Indonesia
20 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodAugust StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Since 2004, AMINEF as the Fulbright Commission in Indonesia, manages the Fulbright Program in Indonesia and has placed Fulbright U.S. Student English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in high school classrooms to assist local English teachers. ETAs work to improve students' English language abilities and to promote mutual understanding and knowledge of the United States' culture through English study. Each host school will tailor the assistantship to its English language teaching needs, and will place the ETA under the supervision of a counterpart teacher. The schools normally pair an ETA with one to three local English teachers with whom ETA will teach 20 - 25 hours per week.
The program is an entry-level professional development opportunity for ETAs to advance their teaching skills, to learn about the host country, and to exchange knowledge about the U.S. at the same time. The intensive cross-cultural interaction in a local community almost invariably provides valuable experiences for the ETAs who have come to Indonesia. Indonesians are well-known as open, friendly, and hospitable, and ETAs in Indonesia inevitably talk of their experiences as ETAs there as transformative and life-changing.
Indonesia is a great place to be an ETA. The world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, and one of the world's largest democracies, it is a diverse and multi-ethnic society. An archipelago of over 17,000 islands, the country is home to hundreds of ethnolinguistic groups. Indonesia is a dynamic country with a rapidly growing economy and it is gaining momentum on the international stage. ETAs will enjoy the extraordinary natural beauty of the country in addition to experiencing first-hand its stunning cultural riches. ETAs are often placed in rural areas and can get a sense of the needs and aspirations of citizens of a developing country. For many Indonesian students and teachers where ETAs are placed, previous interactions with Americans are minimal, and they know the US mainly from Hollywood movies and through digital media. Meeting and interacting daily with an American gives them an opportunity to get to know Americans first-hand. ETAs thus play an essential role as cultural ambassadors for the US in Indonesia.
There are many things to adapt to in a country that is very different from the U.S., of course. A posting as an ETA in Indonesia requires tolerance, empathy, patience, and maturity. For the right person, though, it is an excellent choice.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The Grant is planned to begin in August 2025, and will end in April 2026.
Orientation
AMINEF will organize online pre-departure orientation sessions in June - July 2025 that all selected ETAs are expected to attend. There will be four to five sessions held over four to five days. A single session will last for a maximum of two hours.
During the first month after arrival in Indonesia, there will be a mandatory orientation lasting around three weeks. It involves intensive Indonesian-language course, and modules to enhance English-teaching skills that are especially geared to the Indonesian context, and to develop intercultural skills. Details of the orientation will be available upon arrival.
Candidate Profile
To comply with the regulations of the Government of Indonesia, ETA candidates must be able to produce a Bachelor's or Master's degree diploma by June 2025.
Candidates must also have relevant teaching experience, and be committed to working in an instructional setting with Indonesian high schools students. Candidates with degrees in education, English, and Teaching of English as a Second Language are given preference, but candidates from all majors are welcome to apply. Since some ETAs will be placed at vocational high schools, the program especially welcomes new teachers with teaching experience in trade or vocational schools.
Throughout the grant, ETAs are expected to exhibit high levels of professionalism, cross-cultural sensitivity and respect towards people in their host schools and community. As cultural ambassadors, ETAs are also encouraged to share aspects of American culture with their schools.
Candidates must be fluent English-speakers. They should be mature, responsible, open-minded, articulate, resourceful, motivated, and flexible. They should show initiative and be collaborative with their peers, co-teachers, and members of the school community where they are placed.
Candidates must be able to adapt and thrive within a variety of cultural environments. This may mean dealing with the challenges of living in a less comfortable setting than they are used to. Candidates must be willing and able to physically and mentally adjust to work in the Indonesian cultural and educational context. For instance, they may be assigned to teach in a rural setting without many urban conveniences.
It is assumed that candidates will be interested in learning basic aspects of Indonesian history, culture, language, local values and norms.
ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Most ETAs find life in Indonesia as challenging but worth the experience, discovering it can be transformative. They find studying Indonesian language is important prior to coming to Indonesia. Privacy is still a foreign concept to many people in Indonesia. Religion is a big thing in most communities in Indonesia. Many things that can raise health concerns for Americans may not be perceived the same by Indonesians. Identity issues may be perceived differently in Indonesia than in the U.S.
Each ETA has different experiences from one another, and they are encouraged to not compare them. This is because each ETA has a different personality, mindset and motivation to join the Fulbright ETA program. Also, they are placed in a different host school that has different working cultures and environment, teacher and student profiles, and financial capacities. To better understand what life is like for ETA in the host country, we encourage ETA candidates to read the unofficial guidebook created by the ETA alumni on the following link: https://www.aminef.or.id/c/uploads/2016/12/ETA%20Guidebook%202016.pdf
Eligibility
1 Month
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Upon receipt of the Fulbright award, all English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) will be expected to complete a 120-hour online TESOL/TEFL course designated and paid by AMINEF. Those already holding TESOL/TEFL certificates or who have a degree in TESOL/TEFL are not required to complete the course.
As part of the selection process, AMINEF may ask nominated semi-finalists to participate in virtual interviews. This step is not a guarantee that the semifinalist will be selected for the grant, please note.
