The annual TCLP Orientation began on August 4, and over the course of five 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, total physical response (TPR), assessment, and cooperative learning, as well as sessions on 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.
On August 9, the exchange teachers traveled from Washington, DC to their host communities across the U.S., where they met with their U.S. host school mentor teachers for the first time. The annual TCLP Orientation concluded on August 12 with the TCLP Virtual Host School Orientation sessions. Exchange teachers collaborated with mentor teachers during virtual sessions on cross-cultural communication and enhancing Mandarin programs through outreach and capstone projects.
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. The 2024-2025 cohort of four exchange teachers from Taiwan will be the final group of exchange teachers sponsored by the Teachers of Critical Languages Program.