Improving critical language skills of U.S. and international students

Mr. Ali developed an American Cultural Club at Gharbiya STEM School in Tanta, Egypt. This project included various activities, experiential learning and direct interaction that motivated and inspire students in their English learning. The CLP funding was used to bring the American English and culture to Egyptian students. The club was one of a kind in Tanta, Egypt. The American Cultural Club strives to reinforce tolerance for all people within the community and school.

TCLP mentor teacher Deborah Page and exchange teacher Gu Wenming will organize a celebration of the Spring Festival at Captain Nathan Hale Middle School. The event will involve students in Mr. Gu’s Mandarin classes, students who participate in the Chinese Enrichment Club, and other students in related arts classes and culinary clases. Students from the nearby High School and pre-school will all be invited to attend. The event will focus on Chinese culture and language and students will take part in Chinese songs, dances, and performances.

Having already started the Chinese club, once every week after school, Ms. Huang will organize a school-wide International Festival. Every student at Envision Science Academy’s middle school will sign up for a country and they will work in groups to represent different countries in different rooms. Students from the Chinese club will be the Chinese representatives and show fellow students what they have learned about China and Chinese culture.

Amany Kasab, current TCLP Exchange Teacher, was awarded a CLP grant to support her efforts organizing a double field trip in New York for her U.S. students and in Cairo for her Egyptian students. Students in New York will visit the Metropolitan Museum and will have a traditional Egyptian lunch in an Egyptian restaurant. Students will explore ancient Egyptian culture and practice conversational Arabic in real life situations. Students in Egypt will visit the Egyptian Museum and interact with tourists in English.

Tan Jin, former TCLP Exchange Teacher, was awarded a CLP grant to support her efforts organizing and conducting the annual Chinese New Year Event at Naselle Grays River Valley School. This year, the event was combined with celebrations for the Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair. The whole community and outlying areas were invited to this event. Guests enjoyed authentic Chinese food, traditional games, sports, art projects, and the lion dance. Additionally, Tan Jin continued to build awareness of Chinese culture and Mandarin language through her after-school club.

Ni Fenfen, former TCLP Exchange teacher, received a CLP Grant for a project for students to do an in-depth exploration of Chinese culture and art. The project involved two field trips to Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The first field trip included a visit to the Phoenix Art Museum to see Chinese art treasures, and students also participated in a Chinese Culture & Cuisine festival. Through this field trip, students were given the opportunity to cultivate appreciation for Chinese art, had access to stunning Chinese cultural activities in the festival, and enjoyed authentic Chinese food.

As part of a cross-cultural Critical Language Project, TCLP Teacher Tamer Elsharkawy and his students explored Alexandria, Virginia. His students shared what they learned about Alexandria, Virginia with students in Egypt and in turn, students in Egypt shared what they learned from a field trip to Alexandria, Egypt. Both groups of students practiced their target languages of Arabic and English through the project.

Sophia Griffies was awarded a grant on behalf of Audubon Charter School in New Orleans, which began their new Mandarin program by hosting TCLP Chinese exchange teachers during the 2013 and 2014 school years. Through the CLP funds the school hosted a Chinese New Year celebration in 2015 for families and community members. The event showcased Chinese language and culture and included Chinese decorations, a student parade and Chinese dance performance, and tents featuring Chinese food tastings, art, and music.