Due to the immediate post-COVID situation and to protect the safety and health of the ETAs, host communities and AMINEF staff, and to adhere to Indonesian Government's disease mitigation rules, some aspects and policies of the Fulbright ETA program in Indonesia in 2025 - 2026 may be different than in previous years. This can include higher level of domestic and international travel restrictions, visitation restrictions, and restrictions on social activity and gathering. This will require ETAs to comply with the standards, policies and guidance set by AMINEF. This also requires ETAs to understand and to have the willingness to accept the additional risks that come with the commitment to participate in Fulbright ETA program during the uncertain post-pandemic period.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Additional Information: Some study of Indonesian prior to arrival is recommended in order to ease transition to school and community life. ETAs will be provided with intensive but basic language instruction in Indonesian as part of the in-country orientation, and limited funds to hire a personal language tutor at site, if requested. ETAs should have the desire to learn about Indonesia and Indonesian language. The following websites may be useful:
1. https://bbiact.wordpress.com/online-indonesian/
2. https://indonesian-online.com/ [highly recommended course from University of Hawai'i and Australian National University, but charges a fee]
3. https://www.rosettastone.com/learn-indonesian/
2. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Indonesian/Lessons/Introduction
Placement Type
- Secondary School
ETAs will typically work with Indonesian high school teachers in teaching conversational English to students at selected public and private schools throughout Indonesia, mostly in remote areas.
Approximately 20-25 hours per week of classroom teaching alongside local English teachers, from Monday through Friday, plus requisite class preparation time and school-related activities, will be required. ETAs also spend up to 10 hours per week leading extracurricular activities at their host schools.
ETAs are also required to initiate and execute Community Engagement Projects in the communities where they live, for which small amounts of funding will be available.
Each school usually has additional expectations for their ETA.
Placement Locations
- Rural
ETAs will typically be placed at high schools that are mostly located in remote areas.
ETAs should expect to encounter various daily challenges, such as power outages, language and cultural differences, unwanted attention and lack of proper health care facilities. Local attitudes toward gender, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and other layers of identity can be unexpected and discomforting, but they can also be seen as opening opportunities to have rewarding and fruitful discussions and exchanges of opinion to better understand and educate one another. ETAs are expected to be prepared to negotiate these differences with maturity, diplomacy and mutal respect. ETAs are also expected to observe all security, safety and health practices appropriate for a developing country.
Supplementary Project
ETAs are also required to initiate and execute a minimum of two Community Engagement Projects in the communities where they live, for which small amounts of funding will also be available. Please note that due to visa restrictions ETAs are not allowed to carry out research, act as journalists, work for NGOs, engage in political, missionary, medical care, commercial or fundraising activities. ETAs are not authorized to accept employment, whether paid or unpaid.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
- English language teaching preparatory course
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
Monthly stipend is used to cover the living cost in Indonesia. All ETAs use the stipend for meals, transport, water and electricity bills.
Other than the monthly stipend, Fulbright ETA grant will also include:
- monthly teaching allowance of $100 for up to 7 months
- monthly internet data allowance of $100 for up to 7 months
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Housing allowance (separate from living stipend)
- Settling in allowance
One-time pre-departure inoculations allowance: $200
One-time relocation allowance: $500
One-time repatriation allowance: $500
Housing deposit: $2,500
Additional Grant Benefits
- Funds to hire a local Indonesian Language tutor
- Funds for Community Engagement Projects, including International Education Week funding
- Participation in a mid-year enrichment conference
- Participation in a "WORDS English Storytelling and Storybook Competition"
- Particiation in an end of year enrichment conference
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
ETAs usually spend less than $700 a month for their basic living cost. However, ETAs who plan on frequent personal, non-grant-related travel, or who have other personal expenses, e.g., for entertainment or shopping, will likely have higher monthly needs.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements are made by the schools where ETAs will be placed, subject to approval by AMINEF. Many ETA sites are in remote, rural areas which tend to be more conservative and communal. ETAs must be prepared to adapt to local customs, conditions and norms. This includes dealing with much less privacy than what they are used to and different standard of facilities (i.e., cold water showers, pests, open-air homes, etc). Housing situations vary greatly from site to site. Many placements lack conveniences such as air conditioning, hot water, gyms, Western groceries and internet connectivity, have high rate of air pollution and may be prone to household problems. This requires a high degree of flexibility and adaptability on the part of the ETAs.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Health Disclosure and Eligibility
In compliance with the Indonesian government regulations regarding health and assignment in the school system, candidates must include any medical disclosures for the applicable medical conditions listed below in the medical examination forms provided by IIE and AMINEF after being selected as Fulbright finalists. Strict adherence to these regulations is mandatory, and your grant is contingent on the ability to secure a placement in Indonesia. Any ommissions or falsifications of information are immediate grounds for revoking/terminating the grant.
The Indonesian government requires proof of the following:
- HIV/AIDS test result
- drug test result
Indonesian Government is unlikely to provide legal temporary stay permits to people living with HIV/AIDS or to those with a drug addiction.
Selected candidates must also disclose the following conditions:
- Conditions worsened by stress such as: epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.
- Severe food allergies including, but not limited to: nuts, shellfish, beans, gluten
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
ETA Guidebook: https://goo.gl/M0lsVA
Indonesiaful (Unofficial Indonesia ETA Blog): https://indonesiaful.wordpress.com/