Kenya
English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodJanuary StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program in Kenya aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Kenya. It is a professional development opportunity designed to enhance teaching skills and offer a positive experience in Kenya. The overall benefits to the U.S. participant include the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in supplementing classroom activities with English teaching and learning and acquiring a balanced view of the dynamics between teachers and students.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The grant period is 9 months. Fulbright ETA grants are required to start in mid-January 2027. The academic year begins in January and ends in November. Kenyan schools close for holidays in April, August, and November-December.
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2026.
A mandatory in-country group orientation will be provided by the U.S. Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section.
Candidate Profile
Candidates must be mature, articulate, resourceful, motivated, flexible, have relevant teaching experience, and be committed to working in an instructional setting with Kenyan high school students. Graduate students or graduating seniors with a degree in English or education who are considering careers in English, international education, or TEFL/applied linguistics and have experience in teaching or tutoring will be considered. Other fields will be considered if combined with experience in working with high school students, teaching experience and/or coursework in pedagogy. Candidates with the ability to incorporate or work with Kenyan high school students and organize extra-curricular activities – music, art, and dance, English Clubs, Reading and Writing Clubs – are preferred. Candidates with an interest in African languages, culture, and history are also encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will not just be teaching English but explaining the U.S. and its culture to local citizens who have little contextual understanding of America. ETAs are expected to exhibit a high level of professionalism and respect towards people in their host institutions and the community. They should also be prepared to work in challenging environments with living standards that are not as high as those in the U.S. or in Kenyan major cities.
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.
The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi places American Fulbrighters in Kenyan high schools or other educational institutions to assist local English teachers through the U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program. ETAs are mainly placed outside the capital cities, where there is a need to improve English language skills for students. For many Kenyan students and teachers where ETAs are placed, previous interactions with Americans are minimal, and they know the U.S. mainly from watching movies and local media. Thus, meeting and interacting daily with an American gives them a great opportunity to get to know Americans firsthand. ETAs play a crucial role as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. Embassy in Kenya.
With a population of 55 million people, Kenya is in the top 30 biggest countries in the world. 4.4 million Kenyans live in the bustling capital, Nairobi, which is a trade and financial hub for the whole of East Africa and the headquarters of many international businesses. A further 1.2 million people live in the coastal city and former capital of Mombasa, which is rich in colonial architecture and draws throngs of tourists every year. Formerly part of British East Africa, the Republic of Kenya achieved its independence in 1963 and has since made a name for itself internationally as a key exporter of the world’s tea, coffee, and flowers. Up to and after elections have traditionally been the most turbulent. However, after the August 2022 elections, other than a few hotspots of violence, it was nothing like the 2007 elections, where around 1,400 people lost their lives.
Kenya's capital city is Nairobi, with the oldest and second-largest town being Mombasa, followed by Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret. Kenya is divided into 47 counties governed by elected governors. Kenya is a linguistically diverse country with 44 indigenous (local) languages, including Gikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Kalenjin, Mijikenda, Kisii, and Somali, to mention some. Fulbrighters will enjoy Kenya's natural beauty and experience the rich local culture.
Kenyans are known to be friendly and hospitable, and ETAs sharing their experience will be an added advantage and life-changing experience for Kenyans. Kenya has no single culture that one can identify with; it consists instead of multiple traditions of the country's different communities. There are many things to adapt to, and a posting as an ETA in Kenya requires tolerance, patience, and maturity. Kenya is a friendly and welcoming country in East Africa. The country is known for its warm climate, sandy beaches, and cosmopolitan culture (especially in the capital, Nairobi). It also has fresh food and a vibrant atmosphere, to name just a couple.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
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 is the country’s second official language and is spoken by most locals in big cities, including Nairobi and Mombasa. When Kenya attained independence in 1963, English was declared the official language, but currently both English and Swahili are used as the official languages. Apart from English, there are other exogenous languages, including Arabic, French, German, Hindu, and Chinese. There is a high influence of the local language, especially in schools in rural areas. Learning some Swahili, especially if you plan on spending time in rural areas, could prove useful and help the ETAs integrate into life in East Africa.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Placement will be made by the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, and will be at the secondary or college undergraduate level, with outreach to schools or institutions that have received sponsorship under U.S. government programs. ETAs will work with Kenyan high school instructors teaching English to students at selected public and private schools including boarding schools outside the major cities. ETAs are expected to engage in activities in the communities where they live.
