Teachers of Critical Languages Program

During the academic year, Chinese and Egyptian exchange teachers will team-teach with U.S. teachers in K-12 schools that already have established programs in either Chinese or Arabic. In addition to providing language instruction, the international teachers will serve as cultural resources on their home countries in history, geography, social studies and other relevant classes in the U.S. schools. Overall, the program fosters an exchange of critical languages, develops cultural awareness, sensitivity, and appreciation, and promotes educational networks among teachers and students from China, Egypt, and the United States.

The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) is part of the National Security Language Initiative announced by President Bush in January 2006. It aims to strengthen national security and prosperity in the 21st century through education, especially by focusing on developing the foreign language skills of Americans. This inaugural program brings qualified teachers to teach Arabic and Chinese languages in U.S. school systems throughout the country. In addition to strengthening foreign language instruction and programs at U.S. schools, the international teachers selected for the program will have the opportunity to learn more about U.S. teaching methodologies, culture and society, and to improve their English language proficiency.

During the academic year, the international teachers will team-teach with U.S. teachers in K-12 schools that already have established programs in either Chinese or Arabic. In addition to providing language instruction, the international teachers will serve as cultural resources on their home countries in history, geography, social studies and other relevant classes in the U.S. schools.

- The U.S. students benefit specifically from having native speakers of Chinese and Arabic in the classroom, and generally from a broadened overall foreign language curriculum;
- Students in China and Egypt will have the opportunity to learn more about American culture and English language from their teachers when the international teachers return home;
- Chinese and Egyptian teachers will share best practices and new methodologies with their colleagues at their home schools.

Before the program began, exchange teachers participate in a comprehensive orientation that both acquaints them with American foreign language teaching methodologies and surveys aspects of U.S. culture and society. While on-program, the teachers attend local and national conferences, workshops, and professional development seminars before returning to Washington, DC in June for a post-program conference prior to their return home.

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