Teachers of Critical Languages Program

Program News

• Cross cultural exchange: Chinese teacher adapts and thrives in Swain County 01/28/10
  "After making the journey to Western North Carolina from China, Niu Jun discovered Bryson City was nothing like she imagined. Driving through the town of about 1,300, a confused Niu Jun asked, “Bryson City? Where’s the city?”
• Foreign Languages Fade in Class — Except Chinese 01/28/10
  "WASHINGTON — Thousands of public schools stopped teaching foreign languages in the last decade, according to a government-financed survey — dismal news for a nation that needs more linguists to conduct its global business and diplomacy...The State Department has paid for a smaller program — the Teachers of Critical Languages Program — to bring Chinese teachers to schools here, with each staying for a year."
• Chinese teachers, program receive positive eval 01/28/10
  The warm welcome Willmar extended to a visiting Chinese teacher Bai Jinguo has been noticed by the Teachers of Critical Languages Program.
• High schools receive academic awards from KSL Schools 10/26/09
  Provo High School was presented with an award for the way teachers prepare students for the global marketplace with language classes that include Arabic, Russian and Chinese. TCLP teacher Mohamed El Naggar and his mentor teacher Audry Bastian give greetings in Arabic and Chinese in a video clip taken during the award presentation on October 23, 2009.
• Chinese teachers see US together 10/26/09
  Although both teachers are originally from China, the friendship between Zhang Hong, a TCLP teacher in Muskogee Oklahoma, and Xu Dan, a Chinese teacher with the Confucius Institute at the University of Oklahoma, has flourished in the United States. The Muskogee Phoenix article talks to Zhang and Xu about how they are connecting their students to Chinese culture, and about the ways in which these two teachers have experienced American culture together through their travels in the US.
• A little bit of China comes to Bryson City 10/23/09
  At Swain County High School, teachers want to give their students 21st century global skills, and one way they are doing this is with the help of Chinese teacher Niu Jun, whom they are hosting from Harbin, China for the year. Niu Jun's students are excited and motivated to learn something new and different, and Niu Jun is taking this opportunity to learn more about the American educational system.
• Chinese teacher adapts to Bryson City 10/02/09
  Niu Jun discusses the differences, challenges, and new opportunities that arise as she teaches Chinese at Swain County High School. Her mentor teacher recognizes the positive impact she is having on her students and the community.
• Chinese Teacher Enjoying First Month of Teaching in Willmar 09/29/09
  Bai Jinguo met with the Willmar school board to introduce himself and to talk about his first month teaching in Willmar with his mentor and principal.
• Egypt Native to Leave his Mark on Center for Global Studies 09/28/09
  Hossam Sarhan discusses his first impressions of teaching Arabic in America. He is teaching at the Center for Global Studies for the 2009-2010 academic year.
• Students Study Arabic with Instructor from Egypt 09/28/09
  Arabic is offered for the first time at Burlington Notre Dame High School with TCLP teacher Bishoy Demian, who also teaches students at area schools via video conferencing.