TCLP Transitional Workshop: Closing The Books On One Program Year And Kicking Off A New One

On May 10th, 2012, twenty-five teachers convened in Washington, DC for a transitional workshop where they reflected on their yearlong exchange with the Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP), and offered advice to the newly selected U.S. schools on hosting the next group of international teachers. Originally coming from China and Egypt, these teachers spent the last ten months living in U.S. host communities and teaching Mandarin and Arabic to K-12 students.

TCLP, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by American Councils for International Education, seeks to strengthen Mandarin and Arabic language instruction in U.S. schools while providing selected exchange teachers the opportunity to learn about U.S. teaching methodologies, culture, and society.

The transitional workshop was the first of its kind in which TCLP Chinese and Egyptian exchange teachers were given the opportunity to interact with U.S. administrators from the twenty-four schools that will be hosting the next program of TCLP teachers beginning in August 2012. These administrators gathered from 15 states across the U.S. to attend the workshop and to learn about programmatic dynamics and best practices for hosting future exchange teachers.

"The training provided me with much needed information that will be invaluable in our welcoming of our new TCLP teacher in August," said Stephanie Wilbur, Dean of Students from Walnut Street School in Iowa.

At the conclusion of the workshop, Marianne Craven, Managing Director of Academic Programs for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and Dr. Dan E. Davidson, President of American Councils for International Education, presented each exchange teacher with a program certificate and congratulated them on completing a successful year.

During the program certificate ceremony, Craven thanked the exchange teachers for their contribution to the teaching field. "I'd like to express my deep appreciation for your valuable work in U.S. communities and schools over the past 10 months. Thank you for taking the time away from your families, students, and careers in Egypt and China...you have shared your languages, cultures, and your lives with us during your stay in the United States," said Craven.

The twenty-five exchange teachers will depart from their home countries throughout the summer as the academic year in their host communities comes to a close.

Click here to learn more about the Teachers of Critical Languages Program.

TCLP’s 2011-2012 exchange teachers from China and Egypt receive their program completion certificates.