Educational System
The Secondary school level is a key transitional stage, during which youth between the ages 14-18 years are prepared to join higher education, training and thereafter the world of employment. Students’ achievement at this level is measured using the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KSCE) results. English is a core subject and English performance will help determine the students’ eligibility for courses in colleges and universities. The performance of English in the country has been declining and the English language was among the poorly done subjects in previous years.
Kenya has introduced a new 2-6-3-3-3 curriculum (Competency Based Curriculum) of education to replace the old 8-4-4 system. The new model places emphasis on the formative years of learning where learners will spend a total of eight years - 2 in pre-primary and six in primary - and the Junior Secondary (grades 7, 8 and 9) and Senior Secondary Education (grades 10, 11 and 12) will each take three years. This is the second time the country is adopting a new curriculum since the 1985 change-over from the 7-4-2-3 system. The system was phased out because it was deemed unsuitable for the new labor market that embraces technology. The old system laid more emphasis on academics as opposed to orienting learners for employment.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- 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.
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
Supplementary Project
ETAs will work with the American Spaces in Kenya, which are engagement centers focused on providing resources in these areas: English language, information about the United States, EducationUSA, American culture, and alumni of U.S. government exchange programs. They will support English language professional associations, Access teachers, and English Access providers to support material and professional development workshops for teachers and students. The ETAs will work with Access, a program that provides talented 13- to 20-year-old high school students from poor backgrounds with a foundation of English language skills through after-school classes and summer sessions. They should bring in creative ways of teaching, such as using performing arts, including film screenings, art exhibitions, dances, and music shows, to host critical community dialogues and story-telling programs in teaching English. Previous ETAs came up with community initiatives such as library launches and sanitary towel drives, to mention a few, to build relationships with their host institutions and the local communities.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
The grant amount is budgeted to cover the ETA's housing, transportation, utilities, settling-in costs, and registration/visa fees.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
The U.S. Embassy will work with host institutions to assist ETAs in identifying and securing housing. ETAs in the same location can opt to share accommodation to help offset living and rental car expenses. Most ETAs placements will be outside major cities, in locations ranging from remote or rural areas to small cities. Housing situations vary from site to site. Many placements lack conveniences such as gyms, hot water, and large supermarkets/groceries. Candidates must be willing to adapt to local living conditions. Internet connectivity speeds will vary by location. This requires a high level of flexibility and adaptability on the part of ETAs. ETAs will receive a security briefing upon arrival and are expected to follow safety and security precautions.
Nature of Assignment
ETAs will be assigned as language-learning assistants but may also be responsible for teaching entire courses depending on the needs and resources of their placement. Kenyan ETAs are typically placed in pairs to work as a team and to support each other. At the host institution, ETAs will help with research, lesson plans and course presentation to improve the English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills of students for whom English is a second language. Approximately 25 hours per week will be spent assisting teachers in their classrooms or instructing their own classes, plus requisite class preparation time and school-related activities. Activities may include club academic workshops, parent-teacher conferences, sports clubs or events after school and on weekends. ETAs may assist in a variety of academic formats from one-on-one tutoring to co-teaching large groups to improve the English academic reading and writing skills of secondary school and university students for whom English is the medium of instruction at school. ETAs may also assist with English for Specific Purposes, curriculum design, training academic and administrative staff, information technology and school-related activities including English clubs. They may also participate in visits, discussions, experimental programs, essay contests, and debates. ETAs will also volunteer their time to assist the English Access Microscholarship Program and American Spaces English Language Program as well as Education USA advising. The U.S. Embassy may also call upon ETAs to assist in the local teacher training programs. ETAs are also encouraged to create their own projects with institutions or communities’ example English clubs, journalism clubs, book clubs, holidays, debate clubs, etc.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
Kenya Immigration Department: https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/passes/studentpass/
Immunization: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm.
E-citizen: https://accounts.ecitizen.go.ke/login