Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) : Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) Application Evaluation Guidelines
Program Overview : Program Overview TCLP is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
EFL and TCFL / TAFL teachers from China and Egypt are placed in selected host schools to teach their native language and culture for an academic year
TCLP Goals : TCLP Goals To introduce and expand the teaching of critical foreign languages in American primary and secondary schools, thereby improving the language skills of young Americans and motivating increased study of these languages.
To enable international teachers to learn first-hand about the culture and society of the United States, improve their English language proficiency, and to expand their knowledge of U.S. teaching methodologies.
To increase mutual understanding between U.S. school communities and visiting international teachers, and by extension, their home institutions and students.
To provide opportunities for U.S. and participant home country schools to develop lasting ties and to share educational best practices.
Classroom Instruction : Classroom Instruction Learner-centered and activity-based instruction
High use of songs, games, hands-on learning, and technology
Capacity Building : Capacity Building Outreach to district schools, community groups, and educational leaders
Designing projects to build awareness and encourage enrollment
Evaluation Process : Evaluation Process Technical Review
Independent Evaluation
Semi-Finalist Interviews
Final ECA approval based on the application + interview results
Evaluation Process: Technical Review : Evaluation Process: Technical Review Technical review will be done by American Councils
The purpose of technical review is to:
Check that the applicant meets all the required eligibility criteria (e.g. program vision, mentor teacher designation, etc.)
Make sure the application is complete (e.g. it has all the required signatures, approval forms, etc.)
Evaluation Process: Independent Evaluation : Evaluation Process: Independent Evaluation Independent Evaluation has 2 steps:
Application review to select semi-finalists for interviews
Telephone interviews of semi-finalists to recommend finalists and alternates to ECA
Evaluation Process: Independent Evaluation (Step I-Application review process) : Evaluation Process: Independent Evaluation (Step I-Application review process) Application review process:
Selcom members are U.S.-based TCLP alumni or independent U.S. educational experts
Each application is read and scored by 2 independent selection committee members: 1 TCLP alumnus/a + 1 U.S. educational expert
American Councils is NOT part of the application review process
Evaluation Process: Independent Evaluation (STEP I continued) : Evaluation Process: Independent Evaluation (STEP I continued) Each selcom member will receive the following from American Councils:
About 20 application packages that have been checked for technical eligibility
About 30 individual application evaluation forms
1 group ranking form
Let American Councils know if you have received an incomplete application
Selection Timeline for Step I: Application Review : Selection Timeline for Step I: Application Review February 12, 2010: Exchange teacher application deadline
February 19, 2010: Copies of applications sent to selection committee members
March 8, 2010: Selection committee members return the completed Individual Application Evaluation Forms and Group Ranking Form to American Councils’ TCLP staff via email or fax
March 11, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Selection committee members will meet with American Councils and ECA program representatives to select program semi-finalists.
Evaluation Criteria for the Application Review Step : Evaluation Criteria for the Application Review Step Academic Program Plan and School’s Commitment to the Program
Appropriateness of Proposed Schedule
Professional Development Opportunities and Support
Quality of Mentor Teacher
Diverse Student and Community Populations to Interact with Exchange Teacher
Cultural Exchange Opportunities
Plans for Special Projects that Promote Critical Language Learning
Housing and Transportation Logistics
Cost Share
Overall Proposal
Some of these criteria are further evaluated during the interview step
Application Evaluation: Reading : Application Evaluation: Reading Read the entire application. Some criteria are prominent in certain areas, but the entire document can be analyzed to find the answer
Highlighting and underlining aspects is acceptable and encouraged
Substantiate scores with detailed comments
Rate consistently across all applications
0-5 points per nine criteria; 0-20 points per overall assessment
Each candidate is scored with 0-65 points
Quarter- and half-point scores are acceptable
Application Evaluation: Group ranking of the applications : Application Evaluation: Group ranking of the applications After reading all applications, rank them from highest to lowest (1 is highest)
Candidates can have the same score, but not the same rank
Sample Group Ranking
Selcom Meeting for Semi-finalists Selection : Selcom Meeting for Semi-finalists Selection Send a copy of your Group Ranking Sheet to American Councils
American Councils will compile the average scores and ranks for both readers
Bring your copy of the applications to the selcom meeting, individual application evaluation forms and Group Ranking Sheet
At the meeting, you will be working from a spreadsheet similar to the one below to select semi-finalists
Host School Selection: Step II – Telephone interviews : Host School Selection: Step II – Telephone interviews Following the selcom meeting for semi-finalist selection, American Councils will notify semi-finalists of their status and will invite them to participate in interviews via teleconference
American Councils’ TCLP staff interviews host schools’ administrative representatives and mentor teachers in telephone interviews of approximately 30 minutes
Interviews include a focus on follow-up questions noted in evaluations
Host School Selection: Step II – Telephone interviews (continued) : Host School Selection: Step II – Telephone interviews (continued) Each interview is about 30 minutes
Interviews are conducted in English
Following all interviews, the selcom members compile a rank ordered list of finalists and alternates
Final Selection and Results Announcement : Final Selection and Results Announcement The finalists/alternates list and all the selcom materials + applications are submitted to ECA for final approval
Final results are announced to all applicants in early-April
Awards become final in late-April following exchange teacher selection and receipt of signed host school agreements
Contact Information : Contact Information Address: 1776 Massachusetts Ave. NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036
202-833-7522 (p) / 202-833-7523 (f): attn TCLP
Zara Hovhannisyan, zhovhannisyan@americancouncils.org
Ben Dunbar, bdunbar@americancouncils.org
Eliza Doton, edoton@americancouncils.org
Stephanie Heard, sheard@americancouncils.org