On February 4th and 5th, 2015 TCLP gathered alumni from China, Egypt, and the United States with the purpose of providing virtual training for building international sister school relationships. TCLP Exchange teachers and host communities often form strong bonds over the length of the program, and building sister-school relationships is one way of transforming these bonds into mutually beneficial collaborations for Chinese, Egyptian, and U.S. communities. The conference was split over two days: this allowed participants to learn how the foundation for sister-school projects are built and then see the development of these small-scale preliminary projects into larger scale long-term programs.
On the first day of the conference, participants were welcomed by the Director of Global Educational Programs, U.S. Department of State, Anthony Koliha. Following the welcome, alumni presented on their cross-cultural collaborations and shared their experiences how to establish small scale sister school projects. 2010 participant, Cao Yanna formed pen pal relationships with her students in Beijing and students at Indian River Charter School in Florida; she explained how the process began with students sending electronic self-introductions to each other. Cam Hedlund, Executive Director from alumni school Lakes International Language Academy in Minnesota, described how his school has established pen pals, sister classes, and teacher visits to China. 2011 participant, Mohamed EL-Dwiny gave insight on creating media projects between schools; he explained how he recorded Arabic mini-lessons for students to view at Safford Engineering and Technology Magnet School and Cholla High School in Arizona.
The second day of the conference focused on advanced projects, principally student exchanges. Li Qiong, participant in 2011 and teacher at No. Six Middle School of Yichang, and Bill Dolezal, Principal of alumni school Sonoran Trails Middle School in Arizona, presented on the development of sister-school projects between their two schools. The collaboration between the two schools led to video classes, then web conferencing, and eventually student group visits to both countries. Emil Marcos, participant in 2008, briefed participants on the student exchanges between his school Al-Salam Private School in Tanta and the Center for Global Studies in Connecticut that have been in place since 2010. Each year a group of his Egyptian students visit the United States. Emil stressed the preparation necessary for these trips, as well as how funding for these exchanges can be a challenge. Closing remarks were given by William Heaton, Program Officer for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. The conference attracted some 30 people over two days.
For more information on building sister school relationships please visit: http://tclprogram.org/alumni-resources