Prior to being selected for the Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP), Andrew Lewis Middle School did not have a Mandarin Chinese program. After arriving in Salem in August 2015, TCLP exchange teacher Yin Qian and her new host school launched the Mandarin program, receiving coverage from the local news and school district along with warm welcomes from the community. Through Ms. Yin's efforts in her classroom and cultural outreach in the community, interest in Chinese language and culture has taken off. The local school board has now made the Mandarin Chinese program a priority and the school will be funded to hire a full teacher next year.
To read more about Yin Qian's year at Andrew Lewis please see the following articles:
http://www.roanoke.com/community/sosalem/andrew-lewis-middle-school-wel…
http://www.roanoke.com/community/sosalem/photos-mandarin-chinese-exchan…
http://wsls.com/2015/09/24/salem-school-awarded-first-grant-in-virginia…