Contact Dr. Jen-Li Ko for further information: jenli.ko@marquette.edu
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Welcome to the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ STARTALK program Chinese Language Learning and Game Design Summer Camp in 2025. The summer camp is in-person and non-residential, with post-camp online learning in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.
Participants will learn Chinese language and culture through exploring arts, cuisines and music, create culturally relevant websites, learn game design and create their own online games, and create 3D models in ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵVisualization Lab (MarVL lab) and visit Haggerty Museum of Art. This Summer Camp is Tuition FREE and funded by the National Security Agency.
Welcome to the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ STARTALK program Chinese Language Learning and Game Design Summer Camp in 2025. The summer camp is in-person and non-residential.
Camp Dates/Time: June 9th–27th, 2025, M-F, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Camp Location: Lalumiere Hall, ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ, 1310 W. Clybourn St., Milwaukee, WI 53233
Eligible Participants: Rising 9th-12th graders and college students
Post-Camp Online Learning: 62 hours in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
Cost: Free Tuition
Free lunch and learning materials will be provided for participants
Funded by National Security Agency
Eligible Participants: Rising 9th-12th graders and college students are eligible for participation in the program. The camp is intended for participants who have taken Chinese for at least one year or have equivalent knowledge. However, if spots remain, beginner applications will be considered.
Admission Requirements: Only 30 students will be accepted. Admission is based on the dates when we receive the complete applications. Preference will be given to applicants who show a commitment to the full length of the program.
Program Director: Dr. Jen-Li Ko Dr. Ko is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ. Her research areas of expertise are Chinese language pedagogy, Asian American studies, and language and identity. She received a PhD degree in Anthropology from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for her work focused on the cultural representations and identity of Chinese Americans in Chicago’s Chinatown. Dr. Ko has over 10 years of Chinese teaching experience. Prior to teaching Chinese language and culture at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ, she taught Chinese at K-12 schools, including New Berlin and Sheboygan Falls School Districts. She is also a volunteer teacher at Milwaukee Modern Chinese School. Her students range from 4th grade to college students. Dr. Ko has earned her Graduate Certificate in Data Science at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ in Fall 2021. |
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Program Co-Director: Dr. Eugenia Afinoguénova Dr. Afinoguénova is a professor and the chair in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ. Digital Humanities is one of her specializations, and she has extensive connections with the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ3D Visualization Lab, where some camp activities will take place. Dr. Afinoguénova has also collaborated with Chinese-speaking PhD candidates at the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Department of Computer Science. Dr. Afinoguénova’s experience in gamified geospatial visualization of cultural information, coordinating the design of phone apps for art museums, language pedagogy, teaching, scholarship, and leadership will be a great resource for the program. Afinoguénova received a PhD in Spanish Peninsular Literature and Cultural Studies from Georgetown University. She has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in contemporary Spanish literature, culture, and film. She was College of Arts and Sciences Scholar of the Year in 2019. |
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K-12 Pedagogical Expert: Dr. Lee Za Ong Lee Za Ong is an assistant professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology in ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ. She has experience in teaching in universities in urban-settings, including minority-serving institutions. With the ability to speak six different languages, she is committed to diversity and social justice in all aspects of her professional endeavors. Her current research agenda is to promote social and health equity in underserved communities. Funding sources for her research have included the U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Administration Services (RSA), Health Resources and Service Administration – Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training(HRSA-BHWET), Wisconsin Humanities Council, and ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ. |
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Lead Instructor: Yongyan Liu, M.S. Ms. Liu is an experienced Chinese language teacher with over 8 years of Chinese teaching experience. Her experience is broad – teaching students as young as 4 years old, all the way to high-school AP Chinese. Her students come from a broad background as well –both Chinese heritage and non-heritage speakers.  She is an active teacher at Milwaukee Modern Chinese School (MMCS), the Germantown School District (summer school), and a substitute teacher at the Whitefish Bay School District. Ms. Liu is the president of the Wisconsin Association of Chinese Language Teachers – a title she has held since 2019 – where she helps member teachers network and share resources, and she organizes the annual Wisconsin Chinese speech contest. She has a B.S. and M.S. in psychology from China Eastern Normal University and a Master of Education degree from ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ.   |
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Co-Lead Instructor: Junfang Lan, M.S. Ms. Lan has worked as a Mandarin Chinese teacher for more than 10 years at Elmbrook School District. As a native Mandarin speaker, she takes great delight in sharing her love for the language and culture. Helping each student progress in learning Mandarin Chinese is an exciting challenge that she is honored to accept daily. She strives to create a community of learning that nurtures this growth in a positive way. Ms. Lan graduated with a B.S. in English Literature from South-Central University for Nationalities in 2004 and a Master of Education in Teacher and Learning Degree from University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2006. She began her teaching career as a college English teacher, but soon found her true passion in teaching Mandarin Chinese as a second language and subsequently became a Mandarin Chinese instructor.  |
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Game Design Instructor: Dr. Krista-Lee M. Malone Dr. Krista-Lee M. Malone is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the DICE (Design, Informal, and Creative Education) program in the department of Curriculum & Instruction at UW-Madison. She also co-coordinates the Game Design certificate and the UW Game Lab. Her past research has included MMORPGs, the making of educational games in Taiwan, and using game design in the social sciences, especially anthropology and for community outreach. Dr. Malone is currently working on designing cultural narrative games (looking at folklore, engagement, and accessibility). She has been using Twine (an open-source tool for making interactive stories and narrative games) for these purposes for the last 6 years. She will be leading the students in making games in Twine about what they are learning about Chinese language and culture. |
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3D Visualization Instructor: Mr. Christopher Larkee Mr. Larkee is Visual Technology Specialist in the Opus College of Engineering at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ. He is also Interim Director of MarVL, ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 3D Visualization Lab. Mr. Larkee has worked with various faculty members at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵand involved with research projects to develop 3D visualization technology. Mr. Larkee will create and demonstrate 3D visualizations at MarVL Lab. He will also teach and lead a workshop on making 3D models/graphics of China.
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Website Design Instructor: Mr. Eric Wan Eric is a student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. He has experience in web design as well as teaching experience from running math summer camps. Eric will lead students to create websites displaying the work the students have created during the camp.
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Chinese Instructor: Ms. Ping Zhao Ms. Zhao teaches at Milwaukee Modern Chinese School (MMCS), |
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Chinese Instructor: Ms. Ying Chen Ms. Ying Chen teaches at Oconomowoc High School. |
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Words from a returning student:
"I am a returning student to the program. In 2023, I travelled from Houston to attend the Computer Science Enhanced Chinese Language Learning Summer Camp at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ. I was impressed with the dedicated teachers and the enrichment programs organized for us. I would say that it is the best STARTALK program that I have attended. That is why I am reapplying to this program."
Video Testimonials: