Unproctored Administration

August 7, 2013, 8:16 am

≫ Next: YSEL Program in Ethiopia Enter Finals Week of Camp

Unproctored Administration Dates

Monday September 23, 2013 through Sunday, September 29, 2013
Brazilian Portuguese
Mandarin Chinese
Modern Standard Arabic
Korean
Russian
Monday September 30, 2013 through Sunday, October 6, 2013
Hindi
Persian (Farsi)
Swahili
Turkish
Urdu

Exam Format
The tests will be delivered online and will consist of two sections that may be taken at separate sittings: reading and listening comprehension. Each section contains 49 items and will take up to 90 minutes to complete. Participants must complete both test sections to qualify for the $20 Amazon.com gift cards.

Confidentiality
Participants will be asked to complete a registration page and background questionnaire about their language use, read American Council for International Education’s policy on the confidentiality of research, and sign a release statement permitting American Councils to use the data for group data. The results will not be identified with participants’ names or schools. Participants’ scores will be available via secure website in the fall.

Technical Requirements
The tests will run in any Web browser (on Mac or Windows). Headphones will be needed for the listening section. There must be Flash on the computers used to play the audio in the listening section. Flash can be downloaded for free at: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Unproctored Registration
If you are interested in participating please email Ms. Ola Mahmoud, Field Testing Coordinator all the required registration information below by Tuesday, September 10, 2013:

Name:
Email Address:
Assessment Language:
Name of Institution:
Faculty, Student, or Professional:
Date of Birth (mm/dd/year):
How did you hear about this field testing:
Are you currently enrolled in a Language Flagship program:
Are you currently enrolled in a Critical Language Scholarship program:

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YSEL Program in Ethiopia Enter Finals Week of Camp

August 7, 2013, 1:10 pm

≫ Next: American Councils and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Host ExCEL Program Graduation Reception

≪ Previous: Unproctored Administration

The Youth Solidarity and English Language (YSEL) program just entered its final week of camp in Debre Zeyit, Ethiopia. For the last three weeks, 44 teenagers from the 11 diverse regions that make up Ethiopia have joined together to work on their English, develop leadership skills, and build solidarity. This is the pilot program for what American Councils hopes to be an annual summer opportunity for Ethiopian youth.

“We’re very happy for how these 44 young men and women have come together and are learning so much in the classrooms, as well as from each other. The last day of camp is going to be a tough day for all of us. We have really become like a family, especially the students,” says Tom Toomey, YSEL Camp Director.

Students spend six days a week studying a variety of subjects, from public speaking to U.S. history and world geography. Beyond traditional academics, students are learning through project design, theater, conflict resolution, and urban gardening. Eight volunteers from the Peace Corps—who are native English speakers—serve as the YSEL teaching team.

This experience is mutually gratifying for both teachers and students. “Being a teacher for these students has been the most rewarding period of my Peace Corps service to date,” commented teacher Kristen Rosen.

Student Gnajuok John of the Gambela region says: “For me YSEL camp is very good because it teaches me how to communicate with other people from different regions… how to live with different people and be responsible for ourselves. Like in the dining hall, I learned to clean up after myself. I’ve improved my English, reading and writing skills. After camp, I will continue with my reading and I will teach other people in my region. I need to pass on my experience to other students.”

Soon, students will return home and share their YSEL experience with others and put all that they have learned to good use in their communities. At camp, students created potential community service projects that can be used back home. Project themes include youth development, tutoring for 11th grade preparation, HIV/AIDS, and human trafficking awareness. All YSEL students have joined the YSEL-Ethiopia page on Facebook to stay connected once camp has ended.

Details about camp activities and photos are on the YSEL blog.We wish our inaugural YSEL-Ethiopia all the best in the future and congratulate them on their success this past month.

