This past summer, we hosted over 35 high school students from across the US in our TOCA Online virtual exchange program!

In our program, students strengthen the speaking and listening modalities of their target language of study, expand their global awareness, participate in cultural exchange workshops with youth across the globe, and develop an actionable community-based project plan that takes their online learning into the real world!

This work could not be possible without our incredible partners NaTakallam, QFI, and the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS) at Georgetown University. The work at CCAS is supported by the U.S. Department of Education.

As a TOCA Online Language Fellow, Students:

Studied Arabic, French, or Spanish over the course of 10, two-hour classes taught by NaTakallam language partners (LPs) throughout the world who are native speakers of their language.

Took part in two Refugee Voices workshop sessions, where they had a chance to participate in conversations with displaced persons.

Completed assignments and online course modules focused on social identity, culture, intercultural communication, global citizenship, and more.

Participated in three virtual exchange sessions with Argentine youth.

Developed community-based project plans that they can implement based on all things learned throughout our program.

Addison, Spanish Language Fellow, shared the following about her experience:

"The strengths of the TOCA Online program is that it really does help students understand the language that they are trying to learn rather than just memorizing vocabulary and conjugated verbs. I also really enjoyed the Refugee Voice Workshops because I think that students being able to hear from experiences that many other people around the world have been through helps them to be a better global citizen and understand world issues.

Being a part of the TOCA Online program over the summer was one of the best [experiences] that I've had and it really helped me appreciate learning Spanish more than I had before I entered the program."