The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) invites applications from interested Indian nationals, between 21 and 29 years of age, currently teaching English at college level or training to be teachers of English for the FULBRIGHT FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING ASSISTANT (FLTA) PROGRAM. Applicants should POSSESS BY JUNE 2011 at least a Master's degree. Selected FLTAs from India will teach Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, or Urdu at select U.S. campuses during their nine month non degree grant beginning August/September 2011, subject to availability of funding. Application deadline for Indian candidates: September 1, 2010.

The FLTA Program

The FLTA Program, an integral part of the Fulbright Student Program, is funded by the U.S. Department of State. The purpose of the FLTA Program is to strengthen foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities, while providing future foreign teachers of English with the opportunity to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency and extend their knowledge of U.S. society and culture. FLTA fellows spend nine months serving as teaching assistants at U.S. educational institutions while also taking courses in English teaching and U.S. Studies as non-degree students. FLTA fellows also interact with the host community in conversation groups, extracurricular activities and community outreach projects. India is one of the countries participating in the 2011 competition.

The FLTA program promotes cross-cultural understanding in the U.S. and in the home countries of the FLTA fellows. U.S. universities benefit from the presence of a native speaker on their campuses. FLTA fellows provide teaching assistance, by serving in various capacities, which may include teaching up to two classes per semester, and typically facilitate cultural events, language clubs and language tables. FLTA fellows are required to enroll in at least two courses per semester, one of which must be in U.S. Studies. The remaining coursework must relate to their careers in English language teaching. Fellows and U.S. students have a unique opportunity to learn about each other's cultures and customs, and to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries. Upon completion of the program, the fellows return home and teach English at the secondary and university level. As a result of the program, FLTA alumni return with a high proficiency in English and are able to speak with authenticity and authority about the United States, its values and its people.

Grant Benefits

All FLTA fellows receive a monthly stipend, health insurance and travel support. U.S. host institutions provide tuition awards to support the required coursework. The FLTA program does not provide J-2 visas for spouses or dependents.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be citizens of India and hold a valid Indian passport at the time of application. Persons applying for or holding permanent residence in the United States are not eligible. Fulbright fellows enter the U.S. on an exchange visitor (J-1) visa and are subject to the two-year home residence requirement associated with J-1 visa. Applicants must be residing in India throughout the application, nomination and selection process.
• FLTA applicants must be at least 21years old and no more than 29 years of age on October 1, 2010.
• Applicants must clearly demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity and professionalism.
• Fluency in English is mandatory. A score of no less than 213 (CBT), 79-80 (IBT) or 550 (PBT) on the TOEFL is required.
• Candidates should possess the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelors degree with a good academic record. Indian applicants should have at least a Masters degree by June 2011.
• Applicants must be English language teachers at the college level or training to become English language teachers. Prior teaching experience is preferred.

Important: The FLTA Program is a NON-DEGREE program and those wishing to pursue degree studies in the United States should not apply. All FLTA fellows must return to their home countries upon completion of the nine-month program. No extension requests will be supported. No dependents are allowed to accompany fellows on this program. Pregnant candidates may not participate in this program if the birth is due during the program period.

FLTA Applicant Profile

FLTA candidates must be enthusiastic about teaching. They must have a sincere interest in teaching their native language and culture to U.S. students. Through their application they should demonstrate knowledge of their culture and current events in their home country. They should have leadership skills, the ability to motivate students to learn and the ability to relate to them in an emphatic manner. FLTAs should have a desire to meet people and become a part of the community by participating in community events and campus activities. They should also be creative and self reliant team players, who are able to maintain excellent relationships with faculty, staff and students.

Preference is given to those candidates who have little or no prior experience living in the United States. Fellows must be flexible with placements at smaller or more ethnically diverse U.S. academic institutions.

How to Apply

We encourage applicants to complete the online application form as all nominees are required to complete the form online. Click here for instructions to complete the form online. However, for candidates with limited internet access, you have the choice of completing the application form online or in the MS Word format. Click to download application form in MS Word format and Instructions to complete MS Word application. To receive the forms as email attachment in MS Word format, send request to ip@usief.org.in.

There are separate instructions for each format; however, all applicants must complete the Fulbright FLTA application form and send along with the required enclosures to USIEF, Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road, New Delhi 110001, no later than September 1, 2010. Do not send paper applications directly to the Institute of International Education (IIE). The letters of reference should be sent directly to USIEF on the prescribed Confidential Letter of Reference forms, by the same date. Employed applicants need to submit their applications through proper channel by the September 1 deadline. Please write ATTN: FLTA Program on the envelope.

Review Process

All eligible applications will be screened. Short-listed applicants will have to appear for an interview before a selection committee in New Delhi, in October/November 2010. Candidates recommended by the selection committee will have to appear for the TOEFL in October/November 2010. USIEF will provide fee vouchers towards the TOEFL exam. Recommended candidates will have to complete an online version of the application form. Applications of recommended candidates will be forwarded to the U.S. for further review. CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THEIR AWARDS BY March 2011. The final selection is dependent on the ability to match requests of U.S. host institution with language skills of the candidates. FLTA participants will be required to attend an orientation during the summer of 2011 before arriving at their host institutions in August 2011. FLTA fellows will also be required to attend a mid-year enrichment workshop to share and discuss foreign language best practices and their current teaching experience with other FLTA fellows.