Timor-Leste
4 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFebruary StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program places Fulbrighters for 10 months in university classrooms abroad to provide assistance to local English teachers. ETAs help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grants begin in February with a mandatory orientation session in Dili, Timor-Leste. The school year begins in early February 2026 and runs through December 2026. ETAs are also encouraged to volunteers at the American Corner in Dili, “UmaAmerika.” This is an American-style research and cultural center that provides information about English, U.S. higher education, and American cultural values.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a virtual pre-departure orientation in the summer of 2025 as a condition of their grant.
Candidate Profile
Applicants should be adaptable, flexible, and dedicated individuals who are prepared to operate in a challenging environment with living standards that are not as high as those in the United States. Applicants will be placed at universities in Dili. Candidates must be fluent English-speakers and need to be self-motivated, resourceful, flexible, independent, and outgoing, and prepared to manage with limited resources.
Bachelor's or Master’s degrees with a focus on English, American Studies, or Education are preferred. Prior teaching or tutoring experience will be helpful, and experience working with ESL/EFL learners is preferred.
Candidates should have an interest in teaching conversational English at university level.
ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Timor-Leste is a vibrant, young democracy at the heart of Southeast Asia. It is still developing many institutions, including universities, but the country's development is generally moving in a positive direction. A Fulbright exchange in Timor-Leste presents the opportunity to make a real, impactful difference in advancing education for Timorese students to be able to expand economic prosperity and opportunity for the country. Timorese students rarely have the opportunity to engage with foreign students or professors, so they generally appreciate the presence of U.S. Fulbrighters and host institutions provide significant opportunities for Fulbrighters to make an impact at their institution. Fulbrighters generally enjoy life in Dili, a small sized city located right on the beach. There are many diverse restaurants, a popular shopping center, and several grocery stores with many international products and tropical local produce, and boasts world-renowned coffee. It is possible to travel across the country to the lush highlands, join snorkeling or diving excursions at Atauro island, and experience the warmth of the Timorese people and culture.
Eligibility
10 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Semi-Finalist candidates who are recommended for final review by the U.S. Embassy in Dili may be contacted for interviews via Zoom or phone.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Additional Information:
Depending on the availability of funds and the number of ETAs in country, the U.S. Embassy will pay for introductory Tetum courses for ETAs. In line with the program's objectives, English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) are expected to speak only English in their assigned schools.
Placement Type
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Grantees will be placed in a university or vocational training school setting and work with English teachers to provide conversational English and/or integrate English language courses. A brief description of preference can be highlighted in the statement of purpose. University placement will be in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste. Grantees will serve as a resource for conversation, vocabulary, reading, writing, and American cultural topics. Schools in Timor-Leste are very crowded and lack conveniences such as air conditioning, hot water, gyms, and Western food. ETAs will have access to internet connectivity via mobile WiFi routers available for purchase in Timor-Leste. Candidates must be willing to adapt to local living conditions.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
ETAs may be placed in the capital city or in rural areas and need to be prepared to adapt to local customs.
Supplementary Project
No research or independent study is required. ETA awards are not study/research awards, and teaching takes most of the grantee’s time. In applying, the Statement of Grant Purpose should focus on why the applicant wishes to teach English in Timor-Leste and what the applicant will bring to the classroom experience.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
- English language teaching preparatory course
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Although some things in Timor-Leste are quite cheap by American standards, other things are very expensive. Imported goods tend to be more expensive.
Local transportation is generally much cheaper than their equivalents in the United States. Fare for riding local busses called "microlets" is no more than $0.25, and taxi fares for trips within Dili range from $2 to $5.
For internet access and communication, ETAs are recommended to use a local SIM card, which costs about $1 per day.
Interested applicants are encouraged to further research the cost of living for their intended host country. One available website for reviewing cost of living estimates is: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Accommodations will be made with the assistance of the U.S. Embassy. Grantees should expect simple but adequate accommodation which may not be of U.S. standards.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Nature of Assignment
Approximately 20 hours per week will be spent in the classroom assisting English teachers and conducting English language activities. An additional 5-10 hours will be devoted to participating in or leading school-related activities, clubs, teams, etc. Applications should highlight the applicant’s talents/experience in coaching sports, music, theatre, art, and other skills that could be useful for engaging students both in and out of the classroom.