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American Councils and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Host ExCEL Program Graduation Reception

August 7, 2013, 1:21 pm

≫ Next: American Councils Moldova Launches English Teaching Certificate Course

≪ Previous: YSEL Program in Ethiopia Enter Finals Week of Camp

On June 10th, American Councils and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania hosted a reception honoring the 2013 graduates of the Exchanges for Culture, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL) program. Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S. Žygimantas Pavilionis and Ambassador Anne E. Derse, former U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania, were in attendance.

Over 100 guests attended the reception, including John Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and son of the famed Baltimore Colts’ quarterback. Mr. Unitas presented Ambassador Pavilionis with an autographed Johnny Unitas jersey and picture. Also joining the stage to honor the Ambassador and the ExCEL students was Yolanda Bush, Director of Human Resources at Western Union. The Western Union Foundation is an avid supporter of ExCEL.

American Councils would like to thank all those in attendance, as well as those who continue to support this program. ExCEL is American Councils first direct exchange program in Lithuania. Founded in 2009, ExCEL seeks to enhance U.S. and Lithuanian relations by promoting strong ties between a new generation of young Lithuanian and American leaders through scholarships to cover one year of academic study in an American high school. For more information about the program, click here. To make a donation to ExCEL and impact the lives of these students, please click here.

View a video of the event below:

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American Councils Moldova Launches English Teaching Certificate Course

July 29, 2013, 8:56 am

≫ Next: American Councils Moldova Celebrates the 4th of July

≪ Previous: American Councils and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Host ExCEL Program Graduation Reception

American Councils Moldova recently debuted Moldova’s very first English Teaching Certificate Course.

Based on the Cambridge Teaching Certification, this provides advanced, practical teacher training in the areas of methodology, techniques, and language awareness to English language instructors with different professional backgrounds from all over Moldova: Causeni, Comrat, Cimislia and Varnita. The course consists of 120 academic hours of class training and individual work combined with classroom observation, input hours and following feedback. Seven highly experienced instructors from American Councils Moldova led sessions, covering topics from classroom management and error correction strategies to adapting teaching methods for different levels. Participants also were able to attend classes taught at the American Language Center, one of American Councils Moldova subdivisions. The English Language Teaching Certificate course closely follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Teaching Languages.

More information may be found on the American Councils Moldova website:
http://americancouncils.md/news/792

News from David Jesse, Country Director, American Councils Moldova

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American Councils Moldova Celebrates the 4th of July

August 5, 2013, 11:58 am

≫ Next: PFP Alumna Successfully completed a return visitor project within PFP Outbound Program

≪ Previous: American Councils Moldova Launches English Teaching Certificate Course

July 6th was a special day for American Councils in Moldova. Over 50 alumni from the Open World Program, the Professional Fellows Program (PFP), the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program, and the English Access Microscholarship Program (Access) gathered to celebrate U.S. Independence Day, honor active alumni, share success stories, and thank American Councils Moldova’s strategic partners.

American Councils Moldova county director David Jesse kicked off the official ceremony, handing out “Thank You” awards to our most active alumni and strategic partners, such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, English Teaching Resource Center, Radio Moldova, State University of Moldova, and many others. Daniela Munca-Aftenev, Open World/PFP program officer, moderated a Jeopardy!–inspired game on American culture, symbols, and lifestyle. Access coordinator Olga Morozan later presented Web 2.0 tools that can aid international education projects. Our guests participated in an Independence Day lottery, and won various prizes offered by American Councils Moldova strategic partners, including free English language courses and professional development opportunities.

Running parallel to the alumni event, the American Language Center organized a free English Speaking Club session, also based on the Independence Day theme. Two special guests were the American participants in the Eurasia Regional Language Program, who organized traditional American games and contests for the young students. The two also spoke to participants using various English accents to reflect the way English is spoken in New York versus Texas.

