Ohio State University. Office of Outreach and Engagement
Abstract
SLIYS, Summer Linguistics Institute for Youth Scholars, offers courses in linguistics to high school students from around the world. The Department of Linguistics partners with these students and native speaker language consultants from Ohio State's international student community to introduce the scientific study of language and to inspire the next generation of language scholars. SLIYS addresses the needs of three distinct constituencies: students and high schools, Ohio State, and the field of linguistics. Students with a special interest in language typically have several needs that high schools are not well-positioned to meet: Instructors with deep understanding of language and linguistics; opportunities to interact with speakers of other languages; and a chance to be part of a community of similarly interested peers. Additionally, like all high school students, SLIYS students need an introduction to university life and academics. FInally, their high schools need support providing challenging enrichments. SLIYS partners with high school students and Ohio State's Linguistics Department to meet those needs. Students study linguistics, participate in social activities, and reside in an Ohio State dormitory. The content appeals to students who have interests in learning foreign languages, how languages are put together, how computers use language, and how linguists study diverse languages. SLIYS also introduces scientific principles used to investigate languages. Beyond academics, the program immerses students into university life in a controlled environment. To encourage participation, scholarships are offered to students with financial need. Perhaps most importantly, students meet others with similar interests. Student feedback shows that students feel less isolated knowing there are others who are hooked on making up languages and learning multiple languages. The program meets Ohio State's need to recruit talented students. SLIYS students have come from Korea, China and the UK, as well as all parts of the United States. Many return to Ohio State as undergrads. In addition, SLIYS employs multiple graduate students who serve as instructors, resident assistants, and foreign language consultants. The program also serves the purpose of exposing linguistics as a science to the community. Last year, 100 students participated in SLIYS, including many who will major in linguistics or related disciplines at Ohio State and other universities. In one recent example, the University of Texas published an article about former SLIYS student Sunny Ananthanarayan conducting fieldwork on an endangered language in the Amazon. His first fieldwork was in SLIYS. This poster session includes a description of the SLIYS camp, provides feedback from former students, shares recruiting efforts, and discusses ways in which others can develop programs to reach students with particular interests in their field.AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Julia McGory, program specialist, Ohio State Department of Linguistics, [email protected] (Corresponding Author); Jefferson Barlew, lecturer, Ohio State Department of LinguisticsThe Summer Linguistics Institute for Youth Scholars offers intensive one-week courses in linguistics to high school students from the United States and around the world. The Department of Linguistics partners with these students and foreign language consultants to introduce the scientific study of language. The Institute meets the needs of students with a special interest in language that high schools are not ordinarily well-positioned to meet, by providing instructors with deep understanding of language and linguistics, opportunities to interact with speakers of other languages, and a chance to be part of a community of similarly interested peers. The program also provides students with an introduction to university life. The Institute meets Ohio State's needs by providing summer funding to multiple graduate students, recruiting undergraduate students, and exposing linguistics to the community. Participants come have come from Korea, China, the United Kingdom, as well as all parts of the United States; and many return as Ohio State students
