Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program
Application deadline: July 26, 2021, 18:00 Uzbekistan time

The Embassy of the United States in Tashkent is pleased to announce the competition for the 2022 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program.

Program Overview

The Fulbright FLTA Program is a nine-month, ECA-funded, non-degree program for early career (not more than seven years of teaching experience) English teachers or professionals in related fields to teach their native language in an American college or university.  Candidates who are teachers in the fields of American Studies, Journalism and Media, American/English Literature, and teachers of their own language as a foreign language will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.  In preparation for their return to careers in their home countries at the conclusion of the program, participants have the opportunity to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency, and extend their knowledge of the society and culture of the United States while serving as teaching assistants for their native language to U.S. students and strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities.  Fulbright FLTA participants also interact with their host communities in conversation groups, extracurricular activities, and community outreach projects.  Fulbright FLTA participants must return to their home countries upon completion of the program.

The Fulbright FLTA program grant is awarded for one academic year, beginning in August 2022, and ending in May 2023.

Fulbright FLTA participants will assist in up to twenty hours of language classes a week and are required to enroll in at least two courses per semester, one of which must be in U.S. Studies.  Coursework is offered on either an audit or credit basis.  Fulbright FLTA participants will also be expected to facilitate in-person or virtual cultural events, language clubs, and language tables.

FLTA applicants must demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity, and professionalism. FLTA applicants should be energetic, early career educators capable of succeeding in the dual role of teaching assistant and student. They must be open to living with their U.S. student peers in undergraduate or graduate level campus housing and engaging with faculty and staff with maturity and professionalism.

Prospective FLTAs should be aware that they will need to be flexible in terms of program activities due to possible COVID-19-related adjustments to the 2022-23 academic year. Program adjustments may include the requirement to teach remotely, assist with teaching responsibilities online, or attend virtual sponsored activities such as orientations or the mid-year conference.

*Selected FLTAs will teach Uzbek to U.S. students. Uzbek and English language proficiency will be tested during the interviews.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be teachers with not more than seven years of teaching experience.
Be English teachers or professionals in related fields. Candidates who are teachers in the fields of American Studies, Journalism and Media, American or English Literature and teachers of their own language as a foreign language will also be considered on a case-by-case basis will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
At minimum possess the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree by June 1, 2022; and
Be residing in their home country throughout the nomination and selection process
Fluency in English is mandatory. Application materials must be the work of the applicant without assistance or translation from another source

IMPORTANT: Applicants with active applications for permanent residency or the diversity visa lottery, as well as those who have a history of attempting to immigrate to the United States, should not be considered for the program or required J-1 visa. Past diversity visa lottery applications are considered a demonstration of intent to immigrate, and will result in candidates being deemed ineligible

Private English language tutors, teachers employed at educational centers and private schools that serve a primarily expatriate population are not eligible. Fluency in English is mandatory. Selected semi-finalists will be required to take the TOEFL – IBT and achieve a score of no less than 80 in order to participate in the program. Fulbright FLTA applicants must demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity and professionalism. Fulbright FLTA participants are required to return to their home countries upon completion of the nine-month program. The U.S. Embassy will not support any extension requests. The Fulbright FLTA program does not support dependents or family members. Candidates may not have any dependents accompany them for any period during the program. By extension of this policy, pregnant candidates may not participate in the program if the birth is due during the program period. Preference will be given to those candidates who have little or no prior experience living in the United States.

Participants must fulfill the two-year home residency requirement required by exchange participants’ J-1 visas, in which they pledge to demonstrate their commitment to enhancing mutual understanding by returning to their home countries and sharing the skills and knowledge that they have gained as program participants. Applicants with active applications for permanent residency or the green card lottery will not be considered. Posts and Commissions are discouraged from nominating candidates who have a history of repeatedly attempting to immigrate to the United States, as they will not be considered for the program or required J-1 visa.

The Fulbright FLTA program does not support dependents or family members.  Candidates may not have any dependents accompany them for any time during the program.  Family and friends may visit program participants during holiday periods only

Plagiarism and Misrepresentation

Plagiarism in applications will not be tolerated. Applicants who plagiarize any portion of their applications by not properly citing sources, including in personal statements, essays, etc., will be disqualified. Material misrepresentation (i.e.: lack of candor or truth) at any time during the application or grant period, including during application, interview, test-taking, and the fellowship itself is grounds for selection withdrawal or grant termination, as well as ineligibility for future participation. Potential applicants are advised that their applications will undergo a thorough plagiarism review. Every year numerous candidates are disqualified due to copied text from uncited sources appearing in their applications.

IMPORTANT: The content and essays of the FLTA application must be created by the applicant alone. Applicant must complete the online application without assistance or translation from other individuals. Plagiarism from other sources will result in disqualification. If selected for an interview, the interview will be conducted entirely in English. Translation will not be provided to candidates while in the U.S., therefore complete proficiency in English is required

Program Provisions

All Fulbright FLTA participants receive a monthly stipend, accident and sickness coverage, and travel support. U.S. host institutions provide tuition waivers to support the required coursework.

Application Procedures

Each candidate will be required to submit an online application via the online management system: https://apply.iie.org/FLTA2022 by July 26, 2021 application deadline.

Application Package

A complete application package includes the online application, academic transcripts with certified English translations, diploma (if already graduated), three letters of reference, a valid TOEFL or IELTS score report (if available), and a copy of your passport. Should you anticipate receiving your bachelor’s diploma in summer of 2022, please provide a copy of your current student record book. None of the application documents should be emailed

Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. Answer all questions truthfully and as fully as possible. Applicants must complete their own applications with no assistance. An online application and all documents listed above must be completed and submitted via the online management system.

Successful candidates will be notified of their awards late May 2022.

Questions about the FLTA Program

Please review the FAQ (PDF 239 KB) and Instructions for completing the Fulbright FLTA Program Application (DOC 475 KB). Visit the Fulbright FLTA website for more information at: https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/about/fulbright-flta. Please email your questions to Tashkent-ELP@state.gov with “FLTA” in the subject line of all emails.

Please feel free to share this information with your friends and colleagues. We encourage all eligible candidates to apply.