U.S. Office of Palestinian
Affairs

The 2024 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program

The U.S Office of Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem Announces

The 2024 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program

Online Application Deadline: September 1, 2023

The U.S Office of Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) are pleased to announce the launch of recruitment for the 2024 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program.

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 (Arabic) in an American college or university.  Candidates who are teachers in the fields of American Studies, Journalism and Media, and American/English Literature 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.

Fulbright FLTA participants may assist in up to 20 hours of language classes per 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 cultural events, language clubs, and language tables.

Fulbright FLTA participants may be required to attend a U.S.-based orientation sponsored by ECA during the Summer of 2024 before arriving at their host institutions in August.  Fulbright FLTA participants will also be required to attend a mid-year enrichment conference in the United States, hosted by ECA and coordinated by the Institute of International Education (IIE), to share and discuss foreign language teaching best practices and their current teaching experiences with other Fulbright FLTA participants.

International and domestic travel, health insurance, housing, and a living stipend in the United States will be covered for all fellows.  All fellows will travel to the United States in an unaccompanied status.

Participant Eligibility:

• Applicants must be Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, the West Bank, or Gaza throughout the nomination and selection process.
• Applicants are typically 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 1, 2023 (this allows time to submit an official transcript prior to the start of the FLTA Program).
• 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).
• Applicants must demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity, and professionalism.

• Holders of U.S. passports or green cards, and employees of the U.S. Embassy and their immediate dependents are not eligible to participate in this program.
• Participation in the program is contingent upon the applicant qualifying for a J-1 visa to the United States.
• Material misrepresentation (e.g., plagiarism) at any time during the application or grant period is grounds for selection withdrawal or grant termination, as well as ineligibility for future participation.
• 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 also engaging with faculty and staff with maturity and professionalism.
• The 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. By extension of this policy, pregnant candidates may not participate in the program if the birth is due during the program period.
• Fulbright FLTA participants are required to return to their home countries upon completion of the nine-month program.  ECA will not support any extension requests for participants.  The Fulbright FLTA program does not support dependents or family members.
• Local AMIDEAST employees, including those who have worked on a contract or short-term basis, are ineligible to participate in the Fulbright FLTA Program until one year following termination of employment.

Application Deadline and inquiries:

Application deadline is September 1, 2023.  Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Interested candidates should apply online using the following link: https://apply.iie.org/flta2024 

Please note that a valid passport with an expiration date of no earlier than December 31, 2025 will be required for finalists of the program. 

For any questions, please contact:

Jerusalem and West Bank Applicants: jerusalemexchanges@state.gov

Gaza Applicants:  jrsgazaexchanges@state.gov