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.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The academic year for secondary schools begins September 2026 and ends July 2027, 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 will be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2026.
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.
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.
Cameroon is a lively Central African nation that is renowned for its wide range in geography, religion, ethnicity, and culture. Affectionately known as “Africa in Miniature,” Cameroon includes all the continent's major geographic landscapes including white beaches in the south, mountains in the west, tropical rainforests in the Congo basin, savannah grasslands further north and sparse deserts in the far north. The Community Liaison Office at Post offers a welcome package for Fulbrighters that includes guidelines on places to visit and leisure activities. There are several after work opportunities for ETAs to participate in Embassy led activities. The richness in culture, landscape, cuisine, and fashion, accompanied by multiple fairs, provides a range of avenues for an interesting experience for the ETA.
Eligibility
U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. Participants must have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree.
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.
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.
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
- Other Educational/Community Institution
ETAs spend approximately 20 hours per week assisting 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, Yaounde.
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.
One-Time Allowances
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.
- Excess baggage fees
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
Additional Grant Benefits
- Housing placement
The Embassy will provide ETAs with options for appropriate housing. However, securing housing is ultimately the responsibility of each ETA.
Supplementary Project
A supplementary project to be worked on when the grantee is not engaged in ETA-related duties is recommended but not required.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Average monthly rent for a furnished apartment with a generator, water tank, and 24-hour security, ranges from 500,000FCFA (approximately $850 USD) to 700,000FCFA (approximately $1200 USD).
Transportation via taxi (not shared) ranges from 2500FCFA ($4) to 5000FCFA ($8) per trip.
Grantees can expect to spend between 200,000FCFA ($330) and 300,000FCFA ($500) a month on groceries.
Dependents
The ETA may bring dependents on the program. Within the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, a dependent is either (1) a spouse, or (2) an unmarried child under 21 years or age. ETAs with accompanying dependents who will be with them for at least 80% of the grant term receive modest adjustments in living allowances. ETAs receive no travel allowances for dependents or education allowances to defray tuition costs for accompanying dependent children. ECA’s Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges provides basic health and accident benefits and medical evacuation coverage for the grantee only. Grantees must arrange separately for dependent medical and emergency medical evacuation insurance prior to the commencement of their grant.
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.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Charlene Wantong : WantongNC@state.gov
Cheikh Amadou : SeneCB@state.gov