English Teaching Assistant Program Application Components

All applicants must complete and submit their application via the Embark Fulbright Online Application. This is where you enter data, upload documents, and register your recommenders and foreign language evaluator. The following items comprise the components of the ETA application:

Biographical Data

The first pages of the application ask for all of your basic personal information such as your name, contact information, birth date, etc. They also ask for the details of your academic background, occupational experience, extracurricular activities, publications, and previous foreign experience. Here, on the Program Information page, you must include a project title and an abstract of the Statement of Grant Purpose, along with a brief explanation of your future plans upon returning to the U.S.

Statement of Grant Purpose

This 1-page document outlines why you are interested in teaching English to non-native speakers as well as why you have chosen to apply to a particular country. You should describe clearly what you will be able to bring to the classroom in the host country, as well as explain any ideas you have on how to reach students coming from a different pedagogical tradition.

The proposal should indicate a clear commitment to and description of how you will engage with the host country community.

Format: Single spaced, 12 point Times New Roman, 1 inch margins.

Personal Statement

This 1-page narrative is designed to give the reviewers a picture of you as an individual. It is an opportunity to tell the committee more about the trajectory that you have followed and what plans you have for the future. Whereas the Statement of Grant Purpose focuses on what you will be doing in the host country if offered a grant, the Personal Statement concentrates on how your background has influenced your development and how that inspired you to apply for an English Teaching Assistant Program.

The personal statement can deal with your personal history, family background, intellectual development, and the educational, professional, or cultural opportunities to which you have or have not been exposed; explain their impact. This should not be a reiteration of facts already listed in the Biographical Data sections or an elaboration of the Statement of Grant Purpose.

Format: Single spaced, 12 point Times New Roman, 1 inch margins.

Foreign Language Forms

Language requirements vary by country, so before starting the application you should note the specific requirements of the proposed host country. You must possess the necessary language skills to successfully complete the project you are proposing.

For programs where language skills are Strongly Recommended, you must submit both a Language Self Evaluation and a Foreign Language Evaluation Form, which is completed by a professional language teacher. Submission of both forms is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or native-speaker ability. Failure to submit the forms may affect your eligibility.

For programs where language skills are Recommended or Not Required, if you possess some language skills you should submit both a Language Self Evaluation and a Foreign Language Evaluation Form. It will be advantageous to have your language ability documented, even though it is not required. Remember, even if a country indicates that English will be sufficient for carrying out the proposed project, for purposes of Community Engagement, at least a basic level of language skill should be obtained prior to leaving the United States for the host country.

For programs in countries where English is one of the national languages, you do not need to submit any foreign language forms unless a foreign language is required for your project.

If you have little or no knowledge of the language, you may discuss your plans to study the language prior to beginning a grant in your Statement of Grant Purpose. You should not submit a Language Self Evaluation or a Foreign Language Evaluation.

Recommendations

You must submit three recommendations as part of the application. The recommenders will be provided an electronic form that they will use to respond to a series of short-answer questions regarding items such as your communication skills, interest in teaching, and ability to work in unstructured environments. Recommenders for English Teaching Assistant Program applicants do not submit their own narrative letters.

The recommenders completing the ETA reference forms should be the three individuals who can best speak to your ability to teach English in a classroom abroad based on your intellectual and professional preparation. You should provide the recommenders with a copy of your Statement of Grant Purpose before requesting the recommendations. The recommendation should NOT simply be a character reference, as this will be of no value in assessing your ability to be a successful English Teaching Assistant. All recommendations must be completed in English.

Transcripts

The Fulbright Program requires a complete academic record of your higher education. You must provide transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions from which you received degrees. Transcripts must also be submitted from other institutions where you studied and received credit for coursework.

Failure to submit required transcripts will result in your being declared ineligible.

For select countries - Critical Language Enhancement Award Statement

Critical Language Enhancement Awards for English Teaching Assistants are available in Russia only.

If you are applying for a Critical Language Enhancement Award, you must complete the Critical Language Enhancement Award Supplementary Statement which details your language preparation, the host country language program desired, and a brief explanation of how the additional language training will impact your Fulbright experience and future career plans.