Program Announcement
2009 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program
The U.S. Embassy Dushanbe is now accepting applications for the 2009 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program. The FLTA Program is a nine-month, non-degree program aimed at strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities, and some high schools, while providing current or future teachers of English with the opportunity to refine their skills, increase their English language proficiency, and extend their knowledge of U.S. society and culture. It is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. FLTA Fellows also interact with their host communities in conversation groups, extracurricular activities, and community outreach projects.
FLTA Fellows may assist in or teach up to two Tajik language classes and are required to enroll in at least two courses per semester, one of which must be in U.S. Studies. The remaining coursework should relate to their careers in English language teaching. FLTA Fellows will also be expected to facilitate cultural events, language clubs, and language tables.
FLTA Fellows will be required to attend an orientation during the summer of 2009 before arriving at their host institutions in August. FLTA Fellows will also be required to attend a mid-year enrichment workshop that will be hosted by ECA in the United States to share and discuss foreign language teaching best practices and their current teaching experiences with other FLTA Fellows.
For 2009-2010, the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy Dushanbe will nominate up to five candidates for the program.
Eligibility: Applicants must be teachers of English or in training to become teachers of English, and at minimum must possess the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree by June 2009 to allow time to submit an official transcript prior to the start of the FLTA Program. Fluency in English is mandatory, demonstrated by a score of no less than 550 (paper based TOEFL); 213 (computer based TOEFL ) CBT); 79-80 (internet based TOEFL ) IBT) or 6.0 (overall score international English language testing system ) IELTS). Applicants must demonstrate spoken and written fluency in the Tajik language and will be required to conduct a conversation in Tajik as part of the application process.
A committee of American U.S. Embassy employees will select finalist through an interview process.
Applicants must demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity, and professionalism. Applicants must be residing in their home country throughout the nomination and selection process. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and no more than 29 years old at the time of application. FLTA Fellows are required to return to their home countries upon completion of the nine-month program. ECA will not support any extension requests for fellows. The FLTA program does not support dependents or family members.
Selection will be based on the candidate’s leadership skills, ability to motivate students to learn, and interest in teaching their native language and culture to U.S. students. Ideal candidates for the FLTA Program have a desire to meet people and become a part of their host community by participating in community events and campus activities. FLTA Fellows should also be creative and self-reliant team players, who are able to maintain excellent relationships with faculty, staff, and students.
Preference will be given to those candidates who have little or no prior experience living in the United States. Fellows must be flexible with placements at smaller or more ethnically diverse U.S. academic institutions in order to meet the goal of the FLTA Program to place fellows in all 50 states and the District of Colombia, and at diverse institutions.
To apply: Interested parties should contact Maya Vakhobova (VakhobovaMK@state.gov) to request a paper application.
Complete applications must be submitted to by December 1, 2008.
Applications can be e-mailed to FulbrightTajikistan@state.gov or mailed to Anne Benjaminson, 109A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe. A complete application package includes the application, academic transcripts, letters of reference, and TOEFL or IELTS score report if available.
Finalists will be required to submit an on-line application via the on-line management system administered by IIE.
Grant Provisions: All FLTA Fellows receive a monthly stipend, accident and sickness coverage, and travel support. U.S. host institutions provide tuition waivers to support the required coursework.
For more information, visit http://flta.fulbrightonline.org/home.html.