Also on July 6th, over 30 Access students and teachers involved in the annual EFL summer camp, joined by FLEX and e-Winning participants, celebrated Independence Day with a special afternoon party where they sang American songs, organized team-building activities, created Independence Day posters and crafts, and assembled 3-D puzzles depicting the Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, and Independence Hall. Party guests also discussed their interest in various aspects of American history and culture. Some Access students even dressed up as American presidents like Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson; delivering excerpts from the Gettysburg Address and the Declaration of Independence. To close out the celebration, Access students learned the lyrics to "God Bless America" and pulled confetti poppers!

More details on:
http://www.americancouncils.md/access/news/806 and http://www.americancouncils.md/news/781

News from David Jesse, Country Director, American Councils Moldova

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PFP Alumna Successfully completed a return visitor project within PFP Outbound Program

August 15, 2013, 12:48 pm

≫ Next: American Councils 3rd Annual Silent Auction and Open House

≪ Previous: American Councils Moldova Celebrates the 4th of July

PFP Alumna Natalia Vilcu-Bajurean arranged and successfully completed a return visitor project for two experts from the State of Hawaii within LFP/PFP outbound project from May 5 – May 19. This project sought to familiarize U.S. visitors with the judicial system of the Republic of Moldova; identify opportunities for cooperation and exchange programs; promote best practices; and establish cooperation between the Department of the Attorney General of Hawaii and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova. U.S. participants were Donna H. Kalama, supervising deputy attorney general of the State of Hawaii’s land/transportation department of the attorney general, as well as Wilma Sur, a practicing attorney with accreditation in California and Hawaii.

The visit included visits to important governmental institutions and meetings with legal professionals from the Ministry of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Supreme Court, and the General Prosecutor’s office. The U.S. guests also met representatives from the State University of Moldova’s law department, the Moldovan Bar Association, the American Bar Association ABA/ROLI, and members of the Council for Mediation of Moldova.

During these meetings, the groups were able to share several ideas to increase collaboration and strengthen the capacities of the legal professionals from Moldova; namely the Young Lawyers’ Association and the Council for Mediation of the Republic of Moldova . In fact, during his meeting with the U.S. experts, the president of the Young Lawyers’ Association from Moldova, Vladimir Palamarciuc, was encouraged to apply for the Professional Fellows Program: He is now one of two fall 2013 PFP finalists!

For more information, please visit our website here.

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American Councils 3rd Annual Silent Auction and Open House

August 21, 2013, 11:12 am

≫ Next: American Councils 3rd Annual Silent Auction and Open House

≪ Previous: PFP Alumna Successfully completed a return visitor project within PFP Outbound Program

Please join American Councils on Friday, September 20th, 2013 for our 3rd Annual Silent Auction and Open House!

Individual tickets start at only $20 and can be purchased here!

For a list of some exciting auction items, visit the event's website.

We'd like to thank the following sponsors for their generous donations:

Presenting Sponsor:
Famous Famiglia

Platinum Sponsor:
Davidoff & Associates, CPAs

Gold Sponsors:

Akira Foundation Japan
International Language Institute
NBAC Corporation

Bronze Sponsors:

Privacy Cloud Service Inc.
Skild

Raffle Sponsor:

International Legal Counsels PC

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please email Andrey Gidaspov or call 202-833-7522.

If you would like to donate an item to be auctioned at the event please email Katie Corradini or 202-249-6051.

We look forward to seeing you in September!

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American Councils 3rd Annual Silent Auction and Open House

August 21, 2013, 11:24 am

≫ Next: PFP Alumna Successfully Completes a Return Visitor Project

≪ Previous: American Councils 3rd Annual Silent Auction and Open House

↧

PFP Alumna Successfully Completes a Return Visitor Project

August 15, 2013, 12:48 pm

≫ Next: Moldova PFP Alumna Veronica Vragaleva Hosts U.S. Senator Brubaker

≪ Previous: American Councils 3rd Annual Silent Auction and Open House

Professional Fellows Program (PFP) Alumna Natalia Vilcu-Bajurean arranged and successfully completed a return visitor project for two experts from the State of Hawaii within LFP/PFP outbound project from May 5 – May 19. This project sought to familiarize U.S. visitors with the judicial system of the Republic of Moldova; identify opportunities for cooperation and exchange programs; promote best practices; and establish cooperation between the Department of the Attorney General of Hawaii and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova. U.S. participants were Donna H. Kalama, supervising deputy attorney general of the State of Hawaii’s land/transportation department of the attorney general, as well as Wilma Sur, a practicing attorney with accreditation in California and Hawaii.

