The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) brings teachers from China, Egypt and Morocco to eligible U.S. elementary and secondary schools to teach Chinese and Arabic for an academic year. American students benefit from having native Chinese and Arabic speakers in the classroom and from a broadened foreign language curriculum.
The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) is a multi-layered cross-cultural program. American Councils recruits and places English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers from People’s Republic of China (PRC), Egypt, Morocco, and Taiwan within American secondary schools where they teach their native language and culture. Through TCLP, each party involved is positively impacted: American students develop appreciation for and fluency with the critical languages of Mandarin and Arabic, exchange teachers improve their English which intensifies the depth of their home school’s EFL curriculum, American and exchange teachers develop partnerships and share both resources and teaching methods, and all students and teachers form deeper understanding of others’ cultures.
The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP), sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, is designed to increase the study and acquisition of important world languages in U.S. schools. This program enables primary and secondary schools to strengthen their teaching of Mandarin and Arabic by bringing teachers from People’s Republic of China (PRC), Egypt, Morocco, and Taiwan to the U.S. to teach their native languages and culture for an academic year. The exchange teachers receive on-going methodological observation and training opportunities, live and work in an immersive English environment, and receive a certificate of participation following their exchange.
Their goal is to
- introduce and expand the teaching of critical foreign languages in American primary and secondary schools, thereby improving the language skills of young Americans and motivating increased study of these languages.
- enable international teachers to learn first-hand about the culture and society of the United States, improve their English language proficiency, and to expand their knowledge of U.S. teaching methodologies.
- increase mutual understanding between U.S. school communities and visiting international teachers, and by extension, their home institutions and students.
- provide opportunities for U.S. and participant home schools to develop lasting ties and to share educational best practices.
Location:
United StatesBenefits
American Councils designs and implements an extended ten-day Orientation program that prepares exchange teachers for classroom teaching and life in America, provides their monthly stipends and medical insurance, and, in addition to on-going program monitoring and support, visits them at their U.S. communities throughout the year.
TCLP is funded through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State and provides:
- J-1 visa support;
- A pre-departure orientation held in the participant’s home region;
- Round-trip travel from each participant’s area of residence to and within the United States;
- A nine-day welcome orientation in Washington, DC;
- A teaching assignment of approximately 10.5 months in a United States host school;
- Professional development workshops;
- Accident and sickness health benefit plan;
- Assistance with finding housing, generally arranged by the United States host school/educational community;
- Living stipend of approximately $20,000; and
- Housing in the form of a monthly housing allowance for the duration of the program, calculated based on average housing prices for the assigned host community.
Eligibilities
Candidates will be considered without respect to race, color, religion, sexual orientation or gender. Competition for the TCLP is merit-based and open to anyone who:
- Is a resident of Taiwan;
- Is currently a certified, full-time teacher of English as a Foreign Language or Mandarin as a Foreign Language in a primary or secondary (G1-12) school in Taiwan;
- At the time of application has at least four years of full-time classroom teaching experience;
- Is prepared to teach for the entire United States academic year with leave time limited to school breaks;
- Has a firm understanding of Mandarin;
- Can teach Mandarin using simplified characters;
- Has at least a bachelor’s degree;
- Demonstrates a commitment to continue teaching after completion of the program;
- Is proficient in written and spoken English; and
- Has submitted a complete TCLP application package
Eligible Regions: Taiwan
Application Process
- To be considered for the program, please submit a complete application online.
- Incomplete applications or items submitted by fax or e-mail will not be accepted.
- Unless otherwise noted, please answer all questions in English.
- If a required question does not apply to you, please enter N/A (not applicable).
- There is a limit of three (3) attachments per applicable question; if more than three are submitted, the application may be disqualified.
- Additional materials (such as student work or hand-outs) should NOT be included.
- Materials that require technical equipment (such as audio or videotapes) will not be reviewed by the selection committee.
To be considered complete, all applications must include:
- An Exchange Teacher Application Form;
- An essay that includes detailed answers to all questions;
- A signed copy of the Application Certification Statement;
- Transcript(s)/teaching certification(s);
- A resume written in English that is no more than two pages long;
- A recent passport-size photograph of the applicant; and
- One completed recommendation form from a person who is the applicant’s supervisor and is familiar with his/her professional work; it cannot be written by a family member. Recommendations must be submitted with the application by the application deadline date. Recommendations submitted separately or submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Please provide an English translation of the recommendation letter if it is not written in English. The translated letter does not need to be certified or notarized, but should be clearly marked as a translation.
Application Deadline: January 16, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
