Exchange-English Language Fellow Program (19.421)
Program
19.421 Exchange-English Language Fellow Program
Federal Agency
BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Authorization
Public Law 87-256, as amended, 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.
Program Number
19.421
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The English Language Fellow Program is a short-term program open to English language professionals at two different levels (junior and senior) to assist with the improvement of English teaching capability in selected institutions around the world, and to aid U.S. embassies overseas in their goals of promoting mutual understanding, facilitating democratic institution building and encouraging participation in the global economy. The program is funded by the Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the State's Federal Assistance Support (FSA), the and USAID's Support for Eastern European Democracy (SEED).
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grants are awarded to recent (junior)TEFL/TESL master's degree graduates (within the last five years) to serve as full-time teachers of English as a foreign language. They may teach up to 20 classroom hours of English per a week and also participate in or organize additional activities such as curriculum and materials development, in-service training, workshops and seminars. Experienced EFL professionals, preferably with overseas teaching experience (seniors) engage in teacher training and also participate in broad-reaching activities such as designing curricula, organizing and conducting workshops and seminars, conducting program evaluation, needs analysis and English for Specific Purposes (ESP). They are placed in host countries at local ministries of education, universities, teacher training institutions and other ESL educational institutions. Grants, specifying terms and conditions to meet the program goals are recommended by a grant review panel and approved at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs before award. Individual grants generally include basic stipend, round trip transportation, living allowance, medical insurance, miscellaneous and book allowances.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Individuals with the following qualifications: (1) U.S. citizenship at the time of application; and (2) M.A. or Ph.D. degree and experience in TESL/TEFL or a closely related field.
Beneficiary Eligibility
U.S. citizens who are willing to teach for a year according to the needs of the overseas host institution.
Credentials/Documentation
Individuals with the following qualifications: (1) U.S. citizenship at the time of application; and (2) M.A. or Ph.D. degree and experience in TESL/TEFL or a closely related field.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Persons who meet the eligibility requirements and who wish to receive information and an application form should contact World Learning, Inc./School for International Training, Kipling Road, P.O. Box 676, Brattleboro, VT 05302-0676. Telephone: (802) 258-3311, elf.info@sit.edu.
Award Procedure
Final selection and approval of grantees are made by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Deadlines
Subject to change, but generally applications are to be submitted by May 31. Deadlines can be waived under very special circumstances such as an inadequate number of qualified candidates for specific awards. After deadlines, applicants should contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to determine the availability of awards.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Extensions are granted for an additional year in the same country. Extensions beyond 2 years must be requested and approved by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Up to 1 academic year.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantee provides quarterly statistics and program reports and a final evaluation report by September 30 of the grant year.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for the year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
None.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2001, EL Fellow Program awarded 59 grants to qualified teachers of TEFL/TESL to teach in 33 countries. In fiscal year 2002, approximately 55 grants will be awarded. This program enables grantees who teach English as a foreign/second language to acquire overseas teaching experience while providing the host institutions with professional expertise in current methods and theory of English teaching; by providing specially designed courses for targeted high level groups, such as members of parliaments, and their staff, judiciary officials, and leading finance and business officials.
Financial Information
Account Identification
19-0201-0-1-154.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $3,151,000; FY 03 est $3,290,000; and FY 04 est $3,290,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$35,000 to $60,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Annual announcement placed at the Employee Clearinghouse service at the annual Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. Conference for recruitment of applicants for the English as a Foreign Language Fellow Program.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
World Learning, Inc./School for International Training, Kipling Road, P.O. Box 676, Brattleboro, VT 05302-0676. Telephone: (802) 258-3311.
Web Site Address
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching/fellows.htm
Examples of Funded Projects
Fellows teach English language skills/techniques, American culture, English for specific purposes in fields such as economics, banking, business/management, and law. They arrange and conduct conferences, and workshops/seminars, worked in communities assisting the local educational institutions in developing and maintaining resource centers. They also established teachers associations and organizations.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
1) The extent to which the proposal is feasible, practical and cost-effective; and 2) the extent to which the proposal is responsive to ESL/EFL language priorities and objectives.
