Virtual Conference on Sustainable Critical Language Programs
On December 10-11, 2015 TCLP alumni from across the United States joined a virtual conference to learn from current and alumni TCLP schools who have guided their language programs through TCLP and beyond by working with their communities, securing funds, and other creative ideas. Each session included presentations and a question and answer period.
On the first day of the conference, the topic focused on sustainable language programs from host schools with expanded Chinese programs. Claudine Clark, World Languages Department Chair of Madison East High School in Madison, Wisconsin, was a TCLP mentor teacher for two Egyptian exchange teachers from 2009 to 2011 and was a 2015-2016 TCLP mentor teacher to a Chinese teacher. Ms. Clark shared how the school has made connections with a local college and found community and online resources for student coursework. Karen Wirkkala, Principal of Naselle-Grays River Valley Schools in Naselle, Washington, led the school through three-years (2013-2016) of Chinese with TCLP, which now funds their own teacher through the program. Ms. Wirkkala discussed their district’s path to securing funding a full-time Chinese teacher for their schools.
On the second day, alumni from Arabic language host schools discussed how they had developed their programs. Leah Christman, Superintendent of Southern Lehigh School District in Lehigh, Pennsylvania and Jim Holifield, Business Manager of South Central Community Schools in Union Mills, Indiana both participated in TCLP from 2011-12 and 2012-13. They shared the challenges that they faced in establishing their programs and the successes that they have achieved in providing Arabic for their students.
The sessions from both days were recorded and shared online as a resource for alumni, current, and future TCLP schools to reference for ideas and contacts related to building sustainable language programs. For more information on building sustainable critical language programs, please visit: http://tclprogram.org/alumni-resources/events-alumni/previous-events.
Virtual Conference on Student and Peer Training
On February 24 and 25, 2016 TCLP alumni gathered from China, Egypt, and the United States to learn about how to conduct trainings for their students and for other teachers in their schools and communities. This conference provided alumni with the opportunity to share their work to benefit other alumni who may be conducting trainings themselves or who are interested in doing so. The conference was split across two days with alumni presentations focused on developing and delivering teacher training for peers as well as sharing teaching methods and strategies for students in the classroom. The event allowed participants to share across countries how their experiences from their time in the United States have impacted their professional lives by making them leaders in their educational communities. They also discussed how they cooperate with RELO in their countries for developing peer training programs.
On day 1, Chen Jinyun and Mohamed Mehanny (TCLP 2013-14) discussed how they used their experiences from their time in the United States to develop and deliver training for their colleagues in China and Egypt. TCLP teachers conduct many hours of outreach and participate in many professional development opportunities during their time on-program, often placing them in leadership and training roles upon their return to China and Egypt. Upon returning home, these alumni have been recognized for their experience and asked to train their peers. Ms. Chen and Mr. Mehanny discussed how to set up and implement successful professional development workshops and opportunities for the benefit of their colleagues and themselves.
On day 2, Mohamed Hassan and Fu Ailing (TCLP 2011-12) discussed student trainings such as utilizing student-centered teaching methods and implementing an English Training project in remote areas of China. Additionally, Eman Bekheet (2013-14) shared her experience with Classroom Management in the Technology Equipped Classroom.
For more information on conducting trainings, please visit:
http://tclprogram.org/alumni-resources/events-alumni/previous-events