The visit included visits to important governmental institutions and meetings with legal professionals from the Ministry of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Supreme Court, and the General Prosecutor’s office. The U.S. guests also met representatives from the State University of Moldova’s law department, the Moldovan Bar Association, the American Bar Association ABA/ROLI, and members of the Council for Mediation of Moldova.

During these meetings, the groups were able to share several ideas to increase collaboration and strengthen the capacities of the legal professionals from Moldova; namely the Young Lawyers’ Association and the Council for Mediation of the Republic of Moldova . In fact, during his meeting with the U.S. experts, the president of the Young Lawyers’ Association from Moldova, Vladimir Palamarciuc, was encouraged to apply for the Professional Fellows Program: He is now one of two fall 2013 PFP finalists!

For more information, please visit our website here.

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Moldova PFP Alumna Veronica Vragaleva Hosts U.S. Senator Brubaker

August 30, 2013, 9:09 am

≫ Next: Michelle Kwan Welcomes TCLP Exchange Teachers

≪ Previous: PFP Alumna Successfully Completes a Return Visitor Project

As part of an outbound project, Professional Fellows Program (PFP) alumna Veronica Vragaleva organized a post-program visit to Moldova for her U.S. hosts, Senator Mike Brubaker and his wife, Cindy.

Veronica’s project aimed to introduce Senator Brubaker to the tax system of the Republic of Moldova, and its connection to other financial and non-financial organizations. The Main State Tax Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova sponsored the project.

The Senator and his wife met the Deputy President of Parliament and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova as well as top management at the Main State Tax Inspectorate, and leaders at the Ministry of Finance (Deputy Minister of Finance and Head of Taxes and Customs Policy and Legislation General Department), Academy of Sciences, and National Institute of Economic Research. Senator Brubaker and Cindy also met local authorities in one of Moldovan’s Northern districts at the Soroca District Tax Office and Soroca Territorial House of Social Security. The visit included meetings with representatives from the U.S. Embassy, American Resource Center, American Councils, Access Summer Camp Coordinators, USAID, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova.

While in Moldova, the Brubakers visited monuments and monasteries, including Soroca Fortress, Curchi Monastery Complex, and the Old Orhei archeological complex. They also toured the Moldovan Historical Museum and Milestii Mici, the biggest wine cellar in the world.

Senator Brubaker said: “This experience would not be possible without the U.S. State Dept sponsored program and without them selecting young professionals that are ready and willing to grow in their knowledge of America as well as teach Americans about their home country. I cannot compliment Veronica and the program coordinators enough. The experience we both shared changed our view of Moldova forever, and for the better.”

More information on the event, visit American Councils Moldova official website here.

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Michelle Kwan Welcomes TCLP Exchange Teachers

September 5, 2013, 7:39 am

≫ Next: $6 Million Dedicated by USAID to Fund Transparency in Ukraine’s Higher Education Admissions

≪ Previous: Moldova PFP Alumna Veronica Vragaleva Hosts U.S. Senator Brubaker

July 31, 2013-- Senior Advisor and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan greeted 17 teachers from China and Egypt at American Councils this July. The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) exchange teachers were in Washington, D.C. for a 10-day orientation program designed to prepare them for a yearlong teaching experience in the U.S.

