Brazil
10 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodMarch StartGrant Length8 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
ETAs will be assigned as language teaching assistants working 30 hours per week (including planning). Responsibilities include but are not limited to giving presentations on different topics related to the United States, preparing and leading classroom activities, and encouraging students to communicate in English. Although ETAs are not full-fledged professors, the program is a professional development opportunity to advance their teaching skills and have a positive experience on a Brazilian campus.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grant Length: 8 months.
- The grant period corresponds to the academic year in Brazil, starting in March 2027.
- Candidates must attend the in-country arrival orientation.
- Other start dates will not be considered.
Orientation
Mandatory.
All pre-departure orientation sessions occur online a few weeks or months preceding the grant start date. They cover:
- Visa application process with the Fulbright Commission staff
- Health and security briefings, with the U.S. Embassy in Brazil specialized officers
- Mental health care, with a Brazilian clinical psychologist specialized in cross-cultural issues
The grant starts with an in-country arrival orientation that lasts up to four days. After orientation, grantees head to their assigned host cities.
Orientation takes place in São Paulo, Brazil's hub airport. The Fulbright Commission provides accommodation, meals, and an allowance to help cover transportation to/from the airport for the orientation days.
Candidate Profile
- Some experience (one to two years) in tutoring/classroom teaching with young adults is required.
- Candidates with a TESOL, ESL, English, Linguistics, or Education degree are highly preferred.
- Candidates who hold a master's degree are preferred.
- Candidates with other degrees but who demonstrate a genuine interest in English Teaching as a career opportunity should also apply. If selected, these candidates must obtain a TEFL/TESOL certification sponsored by the Fulbright Program. The grant confirmation will be subject to completing the certification before the grant begins in March 2027.
We also consider the following competencies essential to succeed as an English Teaching Assistant, and we suggest you reflect on them before putting your application together. You are welcome to provide examples of your competencies in your personal statement or the statement of grant purpose if you decide the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award suits you.
- Candidates should be well-rounded, mature, resourceful, flexible, and articulate individuals with the skills and motivation needed to assist in teaching English and discussing U.S. culture from their perspective.
- Candidates should also demonstrate initiative, leadership, and confidence and be willing to engage in extracurricular activities as needed.
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.
Benjamin Hudock
English Teaching Assistant 2022-23 at Universidade Regional do Cariri, in Crato, Brazil
During my nine months at the Universidade Regional do Cariri, I met so many talented and passionate students, professors and friends that graciously shared their northeastern culture with me and carved out space for this foreigner in their unassumingly unique world. At my job, I had the freedom to explore language acquisition topics and techniques I had always been curious about before. There was ample possibility to invest in individuals, engage with the academic community and give Portuguese a workout. More than just a professional development experience, however, Fulbright also made for an unforgettable personal adventure. Whether jamming out on the zabumba to maracatu music or filming all the new delicacies I was trying for an ever-growing online audience, I felt constantly challenged to pursue new cultural outlooks and exchange the intangibles I had brought with me to country. I know I will always have a second home in Crato, Ceará.
Lauren Kuhlman
English Teaching Assistant 2022-2023 at Universidade do Estado do Paraná (UNESPAR), in Apucarana, Brazil
I have never learned as much as I did as a Fulbright ETA at UNESPAR. Each day, I learned new Portuguese, different Brazilian traditions, and more about English Language pedagogy. The best part, though, was that the learning was reciprocal. My students and coworkers valued the cultural insight and native pronunciation I brought to the classroom and campus.
Each person that met me was interested in my story, and was excited to learn about my experience in Brazil. I will always miss the warm community that welcomed me with open arms. My students invited me to their families’ Easter celebration, Festa Junina, and Sunday churrasco barbecues. These experiences shaped my experience into a beautiful learning environment.
Professionally, I have been able to leverage my experience as a university co-professor and leading several different community outreach projects to showcase my skills in leadership and cultural competence. I have also developed rich friendships with fellow Fulbrighters that I will treasure for many years to come.
Being a Fulbright ETA in Brazil was an energizing, inspiring learning experience that I will always hold dear to my heart.
Bianca Rosa Perez
English Teaching Assistant 2022-2023 at Universidade Federal de Lavras, in Lavras, Brazil
Applying for the ETA program is one of the best decisions that I have ever made! Though I was only four months into self-teaching Portuguese after becoming enamored with Brazilian culture due to the novela A Dona do Pedaço, I took a huge leap of faith and applied to the program. I had no idea that a novela would lead me to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Being placed at Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA) in Lavras, Minas Gerais, was amazing! I had the fortune of having a great host professor, a welcoming university environment, engaged students, and a loving community of friends. Living in the southeastern region of Brazil helped me survive the heat, as I am sure that my lifelong Midwesterner self would not have survived the scorching temperatures of the northeast!
From ordering food to presenting to schoolchildren to traveling around Brazil, I was immersed in the Portuguese language, which significantly improved my Portuguese and has inspired me to continue learning it post-grant.
