• Teachers of Critical Languages Program: TCLP | LTMS

TCLP looks to build US schools' capacities to offer Chinese and Arabic programs as these languages are indeed critically important for both the current and future generation. Moreover, both China and the Middle East have rich, vibrant, and deep cultures and histories, and our students can learn a great deal from them. Reciprocally, our exchange teachers can learn a great deal about American culture while improving their English and gaining experience in teaching methodologies. All said, it's a dynamic cross-cultural program that truly benefits all parties involved. Applications to host Chinese or Arabic exchange teachers during the 2009-2010 school year are available and can be downloaded below

From a school's perspective, the program provides many benefits, as well as numerous opportunities. Please find them listed below, and, as you have questions, contact Ben Dunbar:

• American Councils provides exchange teachers' monthly salaries, health care, round-trip airfare, visa support, extended training in DC before the school year, a four-day professional development workshop in November, access to a professional development fund, and ongoing on-program support including in-person site visits
• US elementary or secondary schools, both public and private, may apply
• Applications are welcomed from schools with existing, developing, or planned programs
• Applications are due April 15, 2009. Awards and regrets will be sent by the end of May

Highlights

TCLP November Highlights: Chinese Teachers

Featured in this month's highlights

TCLP's Chinese exchange teachers worked with over 2800 students, faculty colleagues, and community members

Tong Fuping's lesson about Chinese cooking led to reprising it for the Grand Rapids morning television show "Live with Mitch and Paige."

Sun Xiaobo and her host school welcomed a delegation of eight teachers from her school in China during their educational tour of US schools.

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TCLP November Highlights: Egyptian Teachers

Featured in this month's highlights

Taught Arabic to over 800 students

Manal Kotb helped teach her students a traditional Arab dance her students performed at Mayor daley's Arabic Heritage Month Reception

Mohamed Abdalla went to Grant Park in Chicago with his host family to watch President-Elect Obama's speech on Election Night

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Announcements

Follow-On Projects

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce support for follow-on projects to assist Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) alumni and institutions to support mutual understanding by helping to increase the number of Americans teaching and learning critical need languages.

These projects can be proposed by current or previous exchange teachers, mentor teachers, host schools, or host school districts. Projects that allow continued collaboration between schools and their exchange teachers, as well as those that contribute to or develop US schools' critical foreign language programs, can be supported with awards up to approximately $5,000. Grants will be awarded on an ongoing basis, and application materials can be found under "Document Resources" in the "Programmatic" section using the link below:

TCLP Resource Document.

Teachers of Critical Languages Follow-On Project.

Please note, the deadline is March 31, 2009, with all approved projects to be completed by July 31, 2009.

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Featured Teacher - Yu Meihong (Chinese Teacher)

Yu Meihong is from Dalian, holds a degree in English Education from Dalian University of Foreign Languages, complemented by continuing education in methodology and technology from Dalian Education University. Currently, she teaches English at Dalian Yuming Senior High School (2000 students and 175 teachers), and serves as both Dean of the English Department and the director for the Senior High School English Committee of the Dalian Education Society. Her school regularly hosts visiting teachers and students from countries such as Australia, and she has experience teaching Chinese to non-native speakers.

Featured Alumni Member - Bofa Zhong (Chinese Teacher)

ZHONG Bofa is from Jinagsu and holds a degree in language teaching. He has been teaching for 9 years and is head of the teaching staff at the Jiangyan No. 2 Middle School (4,000 students and 264 teachers.) A national-level demonstration school and a key school of Jiangsu Province, it is also a green school that hosts the Schools of Education and Science Technology. Mr. Zhong’s awards include “Pioneer of Our School” for outstanding performance (which he has won multiple times), and a prize from the local government for his contribution in promoting language teaching in middle school. He is in charge of the Oral English Program in his school. Mr. Zhong was hosted by the Atkinson Elementary School, Professional Development Academy, in Portland, Oregon.