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.
- Please visit their official website for more information.
Eligibilities
Exchange teachers assigned to the U.S. host schools will meet the following program requirements:
- Be a teacher from Egypt, Morocco, or Taiwan;
- Currently teach Mandarin/Arabic/English as a Foreign Language in a K-12 school in his/her home country;
- Have at least four years of classroom teaching experience;
- Have at least a bachelor’s degree; and
- Be proficient in written and spoken English.
U.S. primary and secondary schools that meet the following program requirements are eligible to apply to host an exchange teacher:
- Have an existing Mandarin or Arabic foreign language program or want to start a Mandarin or Arabic language program;
- Have a detailed plan for the exchange teacher to strengthen the host school’s Mandarin or Arabic language program through independent teaching or team-teaching;
- Provide the exchange teacher between 10 and 20 scheduled contact hours per week to leave time in his/her schedule for outreach presentations in colleagues’ classes and area schools, designing curricula, and extracurricular activities. TCLP defines contact hours as those hours when the teacher is actually teaching students during scheduled class periods;
- Provide the exchange teacher with professional development opportunities that are available to the host school’s own faculty, including new teacher workshops/orientations, planning days before school starts, in-service trainings, and faculty meetings;
- Provide the exchange teacher with opportunities to share information about his/her home country in the host school and community, and to learn about U.S. education, culture, and society;
- Provide a host school-based mentor teacher to support the program’s implementation beginning in April 2023 and assist the exchange teacher throughout his/her stay in the United States (please see additional details below);
- Designate a community liaison to assist the exchange teacher’s transition into the community. This should not be the same person as the mentor teacher or school administrator;
- If teaching certification documents are required for the exchange teacher to work in the school, the host school will cover all costs associated with receiving teaching certification;
- Have a plan for the exchange teacher’s logistical support throughout the year that includes:
- For fully funded exchange teachers: Arrange housing accommodations (an apartment, a rented room in a house, or a homestay) in the host community with the understanding that rent and other living expenses will be paid by the exchange teacher (who will receive a housing allowance).
- For a partially funded exchange teacher: Arrange and pay for housing accommodations (an apartment, a rented room in a house, or a homestay) in the host community.
- Facilitate transportation arrangements that will enable the exchange teacher to live independently within the community; and
- Participate in TCLP mandatory trainings and workshops:
- Host School Online Course: five modules for school administrators and mentor teachers in April-May 2023;
- Host School Orientation: a two-day virtual or in-person workshop in Washington, DC for host school mentor teachers in early August 2023. During this event, mentor teachers will meet their exchange teachers and participate in orientation activities together in person (or virtually if in-person gatherings are not feasible);
- Fall Workshop: a two-day workshop in late October 2023 for exchange and mentor teachers in person (or virtually if in-person gatherings are not feasible).
Eligible Regions: Morocco, Egypt, Taiwan
Application Process
A complete application package includes:
- Complete application form;
- Resumes for the administrator, mentor teacher, and community liaison (2-page maximum for each);
- Signed Application Certification Form; and
- Signed Administrative Approval Form.
Please note:
- Incomplete application packages will not be accepted.
- Additional materials (such as student work or school publications) should NOT be included in the package.
- Materials that require technical equipment (such as audio or video files) will not be reviewed by the selection committee.
Application Deadline: January 23, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
