The annual TCLP Orientation began on August 3 and, over the course of nine days, the exchange teachers participated in a variety of in-person sessions to prepare them to effectively transition into their schools and communities. Throughout the Orientation, the exchange teachers attended pedagogical sessions on lesson planning, differentiated instruction, total physical response (TPR), assessment, and cooperative learning as well as sessions on diversity and inclusion in the U.S., American English, and TCLP administrative policies.
The exchange teachers also visited the National Portrait Gallery, where they learned how to incorporate artifacts and authentic materials into their lesson plans, and participated in the Student Practicum at Washington Latin Public Charter School. During the practicum, the exchange teachers had the opportunity to ask U.S. high school students questions during a roundtable discussion and also collaborated in small groups to develop and present 15-minute demo lessons in Arabic and Mandarin.
On August 9 and 10, the exchange teachers met with their U.S. host school mentor teachers for the first time and collaborated during sessions on cross-cultural communication and an administrative session on "How to Be Successful TCLP Participants."
The Orientation concluded on August 11 when the exchange and mentor teachers traveled together from Washington, DC to their host communities across the U.S.
TCLP is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, and is designed to increase the study and acquisition of important world languages in U.S. schools. This program enables primary and secondary schools to strengthen their teaching of Mandarin and Arabic by bringing international teachers to the U.S. to teach their native languages and culture for an academic year.