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

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.

TCLP host school alumna Roslynne McCarthy from the Center for Global Studies in Connecticut was awarded a CLP for a student collaborative project called Sister-schools: Expanding the Student Dialogue. The goal of this project was to create and implement a curriculum of personal interactions among students at the Center for Global Studies and Al-Salam Private Language School in Tanta, Egypt with the expertise and input of TCLP 2008 alumnus Mr. Emil Markos.

TCLP Host School Alumni Pratt Community School’s Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson was awarded funding for a grant titled “Arabic Language in the World Today”. This proposal included the creation of an Arabic Language Café, where students and their families can practice their Arabic skills in a 'real life' environment. Students used Arabic to create signage for the restaurant, menus, and table learning opportunities. Students waited on tables and utilized their Arabic skills in the ordering and serving of food.

At Sonoran Trails Middle School, TCLP Chinese Teacher Alumna Li Qiong received a grant to lay the foundation for a sister school connection between her host school in Arizona and her home school in Hubei, China. Sonoran Trails Principal Bill Dolezal traveled to China as a first time visitor with Li, who developed an itinerary with a travel company in China that allowed Principal Dolezal to meet with Chinese Principal Wang at her home school, No. 6 Middle School of Yichang.

2013 alumna exchange teacher, Tan Lihua, received a CLP grant to help implement a Joint-Classroom Project between her U.S. host school district and her home school in China. The goal of the project was to facilitate opportunities for students in the U.S. and China to develop oral and written communication skills in their target languages, learn about one another's cultures and traditions, and ultimately formalize a sister school partnership between JN Fries Magnet School and Concord High School in North Carolina and Da Zu High School in Chongqing, China.

TCLP Alumnus School, Lakes International Language Academy (LILA), received funding to help implement a CLP titled “Welcome, Friends!” in cooperation with Deyang Forest Language School in China. This project provided an exciting English-immersion learning experience for 22 visiting students from China and forged new international friendships. During a two-week summer camp on the school's campus, Chinese and American students strengthened skills in their respective target languages by speaking to one another in casual settings, traveling, and participating in fun activities.

Exchange teacher Min Haiwei received a CLP grant to increase exposure and understanding of Chinese culture in his host community of Cumberland, Maryland. Mr. Min organized a Chinese New Year event at a local shopping center to garner community support for the Chinese Immersion Program at West Side Elementary and to introduce members of the local community to the vast and rich heritage of China.

Alumna mentor teacher, Laura Koebel, was awarded a CLP grant to implement a three-part project designed to promote the Arabic program at Plymouth High School, inform others about Arabic culture and language, and provide support to current Arabic students.