Kyrgyz Republic
7 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Program aims at strengthening English language instruction at public and private universities in the Kyrgyz Republic by establishing a native-speaker presence to provide part-time assistance for 16 in-person teaching hours per week to university teaching staff. English Teaching assistants work to improve students' English language abilities and knowledge of the United States' culture. At the same time, they are integrated in the host community and gain from intensive cross-cultural interaction. Each host institution will tailor the assistantship to its language teaching needs and the grantee’s background, academic interests, and abilities, and will place the ETA under the supervision of a local university counterpart. In addition to their 16 hours at their host university, teaching assistants will also spend four hours per week at their local American Corner to provide a native-speaker presense in talking clubs, presentations, and English lessons. This is a total of 20 hours per week of actual teaching.
Teaching assistant activities at their host university and American Corner may include leading a conversation class; serving as resource persons in conversation groups; providing small group tutorials; giving talks related to American culture in English classes. Through their exchange, teaching assistants form powerful and enduring people-to-people ties with Kyrgyzstani students, colleagues, and community members. Teaching assistants are placed in small- to large-sized cities throughout the Kyrgyz Republic and typically live in private apartments within walking distance or public transportation ride of their host university.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The grant period is September through July. ETAs will arrive in mid-September to participate in an orientation in Bishkek, prior to starting their university teaching assignments. ETAs will begin teaching at their respective universities from September through May in accordance with the Kyrgyz Republic's academic year. In May, ETAs will transition to teaching 20 hours per week at the American Space or in other U.S. government funded English programs in their city until the end of their grants.
Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation: Grantees will participate in a virtual PDO organized by IIE in mid-summer and also participate in a two-day in-country orientation upon arrival in Bishkek in September, before heading off to their assigned universities. The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek organizes this orientation, and it is where teaching assistants will meet their counterparts.
Candidate Profile
Graduating university seniors, recent graduates, and master’s degree candidates/graduates are eligible who are willing to assist local English teachers in undergraduate university classes. Some may also teach independently. Candidates must be fluent English-speakers who are excited to teach about American culture. Candidates should be highly adaptable, flexible, easy going, independent, and mature enough to command a class of students near their own age.
Proof of prior teaching or tutoring experience is preferred, but not required. No formal teaching certification is required.
Prior experience in the country/region, either in person or through study, is preferred but not required.
Candidates must have at least a bachelor's degree by the time the program starts.
Prior university studies in one of the following fields is preferred, but not required: English, TEFL/Linguistics, American studies, Education, Russian, Turkic languages.
In addition to teaching English, teaching assistants will teach about American culture and history.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Natural, cultural, and culinary wonders await you in the Kyrgyz Republic!
The Kyrgyz Republic, sometimes called the "Switzerland of Asia," boasts unparalleled natural beauty, fresh produce and dairy, and a warm and welcoming culture. With highly-motivated students and enthusiastic faculty, it is an ideal country to spend a year teaching or researching. The country hosts relatively few Americans, making our Fulbrighters instant family among their colleagues and students. Our U.S. participants regularly give lectures and trainings across the country at the American Spaces and other universities and collaborate with their Kyrgyzstani counterparts. They also receive invitations from students and faculty to attend local holiday celebrations and weddings - unforgettable experiences with festive food and dancing.
Kyrgyzstani citizens have worked to build an open and democratic society in the heart of Central Asia, although in recent years democractic backsliding has challenge this reputation. Slightly smaller than South Dakota, the Kyrgyz Republic borders China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The country is known for its unique felt crafts, traditional oral legends, its postcard-perfect mountains, the world’s largest natural-growth walnut forest, and endangered species, including the snow leopard and Marco Polo sheep. The capital city of Bishkek is a cosmopolitan city where Fulbrighters will find bustling modern malls, high-end restaurants, street vendors selling delicious samsas and manty. Old soviet architecture, old wooden private houses, and modern high rises blend together in a construction boom that is reshaping almost every part of the Kyrgyz Republic. Regional cities where Fulbrighters may be placed offer many of the same comforts of any small U.S. city (cafes, movie theaters, small gyms, parks, etc), with a bit more of a unique local experience than Bishkek.
In their free-time, our Fulbrighters take advantage of accessible hiking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, skiing, horseback riding, ice skating, camping, bird-watching, and swimming on the pristine Lake Issyk-Kul. Fulbrighters also enjoy attending nomadic sports matches, concerts featuring traditional Kyrgyz instruments, recitations of the epic "Manas" poem, traditional Turkish and Russian spas, and cooking and felting classes. Many take Kyrgyz or Russian lessons as well! From fresh baked naan bread and pastries at the bazaar, to excellent and inexpensive international and national restaurants (Kyrgyz, Georgian, Italian, American, Japanese, Korean, Turkish etc. in Bishkek), the country's culinary offerings cater to every palate. You won't go hungry! Those who don't eat meat should be aware that it is very difficult to maintain a meat- or animal product-free diet in Kyrgyzstan, though past Fulbrighters have succeeded with difficulty. Other alternative diets will be hard to adhere to.
