OneWorld Now Global Citizen Summer Language Program

Program Description

Learn Arabic or Korean this summer while building your leadership skills, experiencing new cultures, and making new friends from across Seattle!

OneWorld Now’s summer program is made possible through the generous support of Qatar Foundation International (for Arabic), and the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning (for all languages).

Program Goals

Students increase their ability to communicate in cross-cultural settings with respect and empathy.
Students increase their confidence and experience positive identity development.
Students increase their sense of agency and ability to create positive change in their communities.

Program Components

The program has three components: language class, cultural activities, and leadership workshops.

Language Class

In your language class, you’ll study beginner Arabic or Korean in an immersive setting. You’ll learn to communicate about your everyday needs in a new language, such as introducing yourself or reading a menu.

Cultural Activities

Cultural activities will allow you to practice your language skills in a fun and relaxed environment. A few activities our students have done in the past include: learning basic taekwondo, practicing Arabic calligraphy, and much more!

Leadership Workshops

You’ll participate in Leadership workshops that will push you to better understand yourself, your community, and your world

Program Dates & Location

July 6 – July 31, Monday-Friday, 9am – 3pm, at Summit Sierra School in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (1025 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104)

Application Process

Admission is on a rolling basis based on our application priorities, with a deadline of May 31, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. The sooner you apply, the better your chances of being able to do the program.

As part of OneWorld Now’s mission, we believe in addressing the structural inequalities that have historically limited opportunities for students of color and students from low-income households. OneWorld Now’s student body is diverse, bringing together students from across the Seattle region who represent a wide range of races, ethnicities, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds. In our Summer 2025 program, 75% of students identified as students of color, and over 30% were eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch program at school.

To create more opportunities for historically underrepresented youth, we use the following policies to determine application priority for our summer program. Classes will be limited to 15 students.

Applicants will be admitted on a rolling basis, with priority given to the following groups of students.

Students from low-income households, such as students eligible for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program, or those whose families receive government assistance such as SNAP/Basic Food Program benefits or Medicaid/Apple Health.
Students who will be the first generation in their family to go to college (including students from immigrant or refugee families whose qualifications from home are not recognized in the U.S.)
Students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

Registration Fee

The registration fee for the summer program is $25 and includes 20 days of global citizen programming, catered lunch each day, snacks, and at least one local field trip.

If this is a challenge for your and your family, please contact info@oneworldnow.org. No student will be turned away for lack of funds.

The registration fee is nonrefundable and should be paid within 2 weeks of admission. However, families may also request extended payment plans if they are unable to pay by this deadline. The fee can be paid online via credit/debit card or mailed as a check to PO Box 3263, Seattle, WA 98114.

Attendance Policy

The OneWorld Now Global Citizen Summer Language Program is an intensive learning experience that provides one year of credit in just 4 weeks (20 days).

That means attending and actively participating in all days of the program (9am-3pm) is essential to the student’s success in the class and growth in the language.

Accordingly, students must come to class on time and may not miss more than 12 hours of program time (equivalent to 2 program days) in order to be eligible for credit.

Students can make arrangements with their teacher and teaching intern to make up hours missed.

Students absent from more than 12 hours (or 2 days) of the program, without making up the time and work, may receive a grade of “NP” (“non-passing”) on their transcript.

If the student is going to be absent for all or part of a day of the summer program, they must fill out the Attendance Form here: oneworldnow.org/attendance.

Grading Policy

In order to receive 1.0 credit, students must have a grade of 60% or above.

This grade will be evaluated through:

Participation and group work (50%)
Individual class work (30%)
Quizzes and projects (20%)

At the end of the program, OWN will submit a transcript to the student’s high school registrar detailing the language they were enrolled in and their grade (“P” for “Pass” or “NP” for “No Pass”) for the semester. The credit may appear on their transcript as an “OOD” (or “Out of District”) language credit. Students may opt out of academic credit for their language class.

Note that students who aim to join Level 2 language courses in our after school program, students must:

Earn a grade of 80% or higher during the course of the summer program
Be recommended by their instructor

Students who complete Level 1 with a grade of 70-79% may be eligible to advance to Level 2 with certain additional expectations; they may be required to complete independent work, attend tutoring, and/or participate in extra language class hours to strengthen their skills. This will ensure they receive the necessary support while maintaining high standards for Level 2 readiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enroll in the program?

Students with a high school graduation year of 2026 – 2030 (enrolled in 9th – 12th grade in the 2025-26 school year) are eligible to enroll.

Is the program in-person or online?

This program is in-person! It will take place at Summit Sierra School in Seattle’s Chinatown – International District.

Can I register if I don't live in Washington State?

No. Students must reside in Washington State and be able to commute to Summit Sierra School everyday while our program is in session.

Can I get credit?

OneWorld Now! is an accredited Supplementary School through Cognia (formerly AdvancEd). Students enrolled in Seattle Public Schools, Highline Public Schools, or Summit Schools who meet the Attendance and Grading Policies can earn 1.0 credit for the summer (the same as taking one year of language class in your school).

Many schools outside of the above districts also accept OneWorld Now! credits. If you are enrolled in a school outside of Seattle Public Schools, Highline Public Schools, or Summit Schools, contact your counselor to find out if your school will accept credit from OneWorld Now. You may also contact info@oneworldnow.org if you have additional questions.

Will I be graded?

Students will receive a grade of P (Pass) or NP (No Pass) at the end of the summer program. To receive a Pass, students must:

Attend and actively participate in all sessions, with no more than 12 absent hours (the equivalent of 2 program days).
Meet or exceed expectations on all class assessments with a minimum passing grade of 60%.

Note that students who aim to join Level 2 language courses in our after school program, students must:

Earn a grade of 80% or higher during the course of the summer program
Be recommended by their instructor

How much does the program cost?

The registration fee for the summer program is $25 and includes 20 days of global citizen programming, catered lunch each day, snacks, and at least one local field trip.

If this is a challenge for your and your family, please contact info@oneworldnow.org. No student will be turned away for lack of funds.

What if I'm not sure if the level of the class is right for me?

Our summer program is designed for students with no previous background in the language. If you are new to the language, this program is for you!

If you have prior experience, please email info@oneworldnow.org with:

A brief description of your background in the language you’d like to study.
At least three available dates and times (e.g., Monday from 4–5 PM PT) for a Zoom or phone assessment with one of our language teachers.

After the informal assessment, we’ll provide a recommendation on whether the program is the right fit for you.

If you are more advanced than our Level 1 class, we may encourage you to enroll in another language.

Sample Weekly Schedule

*Schedule is subject to change. Below is the schedule from the 2024 Summer Program

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9am – 12pm	Language class	Language class	Language class	Language class	Language class
12pm – 1pm	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
1pm – 2pm	Language class	Language class	Language class	Language class	Language class
2pm – 4pm	Leadership	Cultural activity	Leadership	Cultural activity	Language review

Not available in the summer? Get notified when registration opens for our 2026-2027 After-School Language and Leadership program.

Registration opens in August; the after-school program starts in October.