Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program
The Fulbright FLTA Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). As part of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, the Fulbright FLTA Program is designed to develop Americans' knowledge of foreign cultures and languages by supporting teaching assistantships in over 30 languages at hundreds of U.S. institutions of higher education. The program offers educators from over 50 countries the opportunity to develop their professional skills and gain first-hand knowledge of the U.S., its culture and its people.
U.S. campuses enhance their teaching of languages and expose students to a true understanding of people of different nations. Like the more than 1,800 Foreign Fulbright Fellows that enter U.S. academic programs each year, Fulbright FLTAs apply to the program through the Fulbright Commission/Foundation or U.S. Embassy in their home countries. The Institute of International Education (IIE) arranges academic placement for most Fulbright FLTA nominees and supervises participants during their stay in the United States.
If you are a non-U.S. college graduate or young teacher interested in applying to become a Fulbright FLTA, visit Apply for application information.
U.S. universities, four-year colleges, and community colleges interested in hosting a Fulbright FLTA can visit Thinking of Applying for more information.
FLTA Program Summary & Design
The Role of the U.S. Host Institutions
U.S. host institutions devise the FLTAs’ assistantships in the United States. The needs of each host institution differ. Thus, each FLTA's program is tailored to the needs of the institution and qualifications of the selected TA. In general, however, the host institution appoints a Supervisor who:
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tailors the FLTA's program to meet the department's unique needs.
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acts as a mentor to the FLTA.
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assists the FLTA to adjust to the U.S. and to solve any issues/problems that may arise.
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serves as IIE's main contact.
The FLTA's Program
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Will be up to 20 hours per week in various educational activities designated by the Supervisor.
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Will include the opportunity to take two courses per semester on an audit or credit basis, that is beneficial to their teaching career, as determined in consultation with the Supervisor.
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One course taken during the year must be in U.S. studies.
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The Role of the FLTA
FLTAs spend one academic year at a U.S. college or university. They:
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provide a youthful, up-to-date component to foreign language classes.
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enhance the teaching by U.S. professors or teach under their supervision.
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make studying foreign languages in the United States more meaningful and real.
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share their culture and values outside of the classroom by joining clubs and becoming involved in the community.
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engage in academic study that will enrich their postgraduate studies and enhance their professional development.
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return home with a high proficiency in English.
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can speak first-hand about the United States, its culture, and its people.
FLTA Program by Country and Language
Additional languages and participating countries are added regularly. Language categories are determined by funding structure.
Languages
Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL)
Arabic • Bengali • Burmese • Chinese • Gujarati • Hausa • Hindi/Urdu • Indonesian • Japanese • Javanese • Kazakh • Kiswahili • Korean • Kyrgyz • Lao • Malay • Mongolian • Pashtu • Persian • Portuguese • Punjabi • Quechua • Russian • Tagalog • Tajik • Thai • Turkish • Ukrainian • Uzbek • Vietnamese • Wolof • Yoruba • Zulu
LCTL- Northern Europe
Dutch • Finnish • Irish
Traditional Languages
French • German • Italian • Spanish
Countries
Africa
Kenya • Nigeria • Senegal • South Africa • Tanzania
Middle East & North Africa
Algeria • Bahrain • Egypt • Iraq • Israel • Jordan • Kuwait • Lebanon • Libya • Morocco • Palestinian Territories • Saudi Arabia • Tunisia • United Arab Emirates
Asia
Bangladesh • Burma • China • India • Indonesia • Japan • Kazakhstan • Laos • Malaysia • Mongolia • Pakistan • Philippines • Singapore • South Korea • Tajikistan • Taiwan • Thailand • Uzbekistan • Vietnam
Europe
Austria • Belgium • Finland • France • Germany • Ireland • Italy • Russia • Spain • Turkey • Ukraine
Western Hemisphere
Argentina • Brazil • Bolivia • Canada • Chile • Colombia • Ecuador • Mexico • Peru • Uruguay
Requirements & Eligibility
All Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program applicants must be nominated by a U.S. Embassy or a Fulbright Commission; independent applicants do not qualify. You are eligible to participate in the Fulbright FLTA program if you:
- Reside in the country of nomination at the time of application
- Possess the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor's degree with a good academic record; Master's degrees are highly desirable at many institutions
- Are an early career teacher of English or training to become a teacher of English, or are an early career educator in a related field; prior teaching experience is preferred
- Have a sincere interest in teaching your native language and culture to students in the U.S.
- Are fluent in English, as demonstrated by a recent score of no less than 550 (Paper Based TOEFL), 79-80 (Internet Based TOEFL - IBT), or 6.0 (Overall Score International English Language Testing System - IELTS); test scores can be submitted to IIE by indicating the institutional code 2326 on the day of the test
- Are able to work creatively and be self-reliant while being willing to work cooperatively as part of a team with faculty, staff, and students
- Are flexible and have a willingness to learn
- Are adaptable to living in rural or urban areas
- Clearly demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity, and professionalism
- Do not hold U.S. citizenship; dual citizens are not eligible for the program participation
Applying & Program Design
If selected for participation in the Fulbright FLTA Program, you will have the opportunity to spend one academic year sharing your culture and language with American students by supporting an existing language program or helping to establish a new one on a U.S. university or college campus. FLTA duties vary widely from institution to institution – some FLTAs are expected to teach language courses on their own with minimal in-class supervision, while others may be much more involved in extracurricular support of established language programs such as leading conversation groups, participating in community events or lectures, working in language laboratories, or contributing to language materials development.
In addition to duties as a teaching assistant, all FLTAs are required to participate in coursework. This provides an opportunity to increase your understanding of topics related to your personal and professional goals, increase your English proficiency, as well as allowing you the opportunity to benefit from the cultural exchange inherent in sharing ideas with American students within a classroom setting.
The Fulbright FLTA grant is one academic year (approximately 9-10 months) non-renewable opportunity. The program is non-degree; if you are interested in a degree-seeking program, you are encouraged to explore the Fulbright Foreign Student Program.
As a Fulbright FLTA, you would be able to engage in a meaningful cultural exchange opportunity on a U.S. university or college campus, while at the same time deepening your pedagogical skills, increasing your English proficiency, and promoting mutual understanding through engaging with American students and getting involved in local communities. At the conclusion of your program, you will be expected to return to your home community, making an immediate impact by utilizing the skills gained and sharing the experiences gleaned from your time in the U.S.
If you believe that you would be a good fit for the FLTA program, we encourage you to apply here. Prior to making an application, please be sure to notify the Fulbright FLTA Program affiliate in your home country. Here is a list of participating countries, along with contact information.