German foreign language assistants

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Smaller American universities, so-called liberal arts colleges , offer prospective English teachers the opportunity to work for 9 months as a German Language Teaching Assistant (GLTA). The teaching assistants should deepen the German lessons at the university and arouse interest in the German language and culture among American students. The teaching commitment is 15-20 hours per week and includes enrollment in academic courses at the host university. The applicants are placed with the American host universities by a US partner organization. The teaching stay gives them an insight into the American higher education system and its teaching methods.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS The funding relates to the duration of a 9-month assignment as a GLTA starting in August/September.

The US host universities usually provide the assistants with free room and board on campus and cover the costs of two academic courses per semester. These achievements are complemented by the Fulbright scholarship. It contains:

• Financing of the round-trip transatlantic journey
• Payment of an additional fee of EUR 300
• Health/accident insurance (basic care)
• Participation in a preparatory meeting in Berlin
• Free visa application
• Supervision by the Fulbright Commission

TARGET GROUP High-performing students and graduates studying English/American Studies at a German university. Applicants in the corresponding teaching degree courses or with a career goal as a teacher will be given preferential consideration.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• German citizenship (Applicants who have dual German-American citizenship cannot be considered for funding due to the visa requirements for program participation.)
• good general and professional education
• General knowledge of literature, history and regional studies of the USA and Germany
• First practical experiences with the methodology and didactics of foreign language teaching
• good English language skills

Applicants must be able to prove their bachelor’s degree by submitting their certificates by December 1st. Applicants in the degree programs that conclude with the state examination must be able to show that they have successfully completed at least 6 semesters of English at the time they start their scholarship. Applicants who already have a university degree must not have been more than 2 years old at the time of application.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES The program is advertised via the Pedagogical Exchange Service at the Conference of Ministers of Education. The call for applications relates to the American academic year, which begins in August or September of the following year at American universities. The application period ends in November.

The next call for applications is expected to be in August 2023