Teachers of Critical Languages Program Participant Biographies

Chinese Teachers

Xiao Chunzhi

Xiao Chunzhi is from Wuhai. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and is working towards her Masters Degree in Chinese Language and Literature. Ms. Chunzhi has been teaching English for 20 years and is currently teaching 7th, 8th and 9th graders at a Junior Middle School in Wuhai (1,800 students and 158 teachers). Ms. Xiao is the leader of her school’s English teaching and research group and is in charge of the group’s study, meeting, and research work. She won the first prize in “The Most Excellent Classes” competition in Wuhai City in 2000 and the “Teaching Expert” title in 2005. In 2007, she was awarded the “Outstanding Teacher” title. Her experience working with international students and teachers includes her interpretation and facilitation of a forty-day training of Chinese teachers of English provided by the Amity Foundation in 2005.

Hosted by Yarmouth High School in Maine.

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Hongling Gong

Gong Hongling is from Xiamen and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Literature from Xiamen University. She has been teaching English at Xiamen Junior and Middle School (3,800 students and over 300 teachers) since 2002. Her essay “Comparison between Culture Differences in Teaching” was published in the school journal and she has won prizes in the “Competition of English Teaching Skills” held by the Xiamen Education Bureau. In addition, Ms. Gong has experience working with international students and teachers.

Hosted by Winton Woods Intermediate School in OH.

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Zhang Hong

Zhang Hong is from Zhengzhou. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education and is working towards her Master’s Degree in English Teaching from Henan University. She has been an English teacher since 1999 and has been teaching at No. 47 Middle & High School in Zhengzhou (over 6,000 students and 500 teachers) since 2003. Ms. Zhang has been recognized as one of the top second language teachers in her province, including first place in the Henan Provincial English Teaching Competition. She has experience in working with exchange students and working as a coordinator for American, Canadian and New Zealand teachers within an exchange program at her school, and she has also participated in teacher trainings in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Hosted by Muskogee High School in OK.

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Shi Jing

Shi Jing is from Nanjing and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Nanjing. Since August 2003, she has been teaching English to 3rd- 6th graders at Youfu Primary School (2,100 students and 120 teachers). Ms. Shi won 2nd and 3rd place in multiple District Teaching Skills Competitions (2004-2008) and also obtained awards from the Nanjing and Jiangsu Education Department. Additionally, she participated in a professional learning and culture exchange program in Manchester, England. Ms. Shi also has experience in teaching Chinese to international students and working as both a translator and interpreter for principal delegations in educational exchanges from Great Britain, Australia, and the United States.

Hosted by Benjamin Logan Local Schools in OH.

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Bai Jinguo

Bai Jinguo is from Harbin and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Qiqihar University. Since 2003, he has been teaching English at Harbin No.1 High School (2,500 students and 230 teachers). In addition to having published four books and several essays, Mr. Bai has won a number of prizes in English teaching and tutoring such as the Excellent English Teaching Award which he won six times (2004-2009). He has experience working cross-culturally and with both American and British secondary students, serving as the chief facilitator for a group of AFS students from Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2005 and as an interpreter for delegations from King’s College School and Lambeth Academy in 2008 during their respective visits to China and to his school.

Hosted by Willmar High School in MN.

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Niu Jun

Niu Jun is from Harbin and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Heilongjiang University. She has been teaching English to 9th graders at No. 69 Middle School (11,000 students and 498 teachers) in Harbin since 1998. Ms. Niu, an avid jogger, has won five separate national awards for English, as well as multiple National Excellent Mentor Awards. She has experience working with international students and teachers, including the facilitation of a delegation of British students and teaching Chinese to an American colleague with whom she worked for a year in Harbin.

Hosted by Swain County High in NC.

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Sun Liang

Sun Liang is from Mianyang and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Neijiang Teachers’ University. She has been an English teacher since 2002 and has been teaching at Sichuan Mianyang High School (approximately 10,000 students and 500 teachers) since 2004. Ms. Sun was awarded several prizes between 2003 and 2008 including the Special Prize in the local Senior High School English Teaching Contest, 1st prize in the Senior High School English Teaching Contest in the Sichuan Province, 1st prize for the National Teaching Skills Contest for English Teachers in School and 1st prize for the essay on English for Senior Teaching in Mianyang City. Ms. Sun also has experience in teaching Chinese to Americans and visiting delegations of educational professionals.

Hosted by Ithaca High School in NY.

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Xiang Mei

Xiang Mei is from Yibin and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Yibin University. She has been teaching English at Yibin No. 1 Middle School (over 7,000 students and 400 teachers) since 2003. Between 2004 and 2008, Ms. Xiang was awarded several prizes including 1st place in the English teaching presentation contest and the English teaching contest for senior high school in Yibin. She also earned 2nd place in the state educational essay contest, 1st place in a young teachers’ methodology contest in No. 1 Middle School and was named Young Leading Teacher at No. 1 middle school. As a college student, Ms. Xiang attended a U.S.-China Friendship Volunteers Language Instruction Program at Yibin University where she learned effective ways to teach foreign students.

