Fulbright Institute of International Education
Foreign Language Teaching Assistants Program Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State
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Become a Host Site - Prior to the Arrival of your FLTA

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Host institution faculty are expected to contact the FLTA about matters vital to their successful adjustment to campus life and the fulfillment of their assistantship duties. If the host institution did not send IIE materials such as brochures or viewbooks during the application process, arrangements should be made to send this material directly to the assistant in his or her home country.

The Fulbright FLTA Supervisor Guidebook is a vital resource for information regarding all stages of the FLTA Program and how to properly guide the FLTA through their stay in the United States.

IIE will: 

  • Issue an FLTAs Terms of Award which:
    • Details the FLTAs assistantship responsibilities and particulars, including Start and End dates.
    • Defines the financial benefits of the award.
    • Lists the FLTAs rights and responsibilities as recipients of the J-1 student non-degree visa and Fulbright FLTA.

The Terms of Award are a contract between the FLTA, the Fulbright program, and the host institution. A copy of the signed Terms will be sent to the host institution once the candidate accepts the offer.

  • Provide a copy of the FLTAs completed Medical Form at least one month prior to the FLTAs arrival in the U.S.
  • Will mail Welcome Packets to the FLTA in care of the Supervisors office. The packet will include:
      • The E-Funds Card, for those FLTAs receiving payment through IIE.
      • The Work Authorization letter, used to obtain a Social Security Card.
      • A Student Report Form.
      • The Address Report From.
        • To be completed within 10 days of arrival and mailed to IIE along with the DS 2019 form, the I-94 card, and visa pages.

Host Institution Responsibilities:

  • Review the signed Terms of Award and inform IIE immediately of any needed corrections or revisions. Accuracy of reporting start and end dates is particularly important.
  • Review the FLTAs Medical Form. If you have not received the FLTA Medical Form at least one month before their scheduled arrival, please contact the FLTA program staff. Since many institutions have requirements that may not be met by the medical examination taken by the student prior to coming to the U.S., e.g., immunizations or vaccinations, it is important that they be given the opportunity to satisfy these in their home country, since reimbursement for meeting medical requirements once they enter the U.S. is not possible.
  • As soon as an FLTA accepts a position, the appointed Supervisor should contact the Assistant via the e-mail provided by IIE to:
    • Provide information regarding adjustment to campus life.
    • Define and describe their assistantship duties. (See below for FLTA position requirements)
    • Provide information on housing which has been arranged or a plan for obtaining housing upon arrival on campus. These arrangements may be made by you, or through the institution's housing or international students' services offices. Assistance MUST be provided, since most FLTAs will be ill-equipped to obtain their own housing, and a safe and pleasing housing situation will be key to insuring a successful transition to the U.S. and your community for what may be the first abroad experience for many of these visitors. 
  • Receive Welcome Packets and provide them to the FLTA immediately upon arrival. If you have not received the Packet at least one week prior to the FLTAs arrival, please contact the FLTA staff.
  • Facilitate transport to campus/housing upon arrival. This can be the Supervisor's or international students' office. If pick-up cannot be arranged, explicit instructions for getting to campus/housing must be provided to help the student begin with a good experience.
  • Attest that the FLTA is taking the required number of courses to guard their visa status by signing the Student Report Form. (See below for a description of academic requirements.)
  • Assist the student during registration each semester. Please notify IIE of any difficulties in this regard. If a particular course is not available, the student must register for a course that will compliment their experience and educational background.
  • Assure that at least one course during the year is in American Studies. Since there is latitude in determining what courses will meet this requirement, please contact the FLTA program staff for permission to enroll, if there is any doubt.
    • If transcripts will not be issued in audit situations, Supervisors and/or instructors should provide letters evaluating coursework and a letter grade that the student would have received in a credit situation.

Academic Requirements:

FLTAs must:

  • Audit or take credit for two courses per semester (or one course per quarter).
  • Complete the Student Report Form as proof of coursework.
  • Assure that at least one course during the year is in American Studies. Since there is latitude in determining what courses will meet this requirement, please contact the FLTA program staff for permission to enroll, if there is any doubt.
  • Provide flight arrival information to the host Supervisor as soon as the information is known.

FLTA Position Requirements:

FLTAs MUST:

      • Be engaged in language teaching duties throughout the academic year, for 20 hours per week.
      • Be teaching the language for which they received the grant.
          • FLTAs can guest lecture or assist minimally in a second language class if they will allow them to serve as a cultural ambassador. Such activities may only constitute a very small percentage of the work-week.

FLTAs are free to engage in supplementary educational and cultural activities, in addition to their classroom teaching and required coursework, as they see fit.

FLTAs MAY NOT:

      • Spend a semester or quarter not actively engaged in teaching the language for which they received the award. Failure to maintain teaching status is a violation of program requirements and may result in the revocation of the grant.
      • Teach or assist in the teaching of non-language courses.
          • FLTAs can guest lecture or assist minimally in a non-language class if they will allow them to serve as a cultural ambassador.

If an institution would like to utilize an FLTA in a non-language capacity, it must be agreed to in consultation with the FLTA. Such activities may constitute only a very small percentage of their overall duties.
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