Increase mutual understanding between U.S. and exchange teachers schools and communities

Ivy Yiu received a CLP for “A Taste of China,” which is a unit of study and part of the curriculum for the Mandarin Chinese classes. Students currently enrolled in the school’s Mandarin Chinese class learned about Chinese Tea history, Gongfu Tea Ceremony - how to conduct the tea ceremony, and Chinese tea culture. The culminating learning activity was to show case what students have learned of language and culture at the North Warren Regional Multicultural Fair. Each year, North Warren Regional School hosts a community-wide Multicultural Fair.

Guo Jin received a CLP grant to help her start a sister city project between her host school and home school. The sister city project built upon the success of the Chinese Club at Suder Montessori Magnet School by allowing access to Chinese language and culture with more students. The grant was used to obtain Chinese resources for the students to have more firsthand contact with China. The resources included primary sources like books and newspapers, in addition to tools to support students with Chinese cooking, art, dance costumes, and field trips.

Zhao Xin (Plantation Middle School, 2018-2019) and Roxana Rivero-Taube (Plantation Middle School, 2018-2019) received a CLP grant to hold a Chinese New Year Celebration for the students, teachers, parents, faculty, community members, and guests. From a series of activities, like lectures, assemblies, cross-culture fair, and Chinese Club, the people in the community will get a basic understanding and full engagement of Chinese Culture.

Ezzat Hassan (2015-2016) will be leading a field trip for students at his home school, Gesfa Secondary School for Girls, to Cairo to visit sites of cultural and historical interest. During this field trip, students will have the opportunity to practice English in a particular context. Prior to the field trip, students will have the opportunity to learn about American culture through webinars held by teachers at Ezzat's host school, Mentor High School. Following the field trip, Egyptian students will share their experiences on the trip with students in Arabic classes at Mentor.

Sean Fredericks (2016-2018), a mentor teacher from John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School in Staten Island, New York, received a CLP grant to take, with Adel Ghattas (2017-2018), the 34 Arabic students at Lavelle on a field trip to the United Nations in Manhattan. The field trip will occur in 2018, the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this field trip, students will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the United Nations and Middle East Policy from a UN representative.

Abdelhady Ali (2008-2009) received a CLP grant to found an American Culture Club at Gharbiya STEM School in Tanta, Egypt. Through this club, 100 students will have the opportunity to learn about American films, food, games, dance, music, sports, and holidays, as well as other elements of American culture. Students will also have the opportunity, as part of the American Culture Club, to attend workshops and field trips. Additionally, the club will purchase quality instructional materials to promote the English language program at the school.

Mentor teacher Debby Page (2016-2018) and exchange teacher Li Chunping (2017-2018) organized a unit (using the Franklin Institute's Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor K-12 Educators' Guide) focused on the story and science behind the terracotta warriors, exploring Chinese culture, history and language with their students. Working with library media specialists at their school, Ms. Page and Ms. Li Chunping guided students in a virtual field trip to the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xi’an, China.

Bridget Veitch (2016-2018), a TCLP mentor teacher at LaSalle Language Academy in Chicago, Illinois, used the CLP grant she received to organize the first Spring Festival held at her school. The event significantly raised awareness of Chinese Language education at the school and showcased student dedication, involvement, and learning, promoting community building around Chinese language and culture. Over 300 attendees joined the festivities, a very strong showing in comparison with other types of the “language events” sponsored by the school.

With funding from a CLP grant, Cui Yi (2017-2018) hosted the Chinese Culture Festival at Suder Montessori School in Chicago, Illinois. This was an opportunity for students to showcase their work and for parents and community members to see the positive impact the Mandarin program has on their school. The festival activities focused on the traditions of the Chinese Spring Festival and utilized musical and art performances by students, as well as classroom activities, to highlight the progress students have made throughout the year.

This CLP, awarded to Li Jing (2017-2018) supported Nasalle Grays River Valley School's Chinese Exhibition Show on February 24, 2018. The show was open to parents and community members and featured three parts. Students learning Mandarin at the school performed traditional Chinese dances, including a fan dance, ribbon dance, and lantern dance, all set to Chinese songs. The second part of the show had an exhibition of students’ work from the 4th and 5th grades, including students’ calligraphy, drawing, crafts and research about China.