Saudi Arabia
2 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Saudi Arabia has prioritized improving English language proficiency and English language instruction at higher education institutions to help better position Saudis to engage in global dialogue, and as part of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic transformation plan to diversify revenue sources away from dependence on the oil and gas sectors. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program is a response to those goals, but also serves the important purpose of enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and of Saudi Arabia.
An estimated 51 percent of Saudi Arabia’s 36.4 million people are under the age of 25, and the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia vigorously promotes American values and culture among Saudi youth. As part of the ETA program, grantees are encouraged to engage in cultural extracurricular engagements that develop and strengthen understanding of American culture among Saudi students. Finally, ETAs to Saudi Arabia have a unique opportunity to become immersed in Saudi culture and to learn first-hand about the Saudi higher education sector.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Program dates are typically in accordance with the academic year in Saudi Arabia, which starts in September and ends in May/June. However, some institutions may require a summer or spring start.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a Pre-Departure Orientation in the United States in summer 2023 as a condition of their grants.
The U.S. embassy will provide a security briefing upon arrival.
Candidate Profile
Grantees will work in a university in Saudi Arabia enhancing English teaching, and will, among other things, provide English language conversation and American cultural classes. Grantees must be creative, flexible, and self-reliant team players who are able to maintain excellent relationships with faculty, staff, and students. Grantees must possess excellent spoken and written English skills. English language teaching experience is preferred.
Eligibility
Accepted Degree Levels
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Semi-finalists should be prepared to email updated CVs to FBstudent.MENA@iie.org upon receiving the semi-finalist notification.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Basic knowledge or proficiency in Arabic language is preferable but not mandatory. The local dialect in Saudi Arabia is Gulf Arabic.
Placement Type
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Grantees will be placed at a university in Saudi Arabia. Final placement will be approved by the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Ministry of Education.
ETAs should be prepared to dedicate about 25 hours per week to prepare for and offer English language teaching, to include small group tutorials, organizing extra-curricular language-learning activities, and teaching curricular components.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
- Rural
Placement locations vary and may be urban or rural.
Supplementary Project
Projects are recommended, not required. This will be an added value to the application and gives insight into an ETA’s prospective plans at the host institution. Projects are, however, subject to host institution approval.
Housing Arrangements
Housing will be provided by host institution. Please note, grantees should be adaptable to live in a relatively conservative religious culture.
Dependents
Security Information
Grantees are encouraged to inform the U.S. Embassy of any travel plans within (away from the host city) or outside Saudi Arabia. A designated point of contact from the U.S. Embassy will be in communication with grantees throughout their program duration. For more security information, please refer to the most recent State Department Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia.