Italy
7 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodOctober StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Up to seven English Teaching Assistant Awards will be assigned contingent on the availability of funds.
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Program aims to strengthen English language instruction at Italian high schools in the South of Italy by establishing a native-speaker presence to provide part-time assistance for 16 teaching hours per week to permanent teaching staff. English Teaching Assistants work to improve Italian students' English language abilities and knowledge of the United States culture. At the same time, they are integrated into the host community and gain from intensive cross-cultural interaction. Each host institution will tailor the assistantship to its language teaching needs and the grantee’s background, academic interests, and abilities, and will place the ETA under the supervision of a teacher-tutor. Teaching assistant activities may include: serving as resource persons in conversation groups; providing small group tutorials; serving as attendants in language laboratories; and giving talks related to American studies in English classes or civic/school organizations.
Considering the socio-economic differences between the North and South of Italy (the South has a GDP approximately 50% lower than the GDP in the North of Italy), for more than a century the development of the South of Italy has been a national priority (Italian National Institute of Statistics https://www.istat.it/en/. To maximize the impact of the ETA Program, ETAs are placed in underserved and not easily accessible communities in the South.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grants will begin on October 1, 2026, and end June 30, 2027. (Dates to be confirmed).
Orientation
Fulbright grantees will be required to participate in a two-to-three-day orientation program organized by the Fulbright Commission in early October.
An online pre-departure orientation will be offered approximately two months before departure.
Candidate Profile
Strong preference will be given to applicants already possessing a Bachelor's degree at the time of application.
Master's-level candidates are also encouraged to apply.
Ideal candidates must demonstrate the initiative, maturity, self-reliance, and flexibility needed to assist in teaching the English language and American culture to Italian high school students with low English knowledge and to interact with the tutors and language teachers they assist.
ETAs must be able to adapt to living in insular and underserved areas often very distant from universities and city life, with small, sometimes non-existent international communities, few peers, and difficulties in traveling between communities even within the same area. They should be curious, open-minded, and willing to experience the cultural challenges of a different culture with profoundly different customs and traditions.
Previous teaching experience and/or study abroad experience in Italy is not necessary. Importance will be given to previous experience volunteering abroad or at home.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Information about Italy and life in Italy can be found on the following websites: https://www.italia.it/en and https://madeinitaly.gov.it/en/
Additionally, please watch these videos from two alums about their experience as English Teaching Assistants in Southern Italy:
Jake DeCarli:
Chazlee Myers:
Eligibility
12 Months
According to Italian laws and policies, dual nationals are eligible to apply. However, candidates with significant experience in Italy will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Candidates who have resided in Italy during the year preceding the grant might be considered ineligible depending on the length of the period and reasons.
Candidates who are in Italy with a study or work visa during the 12 months prior to the competition deadline, who reside in Italy at the time of the deadline, or who will travel to Italy with a study or work visa during the selection process and the awarding phase are not eligible to participate in the program, with the following exceptions: those who are in Italy on a tourist visa and those who are on a study visa for a summer or one-semester U.S. university study abroad program are eligible to apply.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Additional Information: Italian language proficiency is not a requirement, but is strongly recommended. On the Fulbright Application, applicants should include the Language Self-Evaluation and a Foreign Language Evaluation by a professional language instructor in relation to their language proficiency.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- Vocational/Technical School
Grantees will be placed in Italian high schools, providing part-time assistance (16 teaching hours per week) to permanent teaching staff. All high schools will be located in cities or mid-sized/small towns in Southern Italy.
The age group of students will range approximately from 14 to 18. Most of the students are typically from underserved populations, and will not go on to study at the university level. Most of the ETAs will be placed at vocational schools that are intended to prepare students for a professional vocational career after graduation. Their level of English is low.
Placement and details of teaching duties will be communicated after selection. Cities and schools rotate every year, therefore ETAs should expect to learn about their role along with the schools as it is the first time that schools host an ETA.
Placement Locations
- Regional City
- Rural
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.
The award provides a maintenance allowance of Euro 14.000 (approx. $14,677) for 9 months as well as an international travel allowance of Euro 1.100 (approx. $1,153) to cover the costs of a round-trip ticket. Please note that allowances are disbursed in Euro currency and that equivalent dollar amounts are approximate and may change depending on exchange rate fluctuations.
The total maintenance allowance is disbursed in four installments: 1° upon arrival in Italy, 2° mid-November, 3° end of February, and 4° upon return to the United States.
Candidates who are also planning to apply for funds from other sources, or will receive financial assistance from their U.S. institution while in Italy, must contact the Commission to inquire whether these funds can be cumulated with the Fulbright award.
Additional Grant Benefits
Fulbright Annual Meeting: Each June, the U.S.-Italy Fulbright Commission hosts a meeting where U.S. grantees returning to the States after their grant and Italian grantees departing to begin their grant meet, interact, network, and often start relationships that continue in the United States. The Meeting - a celebration of the Fulbright experience- is held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the United States. Italian alumni are also invited to participate in the day's activities.
Supplementary Project
Community engagement will be possible although local offers might be limited. Grantees may volunteer at school afternoon activities, create their extra-curricular activities and events, and/or engage in volunteer work with community-based organizations if present on the territory.
ETAs may also enroll in academic courses, if the regional assignment permits such activity, or engage in independent research related to their fields of study provided that their place of affiliation is located not far from a university.
These activities, combined with the Teaching Assistant responsibilities, will comprise a full-time program.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
As a rule, large cities in the North and the Center of Italy are more expensive, while living in the South is less costly, even in larger cities. An average monthly budget for two persons could range between €1.400-€2.500 ($1,476 -$2,620 approx.). Rent is usually the major expense, ranging between €600-€1.500 ($629-$1,572 approx.). Individuals’ lifestyles, and choosing to live downtown versus on the outskirts of a city, can make a difference.
The following websites could help navigate the costs of living in Italy. While none of them is sponsored by official institutions, the information is provided mostly by international visitors themselves and expats.
https://wise.com/gb/blog/cost-of-living-in-italy
https://internationalliving.com/countries/italy/cost-of-living-in-italy/
https://www.mondayfeelings.com/cost-to-live-in-italy/
https://www.internationalcitizens.com/living-abroad/costs/italy.php
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Italy
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Grantees are expected to find their own housing, but based on past years’ experience, they are likely to receive assistance from their tutors.
AWARD BENEFITS
ENTRY VISA
ETAs must enter Italy on a study visa covering the authorized length of the grant. ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
The possibility to stay for longer periods is subject to the provisions and restrictions of Italian Law. Italian embassy and consulates are the sole authorities in matters pertaining to visa issues.
Basic information about visas and their application process is available at http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en.
Grantees must apply for a Study Visa (D) at the Italian Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction in the State where they reside. The Commission will support their application with a letter that will be sent to grantees after they have signed the official grant authorization but will not be able to assist grantees in their application procedures.
Due to restrictions in the Italian Immigration Law, there are potential challenges related to the duration of the grantee's stay in Italy. The requested duration of the grantee's stay in Italy should not be much longer than the official grant period. In case of significant discrepancy (more than 30 days overall), the Consulate may reject the grantee's visa request.