What is the FLTA Program?The Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program brings teaching assistants in 33 languages from nearly 50 countries around the world to U.S. colleges and universities to study and to teach foreign languages, assist in language instruction and serve as cultural ambassadors on campus. For academic year 2009-2010 the FLTA Program will include teaching assistants from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Latin America and Central, South and Southeast Asia. FLTAs are selected by U.S. Embassies, Fulbright Commissions, or Bi-National Centers in their home countries. The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funds the majority of the FLTA program. Funding levels depend on the country of citizenship and language taught. Please see Requirements. Participating institutions are offered the opportunity to select their FLTA(s) from among a panel of candidates submitted by IIE that matches their stated requirements and whom they believe is (are) most appropriate for their campus. We invite your institution to become a host campus. FLTAs are Language TeachersInstitutions hosting FLTAs are free to tailor teaching programs to meet the school's needs. FLTAs often teach beginning and intermediate classes or offer tutorial sessions to improve students’ language acquisition. On many campuses they serve as directors of language houses or language floors, offering students uncommon access to target languages. Under J-1 visa regulations, FLTAs can work up to 20 hours per week. FLTAs are Cultural AmbassadorsFLTAs add a youthful, up-to-date cultural component to foreign language classes, as well as add a dimension to student life on campus. FLTAs host language tables, cooking sessions, cultural presentations and other co-curricular events, allowing U.S. students to work with young native speakers in non-traditional settings. This interaction makes studying a foreign language more meaningful and real. FLTAs are Students All FLTAs are sponsored as J-1 non-degree students and are required to enroll in at least two classes per semester. Coursework does not have to be at the graduate level and can be taken on an audit or credit basis. IIE prepares the necessary documentation to provide FLTAs with their J-1 status and monitors their stay to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is administered by the U. S. Department of State and brings exchange visitors to the U.S. for a variety of educational purposes. FLTAs who enter the U.S. in J-1 visa status and who are financed by the U.S. government are subject to the "Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement," under which individuals must return to their country of legal residence for a two-year period before they may change their visa status. |
