Program Description
The Fulbright US Student: English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program places Fulbright grantees in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to the local English teachers. ETAs help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the US In Indonesia the program offers a unique opportunity for recent bachelor’s or master’s degree holders to supplement English language instruction in selected Indonesian high schools by providing a native-speaker presence.
Since its inception in 2004, the ETA program In Indonesia has grown from only five ETAs per year to 35 ETAs currently helping English teachers in various public and private high schools and religious high schools throughout the archipelago.
The goals of the ETA program are to:
Eligibility
An applicant must be:
Applicants currently residing in Indonesia (or those who will be living there during the relevant academic year) will not be considered.
Selection Criteria
Candidates must be mature, articulate, resourceful, flexible, have relevant teaching experience and be committed to working in an instructional setting with Indonesian high school students. Applicants with degrees in education, English, and TESOL are given preference, but candidates from all majors are welcome to apply. As cultural ambassadors, ETAs are expected to exhibit a high level of professionalism and share and explain aspects of American culture with their schools.
Selection of ETA candidates aims for geographic, ethnic, gender and disciplinary diversity. AMINEF can usually admit between 30 and 40 grantees per year.
Selection is first made by American academic selection panels. The nominated candidates are then decided in a final review by a binational Educational Exchange Committee of AMINEF in Indonesia. Candidates who are recommended for final review by AMINEF may be contacted for interviews via Skype or phone. Finally, candidates nominated by AMINEF are approved by the presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in Washington.
Note: It is the policy of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board that reasons for non-recommendation of candidates not be given.
Indonesian Language Study
While proficiency in Indonesian is not required, some study of the language prior to arrival is recommended in order to ease transition to school and community life. The following websites for self-study may be useful:
ETAs will be provided basic language instruction in Indonesian as part of the in-country orientation and one-on-one tutors at their target site, if requested. ETAs are not eligible for the Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA).
Orientation
An orientation and training opportunities are provided to the ETAs in order to help them acclimate and immerse themselves in the local language and culture. All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. in the summer as a condition of their grants. In addition, after a week at the target site, all grantees will come together for a two-week orientation in Indonesia that includes theoretical and practical training on how to teach English and assist local teacher, modules on local culture and the reality of teaching English in Indonesian schools, and intensive basic Indonesian instruction.
Placement and Housing
ETAs typically work with Indonesian high school teachers in teaching conversational English to students at selected public and private schools, including Islamic boarding schools, throughout Indonesia, some of which are in remote areas. Approximately 25 hours per week of classroom teaching alongside local English teachers, plus requisite class preparation time and school-related activities, will be required. ETAs are also expected to engage in activities in the communities where they living, for which small amounts of funding will also be made available.
School placements are based on decisions made by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and AMINEF’s Board of Managers.
Housing arrangements are made by the schools where ETAs will be placed, subject to approval by AMINEF. Some ETA sites are in rural areas which tend to be more conservative, and ETAs need to be prepared to adapt to local customs, conditions and norms. Housing situations vary greatly from site to site. Many placements lack conveniences such as air conditioning, hot water, gyms, and Western groceries. Internet connectivity speeds will vary by location. This requires a high degree of flexibility and adaptability on the part of the ETAs.
Outside Classroom Work
The primary activity of this program is assisting in teaching English as a foreign language. Because of visa and permit restrictions, it is not allowed for ETAs in Indonesia to undertake independent research or work with non-governmental organizations. However, ETAs are encouraged to seek opportunities for cultural enrichment, including community service, to enhance their overall Fulbright experience as cultural ambassadors.
Grant Period
Ten months, from June to March the following year. English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) generally depart for Indonesia in the end of June.
How to Apply?
AMINEF does not directly receive applications for this program. Applicants must apply to the Institute of International Education (IIE), which is responsible for handling applications of this program.
Before deciding to apply for this program, applicants are strongly encouraged to read Information to consider . The ETA Guidebook gives background on the program based on previous ETAs’ experiences.
Applicants are advised to consult IIE’s website for further information. For additional questions, contact FBstudent.EAP@iie.org.
Grant Benefits
ETAs are provided a round-trip, international ticket from the grantee’s home to the site placement. ETAs also receive a monthly stipend, two relocation allowances (i.e., moving to Indonesia from the US and returning to the US from Indonesia), and health/accident benefits.
Dependents
Dependent support is not available, and ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
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