Awards to the U.S.

Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP)

Description and Purpose

The Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) is a program supported by the U.S. Department of State and Taiwan Ministry of Education, and administered by American Councils for International Education (AC) and Fulbright Taiwan. The TCLP is designed to increase the study and acquisition of important world languages in U.S. schools. TCLP brings teachers of English or Mandarin as a Second/Foreign Language from Taiwan to the United States for one academic year to teach Mandarin to American primary and secondary school students and serve as cultural resources for their host schools and communities. Teachers need to be confident using English. Additionally, the capability of teaching simplified Chinese characters and using pinyin in a U.S. classroom setting is a bonus. Teachers receive airfare, a monthly stipend and housing allowance, along with on-going training opportunities and methodological observation.

Applications are open now and due by 5 pm on January 12, 2024 (Taiwan time).

AWARD

Up to 8 awards

ACTIVITY

Teach/Study

LENGTH

10.5 months

DEADLINE

January 12, 2024

Program Components

An approximate 10.5-month teaching assignment in a U.S. G1-12 school
Experience American culture and society while sharing Mandarin language and culture
Learn about U.S. teaching methodologies and improve English language skills through professional development workshops
Develop lasting cooperation and teaching professional contacts at U.S. G1-12 schools

Benefits

Up to 8 awards, subject to the Grant Authorization issued by the Department of State

J-1 visa support
A pre-departure orientation and TCSL workshop in Taiwan
Basic-economic round-trip travel from Taiwan to and within the U.S, arranged by AC
A nine-day welcome orientation in Washington, DC
A teaching assignment of approximately 10.5 months in a United States host school
Professional development workshops
Accident and sickness health benefits plan during the program
Assistance with finding housing, generally arranged by the United States host school/educational community
Living stipend of approximately $20,000
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 Criteria

Applicants are eligible who:

Is a resident of Taiwan
Is currently a certified, full-time teacher of English as a Foreign Language or Mandarin as a Foreign Language in a primary or secondary (G1-12) school in Taiwan (including the certificate with the notes of ESL or Bilingual Education Expertises)
At the time of application has at least four years of full-time classroom teaching experience
Is prepared to teach for the entire United States academic year with leave time limited to school breaks
Has a firm understanding of Mandarin language and culture
Can teach Mandarin using simplified characters and pinyin
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

Applicants are ineligible who:

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 United States permanent residency in the past three years
Individuals currently studying, residing, or working outside of Taiwan
Ministry of Education officials, full-time principals or educational administrators, full-time teacher trainers, education consultants, university faculty, private English Language tutors
Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored by the United States government for a period of more than six weeks in the last five years.

Learn More About the Process

Application Procedure

1

Please see the Program Page provided by AC, and the 2022-23 TCLP informational webinar for Mandarin exchange teachers with TCLP exchange teacher Pin-Shiu Lin (2022-2023, IL)

2

Complete your application online by January 12, 2024, 5 pm (Taiwan Time): https://ais.americancouncils.org/tclptaiwan

Please provide all required documents and complete the online application.

An Exchange Teacher Application Form;
An essay that includes detailed answers to all questions;
A signed copy of the Application Certification Statement;
Transcript(s)/teaching certification(s);
A resume written in English that is no more than two pages long;
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.

3

The application process has been completed! Wait for the notification letter!

Selection Procedure

January

January 12, 2024— Application deadline 5 pm Taiwan time
January 19, 2024— Technical Review

March

March 20-21, 2024— Semi-finalist in-person interviews in Taipei
March 31, 2024— Lists and notification packages sent to Fulbright Taiwan

April

April 15, 2024— Signed Terms and Conditions Returned to AC
April 22, 2024— AC sends DS-2019 to Taiwan, and the Foundation forwards them to the finalists

June

June 12-14, 2024 (tentative)— Pre-Departure Orientation and TCSL workshop

August

August 1, 2024— Arrival in the U.S.

Note: All Taiwan grantees traveling to the U.S. must hold a J-type visa for academic and cultural exchange programs.

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More Information Below

Helpful Links

Contact

Ms. Lisa Lin
Email: llin@fulbright.org.tw
Tel: 02-2388-2100 ext. 112

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