Cameroon
English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program in Cameroon aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Cameroon. It is a professional development opportunity designed to enhance teaching skills and offer a positive experience in Cameroon. Please note that ETAs are not full-fledged professors.
Cameroon is officially bilingual, with both English and French recognized by the government. Cameroon’s eco-system is unique, and it is often called “Africa in Miniature.” Rainforest, savannah, desert, beaches, wildlife preserves, and an active volcano can all be found in the country.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The academic year for secondary schools begins September 2024 and ends July 2025, with June and July reserved for exams. Schools close for holidays in April, August, and December.
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2024.
A mandatory in-country orientation will be provided by the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde soon after the grantees’ arrival.
Candidate Profile
Graduating seniors or graduate students with an undergraduate degree in English or education who are considering careers in English, education, or TEFL/applied linguistics and who have experience teaching or tutoring are preferred. Other fields will be considered if combined with teaching experience and/or coursework in pedagogy. Candidates with an interest in African languages, culture, and history are also encouraged to apply.
The ability to facilitate extra-curricular activities, such as English Clubs, Book Discussions, and Writing Clubs is encouraged, as well. Candidates who can navigate the differences between American English and British English—which is the variation taught in the Cameroonian education system—are at an additional advantage.
ETAs should be flexible, professional, and prepared to work in challenging environments with living standards that are not as high as those in the U.S.
Eligibility
Accepted Degree Levels
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Foreign Language Proficiency
English and French are the official languages in Cameroon. Although Cameroon is officially bilingual, French speakers greatly outnumber English speakers and a working knowledge of French is necessary.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- Other Educational/Community Institution
ETAs spend approximately 20 hours per week assisting secondary teachers in their classrooms, plus requisite class preparation time and school-related activities. ETAs may assist in a variety of academic formats including modeling interactive activities with partner teachers, offering one-on-one tutoring and co-teaching large groups to improve the English speaking and academic reading and writing skills of students for whom English is a second language. ETAs will be assigned as language-learning assistants but will not be responsible for teaching entire courses. Involvement in American Spaces or EducationUSA activities would also be welcome.
Cameroon is a bilingual country with two education sub-systems modeled after the French and British systems of education. In French-speaking regions (8 of the country’s 10 regions), instruction is primarily in French, and in English-speaking regions (2 regions), instruction is in English. However, there are many public and private bilingual primary (elementary) and secondary schools. These schools have separate sections that provide instruction either entirely in English or entirely in French, and students must select which section to enroll in for the duration of their primary/secondary education.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
ETAs will be placed in the capital city.
Supplementary Project
A supplementary project to be worked on when the grantee is not engaged in ETA-related duties is recommended but not required.
Housing Arrangements
The U.S. Embassy will work with host institutions to assist ETAs in identifying possible housing. However, finding and securing housing is ultimately the responsibility of each ETA. ETAs will be housed in the capital city. Housing is typically modest, without amenities such as gyms, washers/dryers, or dishwashers. Water, electricity, and internet outages are common. Candidates must be willing to adapt to local living conditions. Grantees should plan to stay in temporary accommodations before moving into long-term housing.