Hosted by Lafayette Sunnyside Middle School in IN.

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Liu Na

Liu Na is from Baoding. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Hebei Normal University and is now working towards a Masters Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL) from Beijing Normal University. She has been teaching English since 1998 at No. 1 Middle School of Baoding (1.500 students and 120 teachers) and Chinese at Harrow International School in Beijing since 2008. She won the First Prize for Excellence in Coaching in the National Quality-Oriented Education and English Proficiency Competition in 2003 and 2007. She has published works on the Cultural Differences between English and Chinese Idioms and Focus Non-intelligence Factors on the Impact of English Language Teaching. Ms. Liu’s experience teaching Chinese to Western learners includes American, British, French, Canadian and German students.

Hosted by Marist School in GA.

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Song Shuyun

Song Shuyun is from Beijing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Education and is working towards a Masters Degree in International Chinese Teaching and Education from the Beijing Normal University. She has been teaching English at No. 7 Middle School (approximately 1,000 students and 145 teachers) in Beijing since 2002. Ms. Song won prizes in her school’s Senior English Teaching Presentation and Teaching Plan competition. She also has experience in working with international schools, traveling to Australia in 2004 to facilitate an exchange between her school and an Australian school.

Hosted by Rockford High School in MI.

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Zhao Yanzhen

Zhao Yanzhen is from Lianoning and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education and a Masters Degree in English Teaching from Liaoning Normal University. She has been teaching English at Dalian Yuwen Junior Middle School (approximately 2,000 students and 140 teachers) since 2001. Ms. Zhao won second prize in a local English Class competition and third prize in the second National Teaching Skill Competition. She is also one of the authors of the English learning materials for the entrance exam to senior middle school. In 2008 she attended a Chinese-English teacher program organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange and the American English Language Institute.

Hosted by Bow High School in NH.

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Yu Yifang

Yu Yifang is from Beijing and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Hubei University. She has been teaching English since 2004 at the Asia-Pacific Experimental School in Beijing (1,600 students and 200 teachers). Ms. Yu is one of the editors of “TOEFL - An Examination of Vocabulary,” and, in 2006, she won first prize in the second National Teaching Ability Competition in Beijing. In 2007, she was named the “Excellent Teacher in the New Curriculum Reform” in Xicheng District in Beijing and was named the school’s leading English teacher for the 2007-2008 school year. Her cross-cultural and experience with international educators includes teaching basic Chinese to English teachers from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States as she has worked with them.

Hosted by Brent Elementary School in DC.

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Tu Yijun

Tu Yijun is from Hangzhou and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from the Central China Normal University in Wuhan, Hubei. He has been teaching English at the Hagzhou Foreign Language School (approximately 3,500 students and 350 teachers) since 2004. In 2008 Mr. Tu was awarded a prize in the ‘New Generation Teachers’ Teaching Competition and, in 2007, he worked as a co-author of the Listening Comprehension Exercise for Seniors English Book. Mr. Tu has experience working with international students and teachers. Every year he works with a new group of foreign teachers at the Hangzhou Foreign Languages School. He has also taught Chinese to teachers from the USA, Great Britain and Japan.

Hosted by Diamond Canyon School in AZ.

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Shunmei Zhu

Zhu Shunmei is from Anhui and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Anhui University. Since 1999, he has been teaching English at Baizehu Central School(approximately 2,000 students and 160 teachers). Mr. Zhu teaches English to 3rd-6th graders and is also the English group leader of the school’s teaching and research department. In 2006 he was awarded the title of VIP Teachers of Anqing by the city’s Bureau of Education. In 2008, he was awarded the title of Star Teacher of Anqing. Since 2004 he has been working with an English teacher from Canada at Anqing Foreign Language School and has helped her learn Mandarin Chinese.

Hosted by Tombaugh Elementary in NM.

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Arabic Teachers

Bishoy Demian

Bishoy Demian is from Tanta and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the Faculty of Arts at Tanta University. He is currently working towards his M.A. Degree in Curriculum and Methods of Teaching English from the Faculty of Education at Tanta University. He has been teaching English at the Al-Salaam Private Language School (3,000 students and 120 teachers) since 2003. Between 2005 and 2006 Mr. Demian participated in a Teacher Training workshop organized by AMIDEAST / Cairo where he developed experience with current best practices in classroom management, student motivation, critical thinking, communicative language, and the teaching of writing. Mr. Demian has experience working with international students and teachers.

Hosted by Burlington Notre Dame High School in IA.

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Moustafa El Besoumi

Moustafa El Besoumi is from Damanhour and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Language from Ain Shams University. He also has a General Diploma in Education (2005) and in a Special Diploma in Education (2007) from the Faculty of Education at Alexandria University. He has been teaching English at the Omar Makram Secondary School for Boys (930 students and 140 teachers) since 2000. Moustafa was awarded two teaching scholarships in the United States in 1999 and 2002. Mostafa’s international education experience also includes training at Sequoia Middle School in Atlanta, working with the Integrated English Language Program II (IELP II), as well as taking part in a number of activities conducted by the Canadian Agency and American Aid.