Aside from UFLA, I also loved Minas Gerais’s delicious cheese and coffee, its beautiful serras, its historically rich cities, and its incredibly warm and friendly people. Brazilians are nice, but mineiros are the nicest!
Eligibility
3 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
- Between December 2025 and January 2026: The Institute of International Education will notify all candidates about the semi-final results
- January 2026: The Fulbright Commission in Brazil will contact all semi-finalists with instructions to:
- Schedule an online interview with the Commission, and
- Prepare and present a short class presentation to the Commission during the interview
The interview, short class presentation, and the information provided in the application package will serve to determine the final selection.
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.
Level: Advanced Portuguese - 3 years of college-level study or equivalent prior to commencing the grant OR Advanced Spanish - 3 years of college-level study in Spanish or the equivalent prior to commencing the grant, plus an additional study of Portuguese at the time of application.
Applicants who have begun the study of Portuguese at the time of application but have advanced Spanish skills must submit a Foreign Language Evaluation by a college-level language instructor in both Spanish and Portuguese with the application. A Foreign Language Evaluation by a college-level Portuguese language instructor is required for all applications.
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.
Advanced Portuguese skills are highly recommended when the grant begins to settle in comfortably and pursue independent interactions in the community that are not related to the English teaching project at the host institution.
Basic Portuguese proficiency will not harm an applicant's chances of being offered an award as long as they demonstrate their plans for language study between the time of application and the commencement of the grant via the Language Self-Evaluation form.
Placement Type
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
ETA placements are determined in November 2026, a few months before the grant start date.
The Fulbright Commission will assign two Fulbright ETAs to each public university participating in the Fulbright program throughout Brazil. ETAs can be invited to co-teach and develop activities for undergraduate students seeking to obtain different minor and major degrees.
Brazilian students take three to four years of undergraduate studies to obtain their bachelor's degree.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
- Rural
Placements can be in any Brazilian city, regardless of its size and location. Individuals should not apply for or accept this award unless they are willing to take on the Fulbright assignment anywhere in Brazil.
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.
The Fulbright Commission pays your stipend in bulk of USD 3,060.00 every three months, with the first payment being made no later than 30 days before the grant start date.
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.
- Registration/Permitting fees
- Settling in allowance
- Local transportation allowance
Grantees will receive the following one-time allowances:
- Registration/Permitting fees: USD 50
- Settling-in allowance: USD 1,020
- Local transportation allowance for the in-country arrival orientation: USD 50
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
The Commission will hold a mid-year seminar for grantees to reconnect, share experiences, improve professional and personal skills, and meet the Brazilian government funding agency representative.
Another benefit for Fulbright grantees is a simplified visa application process with a visa fee waiver.
Supplementary Project
Because teaching assistant responsibilities will not surpass 30 hours per week, grantees are expected to engage in other activities related to their personal, career, and/or educational interests. Applicants should consider a project that they intend to carry out if awarded the grant. Since they will not know where they will be assigned, these activities should be flexible respective to geographic location.
Examples of supplementary projects include:
- Auditing classes at the host university
- Researching issues related to Brazil
- Engaging in volunteer activities
- Developing new skills or a combination of those
Grantees should plan to spend 10 to 15 hours per week on their supplementary project. Applicants should use the Host Country Engagement section of the application form to describe their supplementary project plans.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Please visit this website to help estimate the cost of living, meals, and incidentals in different capital cities in Brazil. Significant differences can exist in smaller towns where costs tend to be lower.
Dependents
The grant does not provide financial or logistical support for dependents. Because ETAs are placed at universities throughout the country where limitations on family housing, schooling, and child care may exist, dependents should not accompany grantees for the full grant term.
Housing Arrangements
The Commission doesn't offer housing or host family placements. Very rarely can a host institution provide accommodation, but all host professors will help grantees find a place to stay for the early stages of the grant. ETAs must contact their program managers at the assigned university or respond to their email messages as soon as possible to explore housing options before arrival in Brazil.
The Commission can connect grantees with alumni who might provide information about specific host cities.
Nature of Assignment
Grantees should expect to spend 30 hours per week of classroom teaching, planning time included. Specific teaching assistantship activities will differ from institution to institution, according to their needs. They also vary depending on the ETA's background and qualifications. Finalists who are selected for this award can expect to receive a list of possible activities that other ETAs have developed during their assignments.
Travel outside of Brazil must always coincide with the ETA’s vacation period and the breaks in the host institution’s academic calendar. The ETA’s vacation period consists of 14 days without counting weekends or holidays, and it must be taken all at once, without interruption. Breaks in the host institution’s academic calendar usually occur during June, July, or August.
Excluding emergencies, grantees may not travel outside Brazil while host institutions are in session -- no exceptions. No one should apply for or accept the ETA award unless they can commit fully to their host institution's calendar of activities.
Funding
The Brazilian government, through the Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES), co-sponsors this award.
If you have any questions about the award description, don't hesitate to contact the Fulbright Commission in Brazil. For application-form-related questions, refer to the IIE Fulbright Application & Selection team.