Fulbrighters generally rent apartments (both new builds and remodeled Soviet-era units) solo or with a roommate within walking, bus, or biking distance of their host institutions. In their apartment buildings, Fulbrighters truly integrate into the local community. They often have to volunteer to clean common areas once a month as all residents do, and they will likely be added to a building WhatsApp chat, where they can follow all the neighborhood intrigues.
The Kyrgyz Republic is a bi-lingual country, where almost everyone you encounter will be comfortable speaking in Kyrgyz or Uzbek or another local language and Russian. Russian is even more widely used in Bishkek and the north, whereas those placed in southern regions may hear more Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and even Tajik. This is a great opportunity to study a foreign language, regardless what language you choose. Language tutors are very cheap compared to U.S. norms, and most Fulbrighters take full advantage of this.
Applicants should be prepared for different experiences of racial differences than they might be used to in the United States. The Kyrgyz Republic does not have the same long, rich history of race relations that the United States has. Therefore, most locals will not understand the American norms of commenting or not commenting on someone's ethnicity. Participants of African American or African heritage have been addressed regarding their race in a way that hurt emotionally. Participants of South Asian heritage should know that there are, infrequently, tense relations towards South Asians due to a large population of immigrants from South Asia in the Kyrgyz Republic. Fulbrighters of Central and East Asian heritage might be assumed to be local or to be from China until locals learn they are American. Because the Kyrgyz Republic is a different context than the United States, Fulbright applicants should be emotionally prepared to deal with unwanted attention due to racial differences.
The U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic's Public Diplomacy Section supports participants as much as possible on every step of their Fulbright journey - from detailed pre-departure and in-country orientations, to coordination with host institution counterparts on housing, teaching load, and visa issues. We are committed to helping you take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will give you unique experience that sets you apart from most of your peers.
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Eligibility
Dual citizens of award country are not eligible to apply for this award (due to host country law or policy).
Permanent residents of the award country are not eligible to apply for this award.
Applicants who are in the Kyrgyz Republic for an extended time prior to the start of the award must leave with enough time before the Fulbright award starts so that their temporary visa "clock" can restart, because Fulbrighters will be on a temporary visa while waiting for their work visas.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Basic local language skills will be helpful day to day, but are not required for project. Grantees are provided with a stipend to study a local language while in-country as part of their grant benefit.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Placement Type
- Vocational/Technical School
- Teacher Training
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Host Placement Responsibilities and Expectations: During the academic school year, ETAs will complete 20 hours per week of in-classroom teaching. 16 hours go to the host university, and four hours go to the local American Corner. Class preparation time and involvement in other university organized events is outside of this time. ETAs will generally either teach on their own or assist in teaching conversational English with a Kyrgyzstani co-teacher to university students and professionals at the host institutions. ETAs are not expected to provide final grades to students as part of their job responsibilities. In May and June during their placement at the American Space, ETAs will assist in teaching conversational English and grammar to students and professionals of all English levels.
Additional Responsibilities: Throughout their programs and under the guidance of the U.S. Embassy, ETAs will also have the opportunity to participate in community outreach and cultural activities, which will account for the four hours of additional teaching or cultural outreach per week mentioned above. During their program, some of these activities may include directing reading and conversation groups at an American Spaces, working with English Access high school students, and assisting the Public Diplomacy Section with a variety of cultural and educational activities and exchange programs. ETAs are encouraged to propose creative ideas for programming to engage students and other audiences.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
Previous placements have included Bishkek, Osh, Manas City (Formerly, Jalalabad City), Naryn, Karakol, and Tokmok. All teaching assignment placements will be made by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy.
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.
The monthly stipend for a single grantee without dependents is $2,250.
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.
- Excess baggage fees
- Housing allowance (separate from living stipend)
- Language training allowance
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
Base amount of $1,750 is intended to cover baggage fees, in-transit costs, and relocation expenses. Round trip travel is included as a grant benefit and grantee flights are coordinated and pre-approved by the Fulbright program's approved travel agency.
English language material allowance: $1,000 (included in 1st grant payment)
In-country orientation allowance: $500 (included in 1st grant payment)
In-country travel allowance: $1,000 (included in 1st grant payment)
Language study: $1,000 (included in 1st grant payment)
Additional Grant Benefits
- Diplomatic pouch
- Housing placement
Student grantees are eligible to use country-bound diplomatic pouch service to send educational materials to the Kyrgyz Republic.
Supplementary Project
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
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Bishkek |
Karakol |
Naryn |
Osh |
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Estimated Housing (cost per month) |
$500 - $1000 |
$300-$600 |
$250-$500 |
$400-$800 |
|
Food at the cafe/restaurants is good and inexpensive |
$6-$12 |
$5-$10 |
$5-$10 |
$5-$10 |
|
Estimated Grocery |
$200-$400 per month per person |
$200-$400 per month per person |
$200-$400 per month per person |
$200-$400 per month per person |
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements will be made with the assistance of the host university local counterpart, with involvement from the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic, if necessary. Upon arrival, ETAs will stay in a hotel for 3-4 days before moving into an apartment, which they will choose from two to three recommended by their local counterpart.