Guatemala
2 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodJanuary StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
ETAs will be assigned as language-learning assistants, but will not be responsible for teaching entire courses. Responsibilities may include giving presentations on different topics related to the United States, preparing classroom activities, leading conversation clubs and/or encouraging students to communicate in English.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grant Length: 10 months.
Grants begin in January 2026, and candidates should plan to attend a mandatory orientation upon arrival. Arrivals prior to January 10 are strongly discouraged.
Orientation
As a condition of the grant, all grantees to Guatemala are required to participate in the Pre-Departure Orientation in the U.S.
Candidate Profile
Applicants should have some experience working in an educational environment and, specifically, with classroom teaching. Candidates with degrees in English, applied linguistics or foreign languages, AND certification or significant coursework in teacher education or TESOL, are strongly preferred.
Because this is a student program, candidates with more than three years teaching experience or a Master's degree in TESOL and more than one year of teaching at the time of application may be considered overqualified and not eligible for this program.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Fulbrighters typically get very involved and volunteer in their communities. Many enjoy teaching English and participating in cultural events. It is also important that Fulbrighters to Guatemala be open-minded and feel comfortable dealing with potential bureaucracy within the host institution.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Foreign Language Proficiency
Additional Information: A Foreign Language Evaluation by a college level Spanish language instructor is required.
Placement Type
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Teaching assignments will be made by the U.S. Embassy and ETAs are usually placed at Guatemalan universities outside the capital of Guatemala City that host the Access Microscholarship Program. ETAs may be assigned to work in an area of Guatemala that is relatively remote and that offers a reduced level of services and conveniences. As such, applicants should have a high level of flexibility and the ability to adapt to new situations.
Placement Locations
- Regional City
Supplementary Project
ETAs also will pursue an independent research, study, or volunteer project. The project is a secondary activity that will supplement the grantee's ETA responsibilities. Applicants should briefly describe this project in their Statements of Grant Purpose and may address some or all of the following: 1) why the activities are appropriate to Guatemala; 2) skills, talents or other qualifications that they bring to the project plan; 3) how they view this plan as contributing to their professional or educational development; and 4) if and how the plan contributes to the Fulbright goals of mutual understanding and host community engagement. Remember that the primary activity for ETAs is in the classroom and not carrying out this project.
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.
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
- Local transportation allowance
- USD 2,050 base allowance to cover round-trip international travel, transit, excess baggage, settling-in expenses
- USD 500 English Teaching Materials Allowance
- USD 300 ETA Relocation/ Travel Cost Allowance
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 major cities in Guatemala. Significant differences can exist in smaller towns where costs tend to be lower.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Grantee housing possibilities include a host family setting, a room in shared student housing, a single apartment, and more. Grantees receive assistance from their host affiliates in identifying and securing the type of housing that best fits their preferences and needs.