The Summer Abroad Program: Khmer Language and Culture, is an intensive eight-week training in Khmer language-culture held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The program is administered by Khmer Language Program at the University of Hawai‘i, and in collaboration with the Center for Khmer Studies, Royal University of Phnom-Penh, Cambodia. This program with hands-on-activities in Cambodia, provides students with a "one-of-a-kind" opportunity to acquire the linguistic foundation necessary to engage in academic research, professional discourse, and cultural immersion with all segments of Khmer society.

The Summer Abroad Program will increase the number of linguistically competent Khmer speaking professionals across the United States and internationally. Also the program will promote scholarly cooperation and cultural and socio-economic understanding between Cambodia and the U.S.A.

This program has six primary goals:

• To provide oversea intensive and specialized instruction in Khmer (Cambodian) for students and learners of Khmer of all levels within its natural, cultural, and social context.
  
• To supplement participants' previous training in Khmer and to attain a high level of language competence and cultural sensitivity within a relatively short six-week period of time.
  
• To promote cooperation between the United States and Cambodia, and to stimulate discussions among individuals from these countries.
  
• To provide in-country living experience and preparation, which will enable the participants to deal with cross-cultural differences and to develop the social skills necessary for life in Cambodian society.
  
• To allow potential researchers an opportunity to see their chosen area studies, to select appropriate research sites, and to make introductory contacts.
  
• To assist participants to become educated, insightful and contributing members of the global community.

Eligible participants:

Any participants who are interested in studying Khmer languge and culture

1. A citizen or national, or a permanent resident of the United States; AND
2. An undergraduate or graduate student in an institution of higher education; or
3. A faculty member in modern foreign languages or area studies*; or
4. A teacher in an elementary or secondary school; or
5. An educator or a professional; AND
6. Have 2 years of Khmer language study.

* Area studies means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a society or societies including the study of geography, history, culture, economy, politics, international relations, languages.

1. An individual who is educated native or near-educated native speaker.

(Contingent upon COVID-19 health issue)
Program Date: June 12 to August 4, 2023
Application deadline:March 31, 2023

Click here to download the UHM Summer Abroad Program: Khmer Language & Culture application form (DOC).

Applicants must:

1. Submit a completed Summer Abroad Program: Khmer Language & Culture application form.
2. Submit a personal statement* outlining academic and/or career goals, indicating how participation in the program will help to achieve those goals.
3. Submit a half-page statement in Khmer stating reasons for wishing to participate in the abroad program and the benefits expected (applicable for intermediate and advanced levels).
4. Submit a brief statement on the topic of the final paper. This mini-research paper will be conducted during the study in Cambodia.
   
5. Submit official transcripts of the most recent college and/or university training undertaken to date (if applicable).
6. Submit two letters of reference:
   -- 1 from individual who can comment on academic ability and ability to adapt to Cambodia, and
   -- 1 from a current or former teacher of Khmer who can comment on skill as a student of Khmer language (if applicable).
7. Submit copies of any Khmer proficiency assessments completed (if applicable).
8. Submit a list of any family, relatives or friends who currently reside or work in Cambodia (if applicable).
9. If needed, applicants will be asked to participate in an oral interview in Khmer (for intermediate and advanced levels) . The interview, which will be recorded and retained for future reference, will normally be conducted by telephone by a member of the Khmer Language Program faculty. Arrangements for the interview will be made after a preliminary review of all applications has been completed.

*In preparing the Personal Statement, applicants who have lived and worked in Cambodia previously should discuss their experience there, and indicate how they plan to incorporate that experience in their future studies. Those with extensive prior study of Khmer and/or experience in Cambodia should indicate why additional training is now necessary. The selection committee gives careful attention to the Personal Statement. A full discussion of all points is essential for a successful application. One of the selection committees will contact you or your references.

You may send the electronic/scanned copies of the completed application form and other required documents as attachments to sak@hawaii.edu or askuhm@hawaii.edu. (This is the preferred submitting method.)

The recommendation letters can be mailed or emailed separately by the referees directly to Dr. Chhany Sak-Humphry <sak@hawaii.edu>.

If you do not have access to scanning or email, you may mail the completed application form and all the required documents to:

Dr. Chhany Sak-Humphry,
ASK Program Project Director,
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa,
Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures,
2540 Maile Way, Spalding Hall 255,
Honolulu, HI 96822

Phone: (808) 956-8070
Fax: (808) 956-5978
Email: sak@hawaii.edu

Use the Guidelines of the U.S. Department of State Travel, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Cambodian Ministry of Health Travel, and the Cambodian government's policies.

Health and Accident Insurance

1. U.S./E.D. requires that participants be covered by health and accident insurance plans that are valid abroad as well as in this country. This insurance should include Emergency Medical Evaluation as well as Repatriation of Remains coverage.
2. Neither U.S./E.D. nor the University of Hawai'i/ASK Program assumes any responsibility for any injury, accident, illness and loss of personal property or other contingencies that may befall project participants during or as result of their stay abroad.
   
3. Here are some resources for students who want to purchase health insurance or supplemental coverage (you can also search online for other insurance resources and get quotes from them):
   • Beta Scholastic Supplemental Travel Insurance
   • HTH Study Abroad Insurance - This is a highly recommended and very comprehensive health insurance policy for U.S. students studying abroad.
   • AIP International short-term insurance for study abroad - this is a good option for students who do not already have health insurance, or who want an insurance policy specifically for study abroad. Click on the link for 'International Students & Study Abroad')
   • SOS Medical Insurance
   • Seven Corners Student Travel Insurance
   
   

Inoculations

For information on availability of medical services abroad and recommended shots (e.g., gamma globulin) project director and participants should follow US Embassy recommendations. Additional information on recommended shots may be obtained by calling the Center for Disease Control's International Travelers Hotline at (404) 332-4559 or from the website http://www.cdc.gov/.

Passport and Visas

Participants are responsible for obtaining their passports and the appropriate visas. The grant does not provide funds for passport and visa expenses.

You can also visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia to apply for E-Visa.

Participant Information Required by Abroad Program Prior to Departure

Approximately five (5) weeks prior to the departure to the country of study, the participants must submit to the Project Director the following documents:

1. Participant's name (as listed in passport)
2. Home address
3. Present employer (name of institution/school/organization)
4. Position title
5. E-mail address
6. Current phone number (up to departure date)

The application processing time usually takes at least 10 days. Accepted applicants will get UH usernames, passwords and instructions on how to register for these courses via the UH Outreach College Summer EXTENSION term using the Course Reference Number (see below). The CAM courses do not appear in print, so applicants will need to input the CRN for the courses. The payment for each of these courses is $136.00.

The courses for Summer EXTENSION term are:

CAM 303 (141)
6 credits for Advanced level (level 2 to 3+ or higher level).

CAM 212 (141)
10 credits for Intermediate level (level 1 to level 2).

CAM 112 (141)
10 credits for First year level (level 0 to level 1).

These courses are equivalent to 2 semester Khmer coursework at the University of Hawaii (Beginning level ~ CAM 101 & CAM 102; Intermeidate level ~ CAM 201 & CAM 202; Advanced level ~ CAM 301 & CAM 302). Contact Hours: All of these levels will have 120 hours (of language instruction in classroom); 84 hours (of scheduled for hands-on activities, NGOs, and fieldtrip excursions); and 15-20 hours (of individual tutorial).

These credits are also transferrable to other universities in the U.S. For procedure details, please contact Dr. Sak-Humphry <sak@hawaii.edu>.