Ms. Kwan, a five-time figure skating world champion and previously a State Department Public Diplomacy Envoy, noted similarities between her experiences working with international student leaders, and the journey upon which the TCLP teachers were about to embark. She expressed her appreciation for the important work the international teachers would accomplish this year, encouraging them to “let this be a year that you inspire hundreds, thousands, because this is really a ripple effect of students”. American Councils' President Dan Davidson echoed Ms. Kwan’s words and warmly welcomed the teachers to the U.S on their first day in Washington, D.C.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and administered by American Councils, the Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) is an academic exchange that seeks to strengthen Mandarin and Arabic language instruction in U.S. K-12 schools while providing foreign teachers with the opportunity to learn about U.S. teaching methodologies, culture, and society. This year’s 17 TCLP participants were chosen from more than 600 applicants through a merit-based selection process. The selection of U.S. host schools was also very competitive, with only one in four applying host schools being awarded an exchange teacher.

The welcome orientation was designed to help TCLP participants understand the nuances of the American education system, learn student-centered methods for effectively teaching their native languages, and observe master instructors working with American students. TCLP teachers finished their orientation with their own mini-lesson presentations, demonstrating new strategies that they were ready to implement in their U.S. classes.
On the last day of the orientation, representatives from each U.S. host school joined the group in D.C. to officially introduce themselves to the exchange teachers and to share more information about the upcoming school year in the individual school placements. Both the exchange teachers and their mentor teachers participated in workshops that focused on the importance of clear, cross-cultural communication, goal setting, and action planning for upcoming outreach presentations.

To follow the exchange teachers throughout the year, check out the TCLP website and TCLP Facebook Page and TCLP Facebook Page to watch their monthly video highlights, lesson plan uploads, pictures, and blog posts. You can follow TCLP and American Councils on Twitter @TCLProgram and @AC_Global.

To learn more about American Councils click here.

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$6 Million Dedicated by USAID to Fund Transparency in Ukraine’s Higher Education Admissions

September 11, 2013, 9:08 am

≫ Next: Informational Webinar for U.S. Host Schools

≪ Previous: Michelle Kwan Welcomes TCLP Exchange Teachers

Corruption in higher education casts a shadow on many countries that are working towards more modern and progressive political and economic systems. While this is slowing changing, Ukraine has been no exception. From bribes to faculty or administrators to award degrees, to students benefitting from unregulated testing standards, corruption has undermined the quality of the country's higher education programs domestically and its recognition in the international market. As Ukraine moves toward a more transparent higher education system, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and American Councils for International Education, in an alliance with 16 other partners, are ramping up their participation and investment.

USAID has just committed over $2.3 million to fund “Phase II” of the Cooperative Agreement for the Ukrainian Standardized External Testing Initiative (USETI), increasing the total funding of this initiative to $6.2 million. The initiative will be spearheaded by the Ukrainian Standardized External Testing Initiative Legacy Alliance (USETI Alliance). Formed in 2010, this alliance comprises 18 organizations working toward defining and implementing standardized testing criteria and policies to improve the country’s higher education admissions. For the last three years, the Alliance has worked to bring together Ukrainian, American, and international partners in creating secure testing that meets international standards; developing strong legislative and regulatory policies governing testing and admissions; and rallying public support for equal access to education.

Jed Barton, director of USAID Mission for Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova remarked: “The cooperation between the USETI Alliance, the Government of Ukraine, and USAID is more than effective in attempting to improve the accessibility to, and the quality of, higher education— which will allow new generations of Ukrainians to realize their potential and push Ukraine into developing its social, political, and economic sectors.”

The USETI Alliance has asked American Councils to continue in its role as project coordinator and to help build a coalition of support for standardized testing and policies as a non-corruptible tool for admissions, consisting of supporters that understand the benefits of merit-based admissions in higher education institutions throughout Ukraine. Phase II of USETI is designed to directly benefit Ukraine’s more than 1,100 higher education institutions and affiliates, many of which have just started addressing issues of quality in education after the country's first national admissions testing standards were introduced in 2008.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MOES), a key Alliance contributor, has helped to shape progress in testing technologies development. Evhen Sulima, first deputy minister of education and science, says: “Today, no one questions the role of standardized external testing (SET). All we need to move on is the improvement of test quality and to determine the next step of SET development.”

