The Tech Center held its 2023 Hackathon, Hack the Language Flagship, on March 17th and 18th on the campus of Harvard University. The event is designed to engage Flagship students from across the United States in ideation of new technologies to support or enhance their language learning experience. This year’s theme was intercultural communication. Thirty students from 15 different Flagship programs collaborated in teams to branching scenario experiences using H5P that integrated intercultural communication standards and language learning objectives. Towards the end of the event, each team presented their design pitch to all attendees. A winner was selected by a panel of experts in language learning.
CONGRATULATIONS!
The winning team designed a branching scenario about how to navigate a dinner party in Taiwan. The scenario involves going out to dinner with a boss and colleagues and properly understanding the etiquette for a work-related dinner. The scenario includes information on when to arrive, gift-bringing customs, greeting coworkers, using chopsticks, and how to respond if a boss makes an inappropriate comment.
Alejandro Espinosa (University of Georgia, Portuguese), Mackenzie Rice (University of Arizona, Arabic), Abigail Schlitzer (Virginia Tech, Russian), Lucien Lasocki (University of Oregon, Chinese), and Smith Rothchild (University of Washington, Chinese) were on the winning team.
About “Hack The Language Flagship!”
“Hack The Language Flagship!” is an amazing opportunity to become involved with a group of like-minded peers who have original ideas and want to drive the language technology innovation agenda together. Imagine the possibility of changing the world of language education over one weekend!
The Flagship Hackathon is a fast-paced event optimized for discovery and creativity. Use your experience and seek advice from experts in the field of language technology to propose technology-based solutions (“hacks”) that may impact the future of language learning.
Explore previous Hackathons
Winning Scenario Design
Scenario Designs
Housewarming Gifts for Host Families*
Power Distance & Professional Settings
* Honorable Mention
Expert Coaches and Judges
- Ahmed Hanafy, University of Maryland
- Victoria Hasko, University of Georgia
- Yu (Joyce) Wu, University of Rhode Island
- Scott Payne, Northwest Learning Innovations
Hackathon Dream Team
- Margaret Asperheim – Event Support
- Young Chun – Event Support
- Naiyi Fincham – Mentor/Event Support
- Suzanne Freynik – Mentor/Event Support
- Molly Godwin-Jones – Mentor/Project Lead
- Angela Haeusler – Event Support
- Richard Medina – Mentor/Event Facilitator
- Julio Rodriguez – Mentor/Director
Team 1
Housewarming Gifts for Host Families
This Branching Scenario targets capstone students or students whose summer immersion program will feature a homestay. It uses the scenario of the decisions surrounding a housewarming gift for the host family as an entry into a broader discussion of the norms surrounding gift-giving for 3 Flagship languages: Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.
Ellie Laton
Arabic Flagship
University of Arizona
Rachel Wallace
Chinese Flagship
University of Oregon
Autumn Sniffen
Chinese Flagship
University of North Georgia
Connor Lewis
Russian Flagship
University of North Carolina
Nicole Adam
Chinese Flagship
Indiana University
Team 2
Bodies in Different Spaces
This branching scenario targets the cultural differences with regards to physical touch experienced by Flagship students while they are studying abroad. Target audience: Flagship students preparing to depart for a study abroad session in either Taiwan, Kazakhstan, or Brazil; or simply students who are interested in learning more about the culture of these areas.
Yohana Ibarra
Chinese Flagship
Arizona State
Dominic Lowery
Chinese Flagship
Indiana University
Sebastian Farris
Russian Flagship
University of North Carolina
Sabrina Mori
Portuguese Flagship
University of Texas at Austin
Team 3
At the Office
The app targets a Flagship internship in an office setting in a Chinese-speaking country. The target audience is Chinese Flagship students.
Anthony Poon
Chinese Flagship
Hunter College
Bruce Nicholson
Chinese Flagship
Arizona State
Brynn Morse
Arabic Flagship
Brigham Young University
Alexandra Wilson
Korean Flagship
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Madeline Muller
Russian Flagship
Bryn Mawr College
Team 4
Power Distance & Professional Settings
The app targets students who will participate in Capstone’s internship and will help them prepare for and navigate through challenges they may face in the professional sphere.
Mia Yamada-Heidner
Chinese Flagship
University of Washington
Evan Samsky
Arabic Flagship
University of Texas at Austin
Daniel Ferro
Chinese Flagship
University of Mississippi
Mackenzie Buck
Russian Flagship
University of Georgia
Matthew Heath
Chinese Flagship
University of Rhode Island
Team 5
Generational Differences
This scenario targets students who are struggling to navigate generational differences in a Chinese-speaking culture.
Yueun Kang
Russian Flagship
University of North Carolina
Corinne Horton
Chinese Flagship
Arizona State
Jessica Sobieski
Russian Flagship
University of Georgia
Jin “Yanling” Joslin
Chinese Flagship
University of Oregon
Annika Gulseth
Arabic Flagship
University of Arizona
Team 6
Taiwanese Dinner Party
Chad is a college student from Rhode Island, abroad on his capstone year in Taipei and beginning his internship experience at a company in the import-export business. He speaks Chinese to a high degree of fluency, but is often mystified by cultural concerns. His new boss invites him and his coworkers to dinner at a nice restaurant as an introduction to the company. Chad isn’t sure of the etiquette regarding when to show up or how to handle gift giving. He also has to manage concerns around dining and social etiquette. Help Chad navigate his first dinner party and make a good first impression!
Alejandro Espinosa
Portuguese Flagship
University of Georgia
Mackenzie Rice
Arabic Flagship
University or Arizona
Abigail Schlitzer
Russian Flagship
Virginia Tech
Lucien Lasocki
Chinese Flagship
University of Oregon
Smith Rothchild
Chinese Flagship
University of Washington
Contact Information
TECH CENTER
1890 East West Road
Moore Hall 256
Honolulu, HI 96822
tech.center@hawaii.edu
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The Language Flagship Technology Innovation Center is funded under a grant from the Institute of International Education (IIE), acting as the administrative agent of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) for The Language Flagship. One should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project P.I.: Dr. Julio C. Rodriguez
