Deadline: November 14, 2021
Applications for the U.S. Department of State Teachers of Critical Languages Program 2022-2023 are now open. The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) is a multi-layered cross-cultural program. American Councils recruits and places English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers from China, Egypt, and Morocco within American secondary schools where they teach their native language and culture.
Through TCLP, each party involved is positively impacted: American students develop appreciation for and fluency with the critical languages of Mandarin Chinese and Arabic, exchange teachers improve their English which intensifies the depth of their home school’s EFL curriculum, American and exchange teachers develop partnerships and share both resources and teaching methods, and all students and teachers form deeper understanding of others’ cultures.
American Councils designs and implements an extended ten-day Orientation program that prepares exchange teachers for classroom teaching and life in America, provides their monthly stipends and medical insurance, and, in addition to on-going program monitoring and support, visits them at their U.S. communities throughout the year. TCLP is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by American Councils for International Education.
The Teachers of Critical Languages Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by American Councils for International Education in cooperation with AMIDEAST in Egypt and the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange in Morocco.
Benefits
TCLP is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State and provides:
- J-1 visa support
- A pre-departure orientation held in the participant’s home country
- Round-trip travel from each participant’s home country to and within the U.S.
- A nine-day welcome orientation in Washington, DC
- An approximate 10.5-month teaching assignment in a U.S. host school
- Professional development workshops
- Accident and sickness insurance (does not cover pre-existing conditions)
- Assistance with finding housing, generally arranged by the U.S. host school/educational community
- Living stipend of approximately $20,000 for the duration of the 10.5-month teaching assignment; and
- Housing in the form of a monthly housing allowance for the duration of the program, calculated based on average housing prices for the assigned host community
Eligibility
Open to anyone who:
- Is a citizen of Egypt or Morocco who currently resides in their country of citizenship (Egypt or Morocco);
- Is currently a full-time teacher of English as a Foreign Language or Arabic as a Foreign Language in a primary or secondary (K-12) school in Egypt or Morocco;
- At the time of application has at least four years of full-time classroom teaching experience;
- Is prepared to teach for the entire U.S. academic year with leave time limited to school breaks;
- Has a firm understanding of Modern Standard Arabic (fus’ha);
- Has at least a bachelor’s degree;
- Demonstrates a commitment to continue teaching after completion of the program;
- Is proficient in written and spoken English; and
- Has submitted a complete application (Egypt: please see Application Checklist; Morocco: contact [email protected]).
Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the TCLP:
- U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States, or their spouses;
- Individuals currently participating in academic, training, or research programs in the United States;
- Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency, including Green Card lottery, in the past three years;
- Individuals currently studying, residing, or working outside of their home country (Egypt or Morocco);
- Ministry of Education officials, full-time principals or educational administrators, full-time teacher trainers, education consultants, university faculty, private English Language tutors; and
- Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored by the U.S. government for a period of more than six weeks in the last five years.
Selection Process
The U.S. Department of State and American Councils will convene an independent panel to review the applications on the basis of the following:
- Professional and educational experience and achievements
- Demonstrated leadership potential
- Flexibility, maturity, and ability to participate in an international academic exchange
- Preparedness (including maturity, flexibility, and ability to function independently) for an intensive academic year in the U.S.
- Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively
- Demonstrated commitment to current pedagogy and willingness to adapt methodology
- Willingness to co-teach in the U.S. classroom
- Potential for developing long-term linkages between U.S., Egyptian, and Moroccan educational institutions and schools
Application
To be considered complete, all applications must include:
- An essay that includes detailed answers to all questions;
- Transcript(s)/teaching certifications;
- A resume of no more than two pages;
- A recent passport size photograph of the applicant; and
- One completed recommendation form from a person who is the applicant’s supervisor and is familiar with his/her professional work; it cannot be written by a family member. Recommendations must be submitted with the application by the application deadline date. Recommendations submitted separately or submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Please provide an English translation of the recommendation letter if it is not written in English. The translated letter does not need to be certified or notarized, but should be clearly marked as a translation.
For more information, visit TLCP.
