Fulbright U.S. Student Program
| Fulbright Online Application |
All applicants must complete and submit their application via the 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:
The first pages of the application ask for your basic personal information such as your name, contact information, birth date, etc. Additional pages of the application also ask for the details of your academic background, occupational experience, extracurricular activities, publications, and previous foreign experience. O n the Program Information page, you must include a Summary of Proposal addressing why you wish to undertake an ETA grant to the host country , along with an explanation of your plans for host country engagement and future plans upon returning to the U.S.
This 1-page document should clearly describe 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.
Carefully read the specific summary for the country to which you are applying: This is necessary for you to understand the nature of the program and the specific requirements, since the design of the English Teaching Assistant Program (ETA) program varies from country to country.
Address the following points:
Adhere to the proper format:
The statement should be a 1 page narrative that provides a picture of yourself as an individual․ It should deal with your personal history, family background, influences on your intellectual development, the educational, professional, and cultural opportunities (or lack of them) to which you have been exposed, and the ways in which these experiences have affected you․ Also include your special interests and abilities, career plans, and life goals, etc․ It should not be a recording of facts already listed on the application or an elaboration of your Statement of Grant Purpose․ It is more of a biography, but specifically related to you and your aspirations relative to the specific Fulbright Program to which you have applied.
Do not repeat information from other parts of the application.
Adhere to the proper format:
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 Required , you must submit both a Language Self Evaluation and a Foreign Language Evaluation Form, which is completed by a professional language teacher, preferably a university professor. If the language is not commonly taught and a professional language teacher is not readily available, a college-educated native-speaker of the language can be used. The language evaluator cannot be related to the applicant. 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 relevant to the host country but plan to acquire proficiency prior to the start of the grant, you may discuss your plans in the Language Self Evaluation. . You should not obtain a Foreign Language Evaluation.
Provide your language evaluator with the Instructions for Foreign Language Evaluators . You can print these out and discuss them with the person completing the form.
Please note that an email address can only be used for one type of online recommendation, that is, either a recommendation or a Foreign Language Evaluation. If you wish to have the same person complete both a recommendation and a Foreign Language Evaluation, the person must use two different email addresses. You will register the person once for the recommendation and once for the Foreign Language Evaluation.
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.
Note: Applicants and Fulbright Program Advisers cannot request that a recommendation be un-submitted.
Applicants can follow the status of the recommendation (in progress, submitted) from the Recommendation/Evaluation page of the application. Additional details on the online submission of recommendations are available in the application system.
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.
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.
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