Panama
2 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodJanuary StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
ETAs will share their academic and professional knowledge with students and professors in the classroom of their host institution for 25 hours per week. They will share their understanding and first-hand experience of U.S. culture by organizing and executing educational, cultural, and social activities, both within the classroom and in extracurricular programs. In addition to their principal work at their assigned institution, ETAs will also design and dedicate 15 hours per week to a socially-oriented supplementary project. ETAs are responsible for prioritizing their work in their affiliation center and will be expected to submit a monthly report to Post in which they will provide updates on their work.
The U.S. Embassy will arrange placement with Panamanian universities, schools (middle and elementary), and other educational/governmental institutions, which may be located in the capital city but preference is given to other provinces in more rural settings. 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, and/or encouraging students to communicate in English.
Details of assignments will be subject to communication between the U.S. Embassy and the host institution and based on the academic profile of the selected candidate and the host institution's needs. In these cases, the U.S. Embassy will discuss project alternatives with the grantee when the placement is made.
Post encourages applications for ETAs in rural areas/other provinces outside of Panama.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grant Length: 10 months.
Grants begin in January or March 2025, depending on the placement.
Orientation
As a condition of the grant, all grantees to Panama are required to participate in the Pre-Departure Orientation in the U.S. in summer 2024.
Candidate Profile
The U.S. Embassy in Panama welcomes applications from candidates with a demonstrated interest in working in an educational environment. Applications are welcome from graduating seniors and graduate students. Candidates with degrees in English, Literature, English for Specific Purposes, Education, or TEFL/applied linguistics with experience teaching or tutoring and who have an interest in working in an international educational environment are preferred. Other fields will be seriously considered if combined with teaching experience and/or coursework in pedagogy.
Preferred candidates will demonstrate leadership skills and the willingness to act as U.S. ambassadors in the communities in which they will be placed; an ability to build good working relationships with both students and teachers; good organizational skills; flexibility and creativity.
Eligibility
6 Months
U.S. citizens are preferred but dual citizens of this country are also eligible.
Accepted Degree Levels
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Applicants travelling to Panama must complete the process to obtain their Temporary Resident Permit under the immigration category of Fulbright Students. Post will guide applicants through the process but it is necessary to consider that some documents must be requested, notarized or apostilled in the United States.
Before entry to the country the grantee must contact the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section staff who will assist them with the necessary information to issue the Fulbright Temporary Resident Permit which allows them to stay in the country for a period longer than three months.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Additional Information: A Foreign Language Evaluation by a college level Spanish language instructor is required.
Placement Type
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- Secondary School
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Given the range of placements, applicants may highlight a preference for primary/secondary school or higher education/other educational center placement based on their professional background and career goals.
Placement Locations
- Regional City
- Rural
Post will consider the options of the candidates but placements will be determined depending on Panama´s educational necessities.
Placements may be made in any Province, EXCEPT in the Province of Darien. Please refer to the State Department's Panama Travel Information webpage for the latest updates.
Supplementary Project
ETA grantees will also pursue 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 the Statement of Grant Purpose and may address some or all of the following: 1) why the activities are appropriate to Panama; 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. The project will not take precedence over primary classroom teaching responsibilities and may also need to accommodate requests from the U.S. Embassy for participation in other activities.
Housing Arrangements
Grantees are responsible for housing arrangements but Post may assist in putting them in contact with former grantees who can share with them housing preferences and information.
Dependents
Special Considerations
Due to security risks, travel may be restricted to some regions of Panama. Travel beyond Santa Fe, Province of Darien is prohibited. Please refer to the State Department's Panama Travel Information webpage for the latest updates.
Before entry to the country, the grantee must contact the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section staff who will assist him/her with the necessary information to issue the Fulbright Temporary Permit which allows him/her to stay in the country for a period longer than three months.