INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COMPLETING THE LANGUAGE FORMS

A Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) and Language Background Report are required for many countries where English is not the official language and/or English is not commonly spoken. 

Language proficiency is generally determined by the nature of the Fulbright project, but some countries required proficiency even if language proficiency is not require to complete the project.

Applicants to these countries are expected to have proficiency in the host country language.  These forms help assess the candidate’s background and training in the language.  See the Country Summary for specific information on language requirements.

Keep in mind the following to determine if you are required, or if it is desirable for you, to have language skills for the country to which you are applying. 

Language skills:

• Must be commensurate with the requirements of your project
• Are an element of the feasibility of your project
• Contribute to the mission of the Fulbright Program to increase mutual understanding, by allowing communication with the people of your host community

The Foreign Language Evaluation should be completed by a qualified language instructor or, for less commonly taught languages, a faculty member with knowledge of the language. 

The FLE should be completed and submitted electronically.  Language Evaluations submitted in the Online Application System must also be submitted in hard copy (see instructions).  We ask evaluators to print out the electronic reference, sign it, and give it to the applicant in a sealed envelope, signed across the flap.

Instructions for Applicants

STEP 1:  Determine what forms you need to submit

Applicants will complete one or two language-related forms in the Online Application.  If you are not able to access the following forms in the online application, you may need to “Update Your Answers” to Preliminary Questions #3 or #4 and answer “Yes”.

Form 7:  Language Background Report  Applicants must complete Form 7: Language Background Report when applying to a country where English is not commonly spoken and knowledge of the host country is required.  Additionally, if your project requires knowledge of another language, you must complete Form 7 and have a FLE in the language, whether or not the Country Summary indicates the language is required for application.

• Even if the language required by the host country is your mother tongue or your first language, you must complete the Language Forms (Form 7 and Form 8).

Form 7A: Critical Language Enhancement Award Supplementary Statement  Applicants who are requesting consideration for the Critical Language Enhancement Award must complete Form 7A: Critical Language Enhancement Award Supplementary Statement.  Click here for a list of eligible languages and other requirements for this award.

• For applicants who do not have knowledge of and/or training in the host country language: Only complete the online Form 7: Language Background Report and indicate your plans for obtaining a hospitality/survival level of the language to accomplish the program’s goal of increasing mutual understanding.  Since you have no knowledge of the language, Form 8 from a language evaluator is unnecessary.
• For applicants who have knowledge of the language: If you are applying to a country where English is not commonly spoken and/or if you are required to have knowledge of the host country or other language, you will complete Form 7: Language Background Report in the online application. Your language evaluator will complete and submit Form 8: Foreign Language Evaluation electronically.
• For applicants who need an evaluation in more than one language: If you need to be evaluated in more than one language, complete the forms for the primary language in the online application. For additional languages, print the PDF forms so that they can be completed manually. 
• You will complete the hard copy of Form 7: Language Background Report.
• Your language evaluator will complete the hard copy Form 8: Foreign Language Evaluation.

STEP 2:  Guidelines for Choosing and Preparing a Language Evaluator

The Form 8: Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) must be completed electronically by a professional language instructor. 

• Language evaluations may be conducted by someone who has taught you and knows your language ability.
• The Fulbright Program prefers that the Foreign Language Evaluation be completed by a college or university faculty member.
• If the language is not commonly taught in the U.S. and a professional teacher of the language is not available within a reasonable distance, the evaluation may be completed by a native speaker, who is not a family member, or a faculty member with knowledge of the language.

Materials to provide your Language Evaluator:

• Research/Study applicants should provide the evaluator with a summary of their Statement of Grant Purpose.
• ETA applicants should give the evaluator the description of the ETA Program for the country to which they are applying and a summary of there their Statement of Grant Purpose.

All candidates:

• Should give evaluators a copy of the completed Form 7: Language Background Report.
• Provide evaluators with a copy of the Instructions for Completing the Online Foreign Language Evaluation and a sample Form 8:  Foreign Language Evaluation if they have not seen the electronic version of the Form 8. 
• Provide evaluators with a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that they can send you the printed copy of the Evaluation after they have completed and submitted it electronically.

STEP 3:  Instructions for Registering a Language Evaluators

In the Fulbright Online Application System, you can register your referees and language evaluator so that they can submit the reference or FLE electronically.  Encourage your language evaluator to submit the reference online.  At several stages of the application review, reviewers only have access to the Online Application and electronically submitted materials, so it is to your advantages if they do so. 

Here are the steps for registering your Language Evaluator in the Online Application:          

1. Name your Evaluator(s) in question 36, Step B:  Application Form in the online application. This information will print on your application. You may indicate a second language evaluator when the second language is required for your project; however, we will only accept one FLE for the same language.
2. Register your Evaluator. In Step E:  Reference/Evaluation, click the “Register Referee/ Evaluator” button and complete contact information for the evaluator.  This registration will generate an email to the evaluator which will give him/her instructions on how to complete the form electronically. Evaluators may complete and electronically submit the form at any time prior to the October 19 application deadline.
3. Make sure that your evaluator knows that you have registered them for electronic submission of the FLE. Encourage them to submit the FLE online.  Be sure to remind them that you will need a hard copy of the completed evaluation (FLE) in a sealed envelop to submit with your application.
4. If the evaluation is based on an in-person interview, make arrangements to meet with the evaluator, allowing them to complete the Foreign Language Evaluation electronically, print it and send it to you prior to the application submission deadline.
5. Check the online status of your References/Evaluation frequently.  You may view the status of the references/evaluation for registered evaluators at any time by logging into the online application and going to Step E: Reference/Evaluation.  You will be informed by email when a registered evaluator submits an online reference on your behalf.
6. If the evaluator did not receive the registration email or loses their login information,    contact Technical Support via email from the Online Application and give the Tech Support the person’s name and email address.

Note that you have the option to register either Referees or a Language Evaluator.  It is important that you take care to register the Evaluator for the FLE so that they receive the correct form.

• If your Language Evaluator is also a Referee:  The online system only allows you to register a person with the same email address once (whether for a reference or FLE.)
• If the evaluator/referee has another email address, you may use the second address to register them for one of the forms.  
• If the evaluator/referee does not have a second email address, ask them to complete the FLE in hard copy only. You can print out a PDF of the form below

Remember, if the Language Evaluator is not able to complete the online form or if you have more than one language to be evaluated, the person may complete the form in hard copy only of Form 8: Foreign Language Evaluation and give it to you in a signed, sealed envelope. 

Step 4:   Submitting the Language Forms

You will collect the Foreign Language Evaluation from the evaluator and submit it along with the rest of the hard copy application materials. The envelope containing the Foreign Language Evaluation can be attached, using a paper clip, to the copy of the Language Background Evaluation.