October 23-24, 2020 and Part 2 will be in Spring 2021. Applicants must commit to attend both parts of this workshop.

This workshop will introduce the principles and practices of Project-based Learning to participants in order to strengthen the development of instructional materials that can be incorporated into the curricula of Southeast Asian language classes.  

Prior to the workshop, participants will be required to complete an online module that will focus on identifying and addressing issues pertinent to HL students as well as impart the principles and tools of PBL, including exemplary models of this approach.  

The two-day workshop will then build procedural knowledge – i.e., how to instantiate this approach in the classroom. Participants will learn how to select project topics and materials, how to structure the creation of products for students at different levels of proficiency, and how to assess learning.  

The goal of this workshop is for participants to acquire skills that will allow them to create a module that will be included in a bank of materials to be shared with other teachers. 

Following the workshop, SEALC will provide support and peer review of the development of modules prior to posting them online. SEALC will offer a modest honorarium to each participant who completes the post-workshop activities. Priority will be given to those applicants who commit to participate in the post workshop activities. 

The registration fees, accommodations, and meals during the workshop are covered for accepted participants. 

All participants must be active members of COTSEAL or become a member. (Dues are $30/one-year and $55/two-year.)

To renew COTSEAL membership or become a member, please fill out this form: http://cotseal.net/COTSEAL_membership_form.pdf.


Required application materials: (Please upload only pdf files and be sure your name is written at the top left-hand corner of your CV and personal statement.)

Curriculum vitae 

Personal statement (1-2 pages) that describes your interest in this professional development opportunity and how it will benefit your teaching and addresses the following questions:

1. Which level course do you currently teach (e.g., 1st, 2nd,  or 3rd year, lower or upper division)? 

2. Do you teach courses designed exclusively for HL learners? If not, are heritage language and second language (L2) learners combined in one classroom?

3. Please describe your experience teaching: type of classes, number of years teaching, challenges you have faced, and any professional development that focused on teaching Southeast Asian languages and/or HL students.

4. What do you hope to get out of this workshop?

5. If you are willing to commit to creating a module during the post workshop activities, you will be compensated with a modest honorarium. Please mention this in your statement.    

To request funding for travel: 

Submit a brief statement of need for assistance with travel expenses. Include information from your institution indicating what portion of the cost they can cover. It is expected that participants from NRCs will seek travel funds from their home institutions.  


Part 1 Fall 2020

Asynchronous: Thought exercises and prompt questions due prior to synchronous presentation 

1. Online Module I (Key Concepts and Pedagogical Approaches in Heritage Language Teaching)

2. Online Module II (Understanding and Meeting the Language Needs of Heritage Language Learners)

Synchronous: Virtual workshop on Zoom on October 23 and 24, 2020

Part 2 Spring 2021

Applicants will be notified about the final decision concerning whether the Part 2 will be an in-person or synchronous virtual workshop.

Apply online for this workshop by September 15, 2020: https://ucla.in/2P8QfCH


Questions about the workshop should be addressed to both  

jwijaya@humnet.ucla.edu & sealc@intl.wisc.edu.


This workshop is funded by the UC Berkeley-UCLA Southeast Asia Consortium National Resource Center, the Southeast Asia Language Council (SEALC) and UCLA National Heritage Language Resource Center.

A project of the Southeast Asia Language Council (SEALC), funded by the Henry Luce Foundation

Room 325 Ingraham Hall, 1155 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI  53706  USA