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
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
Final ECA approval based on the application + interview results
Evaluation Process: Technical Review : Evaluation Process: Technical Review Technical review will be done by IIE and Hanban.
The purpose of technical review is to:
Check that the applicant meets all the required eligibility criteria (e.g. 4 years of teaching experience, etc.)
Make sure the application is complete (e.g. it has all the required signatures, recommendation letters, etc.)
Evaluation Process: Independent Evaluation : Evaluation Process: Independent Evaluation Independent Evaluation has 2 steps:
Application review to select semi-finalists for interviews
In-person 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 TCLP alumni in China
Each application is read and scored by 2 independent selection committee members
American Councils, IIE or Hanban are 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 IIE:
About 25 application packages that have been checked for technical eligibility
About 30 individual application evaluation forms
1 group ranking form
Let IIE know if you have received an incomplete application
Selection Timeline for Step I: Application Review : Selection Timeline for Step I: Application Review March 1, 2010: Exchange teacher application deadline
March 5, 2010: Copies of applications sent to selection committee members
March 22, 2010: Selection committee members return the completed Individual Application Evaluation Forms and Group Ranking Form to the Institute of International Education
March 27, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Selection committee members will meet with Institute of International Education program representatives in Beijing to select program semi-finalists.
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 criterion
Each candidate is scored with 0-30 points
Quarter- and half-point scores are acceptable
Evaluation Criteria for the Application Review Step : Evaluation Criteria for the Application Review Step Professional and educational experience and achievements
Demonstrated commitment to the teaching profession
Flexibility, maturity, and ability to participate in an international academic exchange
Demonstrated leadership potential
Professionalism and willingness to co-teach in the U.S. classroom
Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively
Some of these criteria are further evaluated during the interview step
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 IIE
IIE will compile the average scores and ranks for both readers
Bring to the selcom meeting your copy of the applications, 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
Independent Evaluation: Step II – In-person interviews : Independent Evaluation: Step II – In-person interviews Following the selcom meeting for semi-finalist selection, IIE will notify the semi-finalists of their status and will invite them to interviews
Interview Selcom members are:
U.S. TCLP alumni
TCLP alumni based in China or Egypt
U.S. expert based in China or Egypt
Independent Evaluation: Step II – In-person interviews (continuation) : Independent Evaluation: Step II – In-person interviews (continuation) 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 Mid-May
Contact Information : Contact Information IIE Beijing Representative OfficeHuatong Building A Room 43919A Chegongzhuang Xi RoadBeijing 100048 ChinaTel: 10-68486213
Janet Upton, jupton@iiebeijing.org
Chen Zhiyong, chenzy@iiebeijing.org