Madagascar
4 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodOctober StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program in Madagascar aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Madagascar. The overall benefits to the U.S. participant include the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in supplementing classroom activities to English teaching/learning and acquiring a balanced view of the dynamics between teachers and students.
Madagascar is the world’s second largest island country. It is located off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean and has an estimated population of 26 million. The official language is Malagasy with 18 major ethnic dialects.
Grant Length
Grant Period
ETAs are expected to arrive between 2 weeks prior to the start of their assignment to attend an in-country orientation, finalize local visa applications, identify housing, and attend mandatory briefings with Embassy personnel.
Madagascar’s academic year for secondary schools is currently scheduled to begin in October 2025 and end in July 2026.
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2025.
A mandatory in-country group orientation will be provided by the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo.
Candidate Profile
Bachelor’s and Master's-level candidates who have a degree in English, education, TEFL/applied linguistics or American Studies, 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 the ability to incorporate or organize extra-curricular activities – e.g., music, art, dance, English Clubs, Reading and Writing Clubs - are preferred. Candidates with an interest in African languages, culture, and history are also encouraged to apply.
Prior experience in the country/region would be preferred, or at least previous interactions with people from Madagascar or individuals who have had substantial experience in the country. A working knowledge of French or Malagasy is also recommended.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Living in Madagascar can be a unique experience due to the country's rich biodiversity, diverse culture, and stunning landscapes. The island nation is known for its unique wildlife, including lemurs, and its beautiful beaches and coral reefs. The Malagasy people have a rich cultural heritage, with influences from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Nevertheless, Madagascar's customs and traditions are unique in the world. It requires resourcefulness to adjust to the isolated environment, to the language and cultural barriers, and to a developing country with a poor economy and infrastructure, and environmental challenges. However, the pleasant climate, the people, and the uniqueness of Malagasy life make an assignment to Madagascar a fondly remembered experience.
Overall, living in Madagascar can offer a mix of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and the opportunity to experience a different way of life. People are usually very welcoming. Roads could be better, since one may spend up to 6 hours for 360 kilometers and sometimes even 1 day for 190 kilometers because there is no freeway. There is also a lot of local transportation such as buses (taxi-be), taxis, "pousse-pousse" or "tuck-tuck" like in Bangkok. The problem with the traffic in cities is that there is usually only one road for everybody.
Despite the political instability which has impacted the economy, it has started to become more prosperous.
Internet is available in Madagascar although it is still slow and limited depending on specific areas and especially the occurence of long-lasting power cut/outage. Some areas are considered more modern and "connected" than others , big cities have better access to Internet, and there are some cities in the bush where the Internet does not even exist.
Overall, Fulbright grantee's flexibility is important as each region has its own uniqueness and context.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Foreign Language Proficiency
A working knowledge of French and/or Malagasy may be useful in Madagascar.
Placement Type
- Middle School
- Secondary School
ETAs spend approximately 20 hours per week assisting and supporting mainly English secondary and maybe middle school teachers and working on additional projects. ETA roles may include giving presentations on topics related to the United States, preparing classroom activities, modeling interactive activities with partner teachers, and/or encouraging students to communicate in English. ETAs may assist in a variety of academic formats such as one-on-one tutoring or co-teaching large groups and different classes with different levels. ETAs are also encouraged to create their own projects with institutions or communities. Projects may include, but are not limited to: environmental clubs, English clubs, job fairs, girls’ groups, book clubs, mentorship program, cultural days, debate clubs, etc.
Involvement in American Spaces or EducationUSA activities is also a regular part of the ETA experience and will be incorporated into the ETA’s weekly schedule in coordination with the host institution. See more information about these activities on the Embassy of Madagascar’s website (linked below) and the EducationUSA Madagascar Facebook page.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
Selected applicants for this program will be placed in the country’s capital city of Antananarivo and other regions, at public high schools where the U.S. Embassy routinely conducts English teaching-related programs.
Supplementary Project
A supplementary project outside of ETA-related duties may be considered. The U.S. Embassy would assist in coordinating this.
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
- Diplomatic pouch
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Summary of cost of living:
Source 1: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Madagascar
- A family of four estimated monthly costs are 1,362.7$ (6,188,683.2Ar) without rent.
- A single person estimated monthly costs are 396.2$ (1,799,113.4Ar) without rent.
- Cost of living in Madagascar is, on average, 66.2% lower than in United States.
- Rent in Madagascar is, on average, 82.1% lower than in United States.
Source 2: https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/madagascar
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 9,895,827 Ariary
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 3,969,323 Ariary
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
While host institutions may not be able to provide accommodations/housing for ETAs, the U.S. Embassy will work with host institutions to assist ETAs in identifying decent temporary and long-term housing within the vicinity of their assignment neighborhood to the extent possible. However, finding and securing housing is ultimately the responsibility of each ETA.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Ravakiniaina Rabeharindrasana: rabeharindrasanaT@state.gov