In addition, the USETI Alliance will provide mentoring and technical assistance to the Ukrainian Center for Education Quality Assessment (UCEQA) – the organization tasked with carrying out national standardized testing. This will ensure sustainable and independent development of quality tests, along with professional educational testing programs and acceptable admissions policy decision-making.

In addition to American Councils and USAID, members of the USETI Alliance are: American Institutes for Research (AIR); Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University (Hrinchenko University); Center for Education Policy (CEP); Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF); Dragomanov National Pedagogical University (Dragomanov); FaktPublishing House/Kharkiv Oblast Charitable Foundation “TIMO” (Testing, Innovations, Educational Monitoring) (TIMO Foundation); International Renaissance Foundation (IRF); Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (LNU); Ministr of Education and Science of Ukraine (MOES); National Academy of Management (NAM); National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine (NAPSU); National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy (NAUKMA); OPORA Civic Network; pro.mova; Ukrainian Center for Education Quality Assessment (UCEQA); Union of Rectors of Ukraine (URU).

About American Councils
A leader in international education, academic exchange, and overseas language immersion, American Councils creates opportunities that prepare individuals and institutions to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.

For a visual representation of American Councils, watch the promotion video.

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Informational Webinar for U.S. Host Schools

October 22, 2013, 9:46 am

≫ Next: Informational Webinar for Egyptian Exchange Teachers in Egypt

≪ Previous: $6 Million Dedicated by USAID to Fund Transparency in Ukraine’s Higher Education Admissions

Are you interested in increasing the global competency of your students by hosting a guest Chinese or Egyptian teacher at your school?
Learn more about hosting a fully-funded teacher with the Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) during an online chat with an alumni host and TCLP staff members. Find out how this program can make a lasting difference in your school and community, and get your questions about the application answered in real time.

Join us! Please note that both sessions will provide the same information.

- Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 4pm Eastern Standard Time , OR

-Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 4pm Eastern Standard Time

When you follow the hyperlinks above, you will be able to "Join or Launch the Class" which will open at 4pm EST on the dates listed.
Please enter your name without spaces in order to get into the class. If you have difficulty, please call 202-833-7522.

The Teachers of Critical Languages Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

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Informational Webinar for Egyptian Exchange Teachers in Egypt

October 22, 2013, 9:47 am

≫ Next: Informational Webinar for Chinese Exchange Teachers in China

≪ Previous: Informational Webinar for U.S. Host Schools

Are you interested in teaching Arabic to American students? Are you interested in increasing your global competency? Would you like to improve your teaching strategies while teaching in the United States?
Learn more about becoming an exchange teacher with the Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) during an online chat with an alumni host and TCLP staff members. Find out how this program can make a lasting difference in your school, community, and professional career. Get your questions about the application answered in real time during this session.
Join us!

Please note that this session is only for teachers in Egypt.
For Egyptian Exchange Teachers:
- Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 5pm Cairo Standard Time

When you follow the hyperlinks above, you will be able to "Join or Launch the Class" which will open at 5pm Cairo Standard Time on December 3.
Please enter your name without spaces in order to get into the class. If you have difficulty, please call 202-833-7522 (this is a U.S. phone number), or email tclp@americancouncils.org.

The Teachers of Critical Languages Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

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Informational Webinar for Chinese Exchange Teachers in China

October 22, 2013, 9:48 am

≫ Next: Michelle Kwan Welcomes TCLP Exchange Teachers

≪ Previous: Informational Webinar for Egyptian Exchange Teachers in Egypt

Are you interested in teaching Mandarin to American students? Are you interested in increasing your global competency? Would you like to improve your teaching strategies while teaching in the United States?
Learn more about becoming an exchange teacher with the Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) during an online chat with an alumni host and TCLP staff members. Find out how this program can make a lasting difference in your school, community, and professional career. Get your questions about the application answered in real time during this session.
Join us!

