What is TCLP?
The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State and is implemented by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS. This program seeks to strengthen foreign language instruction at U.S. schools, while also providing the selected exchange teachers the opportunity to learn about U.S. teaching methodologies, culture, and society. Exchange teachers will teach Mandarin Chinese or Modern Standard Arabic and will also serve as a cultural resource in the host school and community.
Can my school host an Arabic or Mandarin exchange teacher?
K-12 schools in the United States are eligible to apply to participate in this program, including any public, private, or charter school that is looking to develop or already has a developing or established language program in Mandarin or Arabic. Exchange teachers must be hosted by a single school, not the school district. The school must offer the teacher the ability to teach in-person classes. Visit "Apply - U.S. Schools" to learn more.
What are the benefits of participating in TCLP?
TCLP is funded through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State and provides the following benefits:
- A highly qualified teacher of Mandarin/Arabic for one academic year;
- 8-10 hours a month of community outreach to build support for a language program;
- A two-day Host School Orientation in Washington, DC for the mentor teacher, including transportation; and
- Professional development workshops.
How much does it cost to host a teacher?
TCLP is funded through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State and provides three possible funding levels for host schools.
- Fully-funded: all exchange teacher expenses are covered by the program, except any teacher certification fees, if required by the district.
- Partially-funded level I: the host school covers the cost of the teachers housing; all other exchange teacher expenses are covered by the program, except any teacher certification fees, if required by the district.
- Partially-funded level II: the host school covers the cost of the exchange teacher's housing, plus pays $32,000 for stipend, travel and professional development costs. This option is typical for schools that have already hosted TCLP teachers.
Your school’s chances of being selected will NOT be affected by whether you opt to apply for a fully-funded or partially-funded exchange teacher.
What is expected of host schools?
Host schools are expected to:
- Help ensure that exchange teachers are comfortable and successful in their classrooms;
- Make the exchange teachers feel part of the faculty and schools' educational communities (e.g. through shared activities and social events);
- Support the teachers' transition into their new classrooms, especially
- guidance in understanding schedules;
- developing experience with activity-based education and classroom management; and
- facilitating collegial relationships with fellow teachers.
- Designate a mentor teacher to provide ongoing professional support to the exchange teacher at the local level. Any teacher can serve in this capacity. The ideal mentor teacher has a genuine interest in cross-cultural exchange; the ability to provide guidance and counsel on best practices and school policies regarding classroom management, curriculum development, assessment, and other school norms; and can devote time both to exchange teacher's classroom observation and to the regular sharing of best practices through team-teaching in cooperative and/or interdisciplinary ways. They should also be willing to assist the exchange teacher in forming faculty networks, constructing positive classroom climate, and establishing a strong rapport with students.
- Designate a community liaison to serve as a resource for the exchange teacher's transition into the host community, outside of school. Typically, prior to the exchange teacher's arrival, this person assists with locating the teacher's housing and makes arrangements for their transportation. After the exchange teacher arrives in the host community, this person also schedules tours of the community, provides introductions to community groups, activities, and programs, and throughout the year assists the exchange teacher with becoming part of the host community. Anyone in the community can serve in this role.
- Cover the cost (if any) of teacher certification for the exchange teacher.
Are exchange teachers certified teachers?
Exchange teachers are certified teachers in their home countries and have at least four years of teaching experience in English as a Foreign Language, Arabic, or Mandarin.
Since the teacher certification process in the U.S. varies by district, host schools are required to identify what is needed for their exchange teacher to be certified to teach in their school. Many states offer temporary or long-term substitute certifications that allow teachers to teach independently without needing to complete exams like the Praxis. Upon acceptance of the grant, TCLP staff will work with host schools to inform their exchange teachers of what they should prepare in order to streamline the certification process, for example, having transcripts translated or evaluated by a third party. All host schools are responsible for the costs related to certification, regardless of funding level.
Is it possible for a school to host the same teacher for multiple years?
Each exchange teacher's J-1 visa is valid for one academic year only and no visa extensions can be granted.
Host schools may apply again to host a different exchange teacher through the Teachers of Critical Languages Program in order to continue building sustainable Mandarin or Arabic language programs.
Are host schools responsible for the exchange teacher's housing?
The expectation is that host schools will help to find housing arrangements for the exchange teacher because they know the best locations for exchange teachers to live in the host community.
- For a fully funded program, the host school must arrange housing accommodations (an apartment, a rented room in a house, or a home-stay) 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 program, the host school must arrange and pay for housing accommodations (an apartment, a rented room in a house, or a home-stay) in the host community.
Apartments, houses, basement rentals, and host family arrangements are all acceptable, and host schools should be prepared to collaborate with the exchange teacher when they arrive to make sure the housing is satisfactory. Host schools are expected to arrange for safe and secure housing that has access to local public transportation or is strategically located to allow exchange teachers to function independently in the community.
Return to Top of Page
Am I eligible to apply to be a TCLP exchange teacher?
Competition for TCLP is merit-based and open to teachers who are residents of Egypt, Morocco, or Taiwan. Specific eligibility criteria is available under the Apply Arabic/Mandarin Teachers tabs.
What are the benefits of participating in TCLP?
TCLP is funded through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State and provides the following benefits:
- J-1 visa support;
- A Pre-Departure Orientation held in the exchange teacher’s home country;
- Round-trip airfare from each participant’s home country to and within the U.S.;
- A nine-day Welcome Orientation in Washington, DC;
- An approximately 11-month teaching assignment in a U.S. host school;
- Professional development workshops;
- Accident and sickness insurance for exchange teachers;
- Assistance with finding housing, generally arranged by the U.S. host school/educational community;
- Living stipend of approximately $20,000; and
- Housing in the form of a monthly housing allowance for the duration of the program, calculated based on average housing prices for the assigned host community.
What type of visa do exchange teachers receive?
Exchange teachers receive a J-1 visa that is valid for one academic year only. They must return to their home countries for a period of at least two years immediately upon completion of the program. Families may visit TCLP teachers during the academic program; however, the program is unable to offer financial support for family members of participants to come to the U.S. For those participants who decide to bring their family, family members may join only with TCLP and host school approvals starting in late December.
What type of teaching schedule does an exchange teacher follow?
The policy for program participants is that they will have a maximum of 20 classroom teaching hours per week and a minimum of 10 classroom teaching hours per week. The remaining 20 hours of the 40-hour work week are allocated to curriculum development, guest presentations in colleagues' classes, outreach to other district and area schools, and the designing of extracurricular activities. In their applications, the host schools should propose schedules that demonstrate how exchange teachers will contribute toward the development and expansion of their foreign language programs.