Foreign Language (Arabic) Teaching Assistant Fellowships

Program Overview

The purpose of the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program is to strengthen the instruction of foreign languages at U.S. colleges and universities, while providing young native Arabic speakers the opportunity to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency and extend their knowledge of the cultures and customs of the United States.

During the course of one academic year (9 months), FLTA Fellows teach the Arabic language and, in parallel, take two academic courses per semester. Fellows also share their culture and values with Americans in university clubs, language dormitories and in community outreach programs. Upon completion of the FLTA Program, Fellows return home with an improved command of the English language and are able to speak about the United States, its culture and its people on the basis of first-hand knowledge. Participation in the FLTA Program does not lead to the receipt of an academic degree.

Those awarded fellowships will take up their positions in the United States in August 2024.

Applications for FLTA Fellowships may be submitted by individuals who have received Bachelor’s degrees, especially in the field of English teaching, English language, American/English literature, American studies, or journalism and media.  Preference will be given to those with teaching experience in their field of study.

FLTA Brochure

 

Grant Benefits

  • ​​​​​​Monthly maintenance allowance, fixed according to IIE estimates;
  • Tuition and fees;
  • Round trip airfare from Israel to the US academic institution for the grantee only;
  • Basic health insurance for the grantee only for the duration of the grant;
  • J1 visa administration;
  • Pre-departure orientation meeting in Israel;
  • A support agency in the U.S. that assists with visas, events and networking.
  • Participation in special Fulbright workshops and Fulbright enrichment seminars

Eligibility criteria

  • Candidates must be Israeli citizens. Dual American-Israeli citizens or permanent residents of the United States are not eligible to apply.
  • Applicants must be resident in Israel throughout the application and selection process.
  • Candidates must hold an academic degree by June 1, 2024.
  • The candidate's mother tongue (native language) must be Arabic (i.e. the candidate must have grown up in an Arabic-speaking household).
  • Candidates must be in good health. Those selected as program fellows are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before the award of their grants can be finalized.
  • Prior conviction or current indictment for a felony may result in disqualification.

Evaluation criteria

  • Preference will be given to applicants who have not had a substantial, recent, academic experience in the United States.
  • Leadership qualities are an important evaluation criterion.
  • Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.
  • The quality of the application, including the essays, academic track record and recommendations, is the primary evaluation criterion.

Conditions of award

  • Funding is for one academic year only. The Fellowship is non-renewable.
  • Grantees must travel on a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa sponsored by the Fulbright program.
    • It is a condition of the visa that upon expiration of their exchange visitor status, grantees must return to Israel and reside in the country for two years before being eligible to immigrate to the U.S., to return to that country as permanent residents or to enter the U.S. with a work permit. The purpose of the two-year home residency requirement is to ensure that exchange visitors return home and fulfill the exchange objectives of the Fulbright program.
    • Holders of J-1 student visas who have departed from the United States after a stay of six or more months must remain abroad for at least twelve months before being allowed to re-enter the United States with a J-1 professor/research scholar visa.   There is no such limitation to re-entry to the United States as the holder of a J visa in another category (short-term scholar, specialist, international visitor), or as the holder of a student or tourist visa.
    • Program fellows who enter the U.S. as J-1 visa holders must receive a special waiver in order to change their visa status to J-2 while in the United States.  The Department of State does not support such change of status requests.
    • The FLTA Program does not sponsor J-2 visas for spouses or dependents. Thus, Fellows may not bring spouses or dependents with them to the U.S.
  • Grantees must begin their program in the United States no later than August 2024. Awards cannot be deferred to the following academic year.
  • Fellows will be asked to act as Fulbright Programs Ambassadors – to share their experiences with others, to disseminate fellowship information among colleagues and potential candidates and to participate in information sessions for new candidates that may be held in their region. Alumni will also be invited to attend Fulbright Israel's activities and events and, from time to time, asked to assist in the reviewing process for incoming candidates. 

Instructions on the preparation and submission of applications

  • Candidates must submit online applications by July 20, 2023.
  • All pages and parts of the application must be filled out and submitted to constitute a complete application file. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.
  • Every question must be answered completely and carefully.  Please make every effort, however, to limit your response to the space provided.
  • The candidate’s name should be given in the application form exactly as it appears on the candidate’s passport.
  • The candidate must enter the names and email addresses of three referees (recommenders) to the on-line application system. The system will then contact the referees and provide them with a link where they can upload their references. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all references are submitted by the application deadline. The referees must be professors under whom the candidate has studied or conducted research or superiors who have supervised the candidate in his/her work as a teacher.
  • Certified, official copies of the record of courses and grades receive for the entire period of the applicant’s university and/or professional school studies must be submitted.  A full and accurate English translation of any document whose original is not in English must be provided.

The Interview Process

The candidates who receive the highest rankings on the basis of their written application materials will be invited for an interview. All interviews will be held on the same day. In order to be considered for an award, applicants must be available for interview in person on the date fixed by Fulbright Israel.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for the evaluation of applications. The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding the allocation of Fellowships.

Timetable for 2024/2025

Earliest date for submission of applications May 22, 2023
Final deadline for submission of applications August 21, 2023
Review of applications August 2023
Interviews and selection of semi-finalist October 2023
Universities' matching process March 2024
Placements of finalists are announced April 2024
International FLTA Orientation  July 2024
Awards commence August 2024

Alumni Experience

Eman Abo Salah

Wellesley College, 2014

 

Leena Hanna

Vassar College, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

I hold dual citizenship – both Israeli and American. Am I eligible to apply for a Fulbright award?
No. Only Israeli citizens are eligible to apply. Israeli citizens holding citizenship of another country other than the U.S. in addition to Israel are eligible to apply.
I am already enrolled in a program in the U.S. May I apply for a Fulbright award to complete my program?
No. Fulbright awards are granted to applicants who have not commenced their programs in the U.S.
I am a qualified medical doctor. May I apply for the post-doctoral program?
Yes. However, medical doctors (MDs) must also have a PhD in order to be eligible for Fulbright Postdoctoral fellowships. In addition, research in the United States, must not involve clinical contact with patients. Post-doctoral Fellowships are not available to support clinical internships. This is only relevant for Postdoctoral programs.
Can I avail myself of a Fulbright award for a project that I want to work on in Israel?
No. Fulbright awards are for study/research in the United States only.
Are Fulbright grants available for attending conferences, seminars and paper presentations in the U.S. and other countries?
Fulbright grants are not awarded for these purposes.
How do I apply for an award?
You should read the Instructions and Information and submit your Application Form using the Applications Embark online system. Applications which are not submitted online cannot be considered.

For inquiries:

Besan Abu Abeid

Tel: 03-5213805 

Email: [email protected]

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