Please note that this session is only for teachers in China.
For Chinese Exchange Teachers:
- Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 8:30pm Beijing Time

When you follow the hyperlinks above, you will be able to "Join or Launch the Class" which will open at 8:30pm Beijing Standard Time on December 3.
Please enter your name without spaces in order to get into the class. If you have difficulty, please call 202-833-7522 (this is a U.S. phone number), or email tclp@americancouncils.org.

The Teachers of Critical Languages Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

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Michelle Kwan Welcomes TCLP Exchange Teachers

October 30, 2013, 7:02 am

≫ Next: A Note from the State Department

≪ Previous: Informational Webinar for Chinese Exchange Teachers in China

July 31, 2013-- Senior Advisor and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan greeted 17 teachers from China and Egypt at American Councils this July. The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) exchange teachers were in Washington, D.C. for a 10-day orientation program designed to prepare them for a yearlong teaching experience in the U.S.

Ms. Kwan, a five-time figure skating world champion and previously a State Department Public Diplomacy Envoy, noted similarities between her experiences working with international student leaders, and the journey upon which the TCLP teachers were about to embark. She expressed her appreciation for the important work the international teachers would accomplish this year, encouraging them to “let this be a year that you inspire hundreds, thousands, because this is really a ripple effect of students”. American Councils' President Dan Davidson echoed Ms. Kwan’s words and warmly welcomed the teachers to the U.S on their first day in Washington, D.C.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and administered by American Councils, the Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) is an academic exchange that seeks to strengthen Mandarin and Arabic language instruction in U.S. K-12 schools while providing foreign teachers with the opportunity to learn about U.S. teaching methodologies, culture, and society. This year’s 17 TCLP participants were chosen from more than 600 applicants through a merit-based selection process. The selection of U.S. host schools was also very competitive, with only one in four applying host schools being awarded an exchange teacher.

The welcome orientation was designed to help TCLP participants understand the nuances of the American education system, learn student-centered methods for effectively teaching their native languages, and observe master instructors working with American students. TCLP teachers finished their orientation with their own mini-lesson presentations, demonstrating new strategies that they were ready to implement in their U.S. classes.

On the last day of the orientation, representatives from each U.S. host school joined the group in D.C. to officially introduce themselves to the exchange teachers and to share more information about the upcoming school year in the individual school placements. Both the exchange teachers and their mentor teachers participated in workshops that focused on the importance of clear, cross-cultural communication, goal setting, and action planning for upcoming outreach presentations.

To follow the exchange teachers throughout the year, check out the TCLP website and TCLP Facebook Page to watch their monthly video highlights, lesson plan uploads, pictures, and blog posts. You can follow TCLP and American Councils on Twitter @TCLProgram and @AC_Global.

↧

A Note from the State Department

October 30, 2013, 7:24 am

≫ Next: Gao Jinghua Shares Benefits of TCLP Training Methods at NAFLE Conference

≪ Previous: Michelle Kwan Welcomes TCLP Exchange Teachers

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Another school year underway is another year the State Department is proud to support the Teachers of Critical Languages Program.

We continue to support this program because we recognize the importance of building mutual understanding with your countries and the need for Americans to understand your languages and cultures in this increasingly interconnected world. Globalization has underscored the importance of language learning, which needs to begin with children at the primary and secondary level. This is the seventh year of a program that has over 160 alumni, and we are interested in learning what you are doing. What U.S. teaching methodologies are you using in your home countries and how have you changed as a teacher as a result of your exchange? Have you continued to cooperate with your colleagues and students after the exchange? Please send us an email at TCLP@americancouncils.org to tell us your story.

