Program Announcement

2010-2011 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program

The U.S. Embassy Dushanbe Public Diplomacy Section is pleased to announce the 2010-2011 competition for the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the FLTA Program is a nine-month non-degree program aimed at strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities, while providing current or future teachers of English with the opportunity to refine their skills, increase their English language proficiency, and extend their knowledge of U.S. society and culture. FLTA participants also interact with their host communities in conversation groups, extracurricular activities, and community outreach projects. FLTA participants must return to their home countries upon completion of the program.

FLTA participants may assist in or teach up to two Tajik language classes and are required to enroll in at least two university courses per semester, one of which must be in U.S. Studies. The remaining coursework should relate to their careers in English language teaching. FLTA participants will also be expected to facilitate cultural events, language clubs, and language tables.

All FLTA participants receive free tuition, a monthly stipend, accident and sickness coverage, and travel support.

FLTA participants will be required to attend an orientation arranged by ECA during the summer of 2010 before arriving at their host institutions in August. FLTA participants will also be required to attend a mid-year enrichment workshop that will be hosted by ECA in the United States to share and discuss foreign language teaching best practices and their current teaching experiences with other FLTA participants.

Applicants must be teachers of English or in training to become teachers of English, and at minimum must possess the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree by June 2010. Fluency in English is mandatory, demonstrated by a score of no less than 550 (paper based TOEFL); 213 (computer based TOEFL – CBT); 79-80 (internet based TOEFL – IBT) or 6.0 (overall score international English language testing system – IELTS). If you do not have a current test score, the U.S. Embassy will arrange for testing for semi-finalists. Applicants must demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity, and professionalism. Applicants must be residing in their home country throughout the nomination and selection process.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old and no more than 29 years old by the October 1, 2009 application deadline. The FLTA program does not support dependents or family members. By extension of this policy, pregnant candidates may not participate in the program if the birth is due during the program period.

Selection will be based on the candidate’s leadership skills, ability to motivate students to learn, and interest in teaching Tajik language and culture to U.S. students. Ideal candidates for the FLTA Program have a desire to meet people and become a part of their host community by participating in community events and campus activities. FLTA participants should also be creative and self-reliant team players, who are able to maintain excellent relationships with faculty, staff, and students.

Preference will be given to those candidates who have little or no prior experience living in the United States. Participants must be flexible with placements at smaller or more ethnically diverse U.S. academic institutions in order to meet the goal of the FLTA Program to place participants in all 50 States and at diverse institutions.

Applications may be submitted by mail, e-mail or via the online application system. Please refer to the box on the right for instructions on how to apply online or to download the paper application.

The link for applying online is - https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/flta/

Applicants who submit applications online must still mail transcripts and diplomas from all institutions attended and three letters of recommendations to:

Maya Vakhobova [] U.S. Embassy Dushanbe [] Public Diplomacy Section [] 109 A Ismoili Somoni Avenue

Paper-based applications should also be submitted to this address or to FulbrightTajikistan@state.gov

Applications must be received by the U.S. Embassy by 5 p.m. on July 1, 2009.

More information is available at http://flta.fulbrightonline.org/home.html.