A program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX
Program Overview
The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (Fulbright TEA) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Fulbright program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by former United States Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Fulbright grants are awarded to students, scholars, teachers and other professionals from the United States and to foreign nationals to study, teach, or conduct research. Since its inception in 1946, more than 370,000 “Fulbrighters” have participated in the Fulbright program.
Teachers are nominated to participate in the Fulbright TEA Program based on their educational experience, academic training, leadership and professional experience. Final selection of Fulbright TEA teachers is made by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB). The FFSB is an independent, presidentially appointed board that has oversight responsibility for all Fulbright academic exchange programs.
Program Components
Teachers who are selected to participate in the Fulbright TEA Program will:
- Participate in advanced undergraduate or graduate level classes at a U.S. host university.
- Observe classes, co-teach, and share their expertise with U.S. colleagues in U.S. secondary schools.
- Participate in an online professional learning community with other participants to share best practices and other elements of host and home country educational systems; and
- Take part in other education and cultural activities while on program in the United States.
Upon returning home, teachers will be expected to share the knowledge and experience gained on the program with teachers and students in their home schools and within their communities.
University Coursework:
Weekly Seminars: Teachers will participate in weekly seminars at their host university featuring presentations and discussions led by university staff, faculty members, and invited educational experts. The academic seminars will focus on new teaching methodologies, content-based instruction, project-based learning, infusing thematic topics into curriculum, lesson planning, and instructional technology training for teachers.
U.S. School Placements: Teachers will be placed in a U.S. secondary school during the U.S. program, where they will observe classes, co-teach, and share their expertise and information about their home countries and schools. Each Fulbright teacher will be paired with a U.S. partner educator at their assigned school to facilitate sharing of best practices between the teachers. Host university staff will identify schools and partner teachers near the university campus that are appropriate to each grantee’s teaching discipline(s).
Online Professional Learning Community: Each Fulbright teacher will participate in a virtual community with other international educators to collaborate and share best practices about education and leadership in the participating countries.
How to Apply
Online applications only are accepted through this link: https://fulbright.irex.org/ Application deadline: March 5, 2023
The online application is available at: www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org and https://www.irex.org/fulbright-tea
Logistical Information
Travel: IREX will make international travel arrangements and provide all teachers with an international airline ticket. Fulbright teachers will also be reimbursed for round-trip travel expenses between their home city and the point of departure for the United States; however, participants (or U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions) are responsible for making these domestic travel arrangements to and from the international airport. Fulbright teachers may travel after the end of their program during the thirty-day grace period of the J-1 visa, provided that all conditions in the Terms and Conditions are met.
Housing: Participants will live on or near the host university campus in housing that is arranged for them. Dependents are not permitted to accompany the teachers on the program.
Finances: Each Fulbright teacher will receive a maintenance allowance during the program to cover expenses such as supplies for classes, household items, personal items, medical co-payments, and cultural and other activities. Also included in this total is a daily stipend to purchase groceries, meals at local restaurants, or food from on-campus dining services. Costs associated with housing, required program activities, and other program-related expenses are paid in advance by the Fulbright TEA Program and may vary by host university.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria:
- Current secondary-level, full-time teachers of English, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), math, science, or social studies (civics, history, geography, global studies, etc.), including special education.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- Five or more years of full-time teaching experience
- Demonstrated oral and written English language proficiency
- Citizen and resident of participating Fulbright TEA country
- Other requirements as indicated in the application
An independent review committee will be convened to select participants for the program through merit-based competition.
