Fatih Yildiz, consul general of the Republic of Turkey, speaks with a STARTALK class.

More than 52 students participated in Lewis University’s 2012 STARTALK program. STARTALK is a free four-week foreign language program offered in the summer for 11th and 12th grade high school students and incoming college freshman, sophomores and juniors. This year’s program was held June 18- July 14 at the university’s main campus in Romeoville.

Students studied Russian, Chinese, Arabic or Turkish and gained cultural understanding through various activities, such as folk dances and Tai Chi, guest lecturers and field trips to China Town, a Russian Orthodox Church in Chicago and ethnic restaurants.

One of the program highlights for the students enrolled in the Turkish language program was a visit from Fatih Yildiz, consul general of the Republic of Turkey. He shared a traditional Turkish feast with the students and provided insights on his country and profession. Yildiz reflected upon his career of representing his country and encouraged the students to look into international experiences in their future careers.

STARTALK is a project of the National Security Initiative, a multi-agency effort to expand foreign language education in under-taught critical languages by funding new and existing programs and to provide incentives and rewards for foreign language learning. The overall mission is to increase the number of young Americans learning and speaking critical need foreign languages by offering creative and engaging summer learning experiences for students. Participants have the ability to earn three transferrable university credits of foreign language.

For more information, visit www.lewisu.edu/startalk or contact Dr. Serafima Gettys, director of the Foreign Language Center, at (815)836-5544 or gettysse@lewisu.edu.

Lewis University is a Catholic university offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 6,500 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally aware, and socially responsible graduates. The ninth largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report.