Germany
120 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program (ETA) in Germany aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Germany by the assignment of grantees in the teaching of the English language and American studies at all types of German schools.
Fulbright Germany strives to embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of its work. Applications are open to all individuals regardless of their race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity. Fulbright Germany seeks and encourages the involvement of people from traditionally underrepresented communities in its programs, activities and partnerships, and staffing and operations.
In keeping with the commitment of the Fulbright Program to DEIA, the ETA program also seeks to broaden students’ understanding of DEIA and to encourage the development of new perspectives and critical thinking. The responsibilities of all English Teaching Assistants therefore may include designing and teaching units on these topics in consultation with the respective host school English teachers. The Fulbright Germany Diversity Liaison provides support and guidance, for example, through educational toolkits, DEIA workshops during the In-Country Orientation, and regular office hours throughout the grant period. English Teaching Assistants cooperate closely with a German teacher of English at their host school.
The ETA program in Germany offers a unique opportunity for English Teaching Assistants to advance their teaching skills and engage in their German communities. They are placed in large and small communities, in cities and rural areas.
In this program, Fulbright Germany cooperates with the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst in Bonn (PAD) and the 16 Bundesländer in Germany.
Please refer to the Fulbright Germany website for detailed information on the grant benefits.
Grant Length
Grant Period
September 2025 to the end of June 2026.
Orientation
Grantees will participate in an online pre-departure orientation meeting and also participate in an in-country in-person orientation meeting held by Fulbright Germany.
Candidate Profile
We welcome well-rounded, adaptable, proactive and communicative individuals with the skills and motivation needed to assist in teaching the English language and American studies to German students at all pre-university levels. The program is especially suited for students of German (e.g., German studies/literature/history) - and/or students who have English or German teaching experience. Applicants from other academic fields will be considered if they have adequate German proficiency.
In accordance with the standards of the Fulbright Program, we seek applicants who, through their personality and commitment, actively contribute to the diverse academic, cultural, and democracy-promoting exchange between Germany and the USA. Resilience, initiative, independence, as well as team spirit are essential to negotiate cultural differences and to respond to personal and professional challenges that arise on a day-to-day basis, including navigating the German housing market and bureaucracy.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
When not tending to the terms of their grant, Fulbrighters in Germany have plenty of time to invest how they please. Many grantees become involved with or even host local groups, such as for further language exchange or any variety of outdoor activities, building enriching connections beyond their institution. Well connected by rail and bus, grantees in Germany have the chance to experience much more than their host city, particularly after the introduction of the Deutschland ticket.
Some cultural differences, such as Ruhezeit on Sundays or the pedestrian culture, are immediately apparent for grantees coming to Germany. However, over the course of their exchange, Fulbrighters become intimately acquainted with the full range of both similarities and differences between life at home and Germany.
Eligibility
4 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Foreign Language Proficiency
Additional Information: At least 2 years of college-level study of German, or the equivalent, is required prior to commencing the grant.
Even though the language of instruction will usually be English, intermediate to advanced German skills are essential for communication outside the classroom, be it with other teachers, parents, or school administrators, as well as other host community members that are not related to the host school.
Placement Type
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- Secondary School
- Vocational/Technical School
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Grantees will be placed as Teaching Assistants in English classes in a variety of German schools. These may also include school types such as Berufskolleg/Berufschulen, Haupt- and Realschulen, Fachhochschulen, Montessori Grund- and Oberschulen, and Gemeindeschulen.
Teaching Assistants help English teachers in the classroom 12 hours per week. The assignment may include team-teaching a lesson with an English teacher, discussing a topic from the textbook with a small group of students, engaging in one-on-one conversation practice with students, helping all or part of a class review for a test, or designing and teaching a unit on an aspect of U.S. culture or a current event. Activities will vary depending upon the needs of the students and teachers. The assignment may also include week-long class trips or short excursions.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
- Rural
Placements are available in all three settings: the capital city, regional cities, and rural locations. In the Host City/Region question at the beginning of the Fulbright application and the Statement of Grant Purpose, applicants may indicate up to 3 German states/Bundesländer where they would prefer to be placed. However, candidates should be aware that they may still be placed in a different state or location than those of their preference.
Supplementary Project
Grantees are encouraged to engage in community activities according to the Fulbright mission. Engagement opportunities may depend on the geographic location and local partner organizations.
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.
Euro 1,100 paid by Fulbright Germany or the German Bundesland.
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.
This includes a rental subsidy of 100 Euros per month.
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.
This is a one-time roundtrip travel allowance of 1,400 Euros.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Diversity Coordinator on Post/Commission staff
- Health insurance (in addition to ASPE)
- Mid-year seminar
A comprehensive private German health insurance (Würzburger Versicherung)
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
While American Fulbrighters in Germany will be pleased to discover an overall lower cost of living, depending on where one lives, these costs may differ widely. Generally, those based in smaller towns find the stipend is more than sufficient for covering their monthly expenses including some for leisure activities. However, for grantees based in larger cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, higher costs of living, especially for housing, mean the stipend is likely to be insufficient. Although in these cases the stipend should cover all or the majority of necessities, individuals based in a city should consider beforehand if they can feasibly manage to cover whatever their stipend does not. The majority of grantees in Germany pay between EUR 300-500 per month for housing (although higher in cities), with nominal costs for auxiliary bills. For example, grantees can expect to pay as little EUR 20 a month for a cell phone plan. Depending on lifestyle, EUR 200 a month should comfortably cover food expenses.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Applicants are responsible for their own housing arrangements and costs.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
What is Fulbright Germany?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImOplb6hWk