Hosted by Scott’s Branch High School in SC.

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Mohamed El Naggar

Mohammed El Naggar is from Mansoura and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English. He has been teaching English at Dekerness Experimental Language School (350 students and 40 teachers) since 1996. In 2005, he participated in a 12-week course in the United Kingdom that included English teaching methodology, evaluation and assessment, syllabus design, and advanced language study and pronunciation. He gained experience working with international students and teaching Arabic to non-native speakers during his program experience in the United Kingdom.

Hosted by Provo High School in UT.

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Samir Gibrail

Samir Nasim Hakim Gibrail is from Alexandria and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from South Valley University. He has been teaching at the Mohamed Zahran Experiemental Language School (3000students and 200teachers) since 2002. Samir completed a Teacher Development course for Teaching English as a Foreign Language in the United Kingdom in 2004. Past teaching experience includes teaching English at Elramel Prep School and Elnasria Secondary School. Among his many honors, he has been awarded a certificate from the University of Edinburgh's Morah House School of Education. He has an international certificate of ICDL.He has a certificate on Civic Education.He was chosen for the program due to his excellent teaching reviews and commitment to professional development throughout his twelve year teaching career. He is being hosted by the Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hosted by Academy for Math, Engineering and Science in UT.

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Abdel-Magid Hussein

Abdel–Magid Hussein is from Itay Elbaroud and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Alexandria. He has been teaching at the Lotfy Alosta Secondary School for girls (1,500 students and 100 teachers) since 2004. Abdel-Magid has an Advanced Diploma in Teacher practice from Northumbria University (2008) and an ICDL Certificate from the Egyptian Ministry of Education (2009). In 2002, he took a Standard-Based Communicative Reflective Methodology Course supervised by IELP that provided him with invaluable insight on teaching. To qualify for the scholarship to the United Kingdom, Abdel passed both the TOEFL and IELTS exams. He was chosen for the program due to his excellent teaching reviews throughout his then ten-years of teaching experience. Mr. Hussein’s experience working with Western students includes his role as an assistant teacher in the United Kingdom.

Hosted by Lincoln Park High School in IL.

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Mohamed Mahmoud

Mohamed Mahmoud is from Fayum and holds an Education Degree in English. He has been an English teacher since 1992 and has been teaching at both the Information Technology Training Center and the Nasser Technical Secondary School (4,800 students and 400 teachers) in Fayum since 2003. In 2001, Mr. Mahmoud was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Central Directorate for In-Service Training for extended efforts in Strategic Planning for Training. His continued educational experiences include participation the Train the Trainer Seminar, the European Institute
for Public Administration (Netherlands, 2006), Best Practices in Professional Development (Santa Cruz, USA, 2002) and the Teacher Training Initiative (University of Delaware, 2000). He also received a Certificate for Overseas Teachers of English from American University in Cairo (2000).

Hosted by Shawnee Mission West High School in KS.

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Abir Malek

Abir Abdel-Malek is from the city of Shobra Elkheima and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Ain Shames University. She has been teaching English at Shobra El Khama Sanaweeya el Banat Secondary School for Girls (approximately 1,000 students and 100 teachers) since 1994. Ms. Hassan benefited from a teaching scholarship in England, which included English teaching development and the use of information systems. As a member of the Ministry of Education, she works to improve the teaching of English as a Foreign Language. She is being hosted by Silietz Valley Early College Academy in Siletz, Oregon.

Hosted by Siletz Valley Early College Academy in OR.

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Khaled Qenawy

Khaled Qenawy is from Alexandria and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Alexandria University. He has been teaching English for the last seven years at the Mamdouh Salem Secondary School (400 students and 114 teachers), and his teaching experience also includes four years of English teaching in Saudi Arabia. His numerous certifications and awards include three teaching certifications from the University of Cambridge, as well as successful participation in both an EFL Teacher Training Initiative at Georgia State University and an Advanced Student-Centered Learning Study Tour at the University of Pittsbugh. He is experienced in designing and leading extracurricular activities, and he is also committed to using technology and authentic materials in the foreign language classroom. Also he was chosen as a teacher trainer for primary stage teachers.He is a regular participant in English teachers' conferences. Khaled is considered one of the most prominent teachers of English in Alexandria his home city.

Hosted by Madison East High School in WI.

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Hossam Sarhan

Hossam Eldin Sarhan is from Cairo and holds a Degree of Arts and Education in English. He has been teaching English at Escan Nasser Preparatory School (700 students and 80 teachers) since 1993. In the school year 2007-2008, Mr. Sarhan attended a training course on Methodology at Strathclyde University in the United Kingdom where he had the opportunity to teach foreign students of various nationalities. He also holds an IELTS Certificate from the University of Cambridge, as well as a TKT certificate from Cambridge university.

Hosted by Center for Global Studies in CT.

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