Sincerely,
The TCLP Team

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Gao Jinghua Shares Benefits of TCLP Training Methods at NAFLE Conference

October 30, 2013, 10:25 am

≫ Next: New Sister Schools Connect Minnesota and Sichuan

≪ Previous: A Note from the State Department

In July 2013, TCLP alumna Gao Jinghua (2010-2011) designed and presented a workshop in China at the National Association for Foreign Language Education (NAFLE), which was held at the Beijing Normal University from July 17-19. Over 800 teachers attended this conference, the majority of them middle and high school teachers, but school administrators and department officials were also in attendance.

Ms. Gao’s presentation addressed the importance of effective teacher trainings and orientations, and she called upon her experience as a participant in the TCLP Orientations and workshops to deliver eight key points about effective teacher training methods. She discussed the fact that program training should be diverse, with different philosophies and teaching methods incorporated into the material, and how program training should include information about school or classroom culture in addition to pedagogy. The attendees were eager to learn about TCLP and how the program helps to develop English teachers’ skills, and Ms. Gao described how her teaching style had changed as a result of her program participation. She spoke about how the evaluation component of the orientation serves a dual purpose of helping teachers review the information they learned, as well as giving the training organizers a clearer picture of how methods and sessions can be improved or adjusted in the future.
Ms. Gao’s presentation was well-attended by over 40 teachers, officials in provincial education departments, and school administrators. She shared TCLP video highlights and a TCLP introduction video to help describe the program and what it does to help American students and Chinese teachers. Ms. Gao’s participation in TCLP gave her the ability to plant the seeds of new ideas for effective teacher training orientations and programs in China.

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New Sister Schools Connect Minnesota and Sichuan

October 30, 2013, 10:31 am

≫ Next: Hopkinton students visit China and their TCLP teacher

≪ Previous: Gao Jinghua Shares Benefits of TCLP Training Methods at NAFLE Conference

Throughout TCLP history, exchange teachers have served as a very important link between their U.S. host schools and their Chinese or Egyptian home schools, connecting students, teachers, and communities in informal and formal relationships.

This past summer, Liu Xin (2012-2013) became the most recent TCLP teacher to help facilitate a formal sister school relationship between her host school, Lakes International Language Academy in Minnesota, and her home school, Deyang Foreign Languages School in Sichuan Province.
Mr. Cam Hedlund, the Director of Lakes International Language Academy, traveled to China with his family members and met Liu Xin in her hometown. She and her principal welcomed Mr. Hedlund and gave him a tour of the school campus. After a meeting together, the two principals agreed to sign the paperwork that would make them official sister schools.
Lakes International Language Academy is a K-6th grade IB school that offers a Mandarin and Spanish immersion track. It’s Mandarin program has been in existence for 10 years, benefitting over 700 students and with plans to develop articulated K-12 tracks in both immersion and foreign language classes.

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Hopkinton students visit China and their TCLP teacher

October 30, 2013, 10:33 am

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After Hopkinton High School hosted two TCLP Chinese teachers in 2010 (Ms. Pan Jiling) and 2011 (Ms. Wang Xiaona), the Hopkinton students had the opportunity to travel to China and practice their Mandarin skills in Shanghai when they visited Pan Jiling’s home school in April, 2013.

The delegation of Hopkinton visitors on an education tour from Massachusetts included 27 students and three teachers, who spent two full days visiting Pan Jiling’s home school, Ping Xiang High School, in Shanghai. The Hopkinton students were warmly welcomed by the Ping Xiang students at a welcome party, and continued to connect with one another during a gathering party where Ping Xiang students helped Hopkinton students practice their calligraphy. At a final farewell event, the two groups of students joined together on stage for one last song and dance. Ms. Pan’s Chinese students created a DVD to commemorate their time with the Hopkinton delegation, and all of the students and teachers who were involved agreed that the visit had exceeded their expectations.
Both schools plan to work toward developing a long-term sister school relationship in the future, and this was just the first step. As Ms. Pan reported “the brief visit added new vigor and vitality to our school and helped lay the solid foundation for our future exchange.”

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