Malawi
English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program in Malawi is sponsored and administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State. The program is managed in country by the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) at the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe.
The Fulbright ETA Program aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Malawi and provides the opportunity for recent graduates of various fields with interest in teaching to work in local educational institutions. Malawi offers a rewarding experience for those seeking to work in and gain cultural exposure to a developing country, where their contributions will make a lasting difference.
Regardless of educational and work experience, Fulbright ETAs will not be full-fledged professors and will be expected to co-teach alongside their local colleagues. This program is a professional development opportunity to advance teaching skills, serve as a cultural ambassador, and have a positive experience in the host country.
Malawi is known as the “warm heart of Africa” for its welcoming people. It is famous for Lake Malawi, the fourth-largest freshwater lake (by volume) in the world and home to hundreds of endemic fish species. UNESCO-acclaimed Chongoni Rock-Art Area in Malawi features the richest concentration of rock art in Central Africa. Malawian diversity is evident through the many languages spoken here. However, Chichewa and English are the two national languages.
Grant Length
Grant Period
There is no standard academic calendar for Malawian educational establishments. However, ETAs should anticipate beginning their grants in September 2025, subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Malawi.
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees will be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2025.
A mandatory in-country group orientation and security briefing will be provided by the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe.
Candidate Profile
Master's-level candidates are preferred. However, graduating seniors or graduate students considering careers in education, who have a degree in English, education or TEFL/applied linguistics and have experience teaching or tutoring will be considered. Other fields will be considered if combined with experience in working with first-generation college students, teaching experience and/or coursework in pedagogy. Candidates with the ability to incorporate or organize extra-curricular activities – music, art, dance, English Clubs, Reading and Writing Clubs - are preferred. Candidates with an interest in African languages, culture, and history are also encouraged to apply.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Welcome to the Warm Heart of Africa! Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi, is a wonderful place in which to live and work. The climate is agreeable year-round, people are friendly, traffic is calm, and personal security threats are relatively rare. Although we live in a comparatively “quiet” city by African standards, there are a variety of activities that keep our non-work hours filled. Outdoor sports/recreation, community festivals, and home entertaining play key roles in Lilongwe.
LOCATION: Malawi is a small landlocked country in Africa, south of the equator between latitude 9 degrees 45' and 17 degrees 16' south and between longitudes 33 degrees 35' east. Malawi is 46,066 square miles in area of which 9,425 square miles are Lakes Malawi, Malombe, and Chilwa. Among the smallest countries in Africa, Malawi is approximately the size of Pennsylvania. The country is bordered to the north and north-east by the Republic of Tanzania and to the east, south and south-west by the Republic of Mozambique. The Republic of Zambia forms the Western border.
CAPITAL AND MAJOR CITIES: Lilongwe was declared the capital in January 1975. All government ministries are in Lilongwe, but the bulk of media, academic, and commercial sectors remain in the southern cities of Blantyre and Zomba. Mzuzu is the largest city in the north.
AREA AND CLIMATE: The country is dominated by Lake Malawi which runs along much of the eastern border. The lake is 568 kilometers long and 16 kilometers wide, accounting for 20 percent of Malawi's total surface area. Malawi has a varied topography with mountains and rivers which have a direct effect on its climate.
Malawi has two main seasons, the dry and the wet. The wet season extends from November to April, and rainfall can reach between 635mm and 3050mm. From May to August, it is cool at night and dry. In September, it is hot and dry, with October and November being the hottest months.
The predominant vegetation of Malawi is the savannah woodland. Ever-green forests are found where ground water is plentiful as in river valleys and on mountains. Grasslands are found on high plateaus and river-basins.
POPULATION: Malawi has a population of over 20 million people with several ethnic groups. The Chewa are found in the central region. The Yaos are mostly found along the lakeshore districts of the central and southern regions. They are also found in Dedza, Machinga, Zomba, Blantyre, and Chiradzulu.
Lomwes are mainly found in the Shire Highlands areas of Thyolo and Mulanje while the Nkhonde, Lambya, Tonga, and Tumbuka are found in the north. The Ngoni are found in both the northern and central regions.
CULTURE: Malawian culture is very friendly and very formal. Initially, Malawian values and traditions may seem counterintuitive for visitors from the United States and will likely challenge American assumptions about independence and individuality. In Malawi, a traditional male dominated hierarchy is respected. Speaking out of turn or speaking one’s opinion too vociferously is highly discouraged. Public shame in front of community and colleagues is to be avoided at all costs. On the other hand, the informal community “safety net” to support those in need is gracious and often automatic. A popular Malawian proverb states: “A single head does not carry a roof,” signifying that people are encouraged from an early age to work together and rarely take the initiative to solve problems alone.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
- Rural
Fulbright ETAs may be placed in educational institutions located throughout the country and range from the capital to rural areas with great need for native English speakers. Depending on the current needs of the country, host institutions may include secondary schools or university-level language departments.
Supplementary Project
When not engaged in ETA-related duties, grantees are expected to engage in other activities related to their personal, career, and/or educational interests. Lilongwe-based ETAs are required to collaborate with the Public Diplomacy Section to design activities at the American Center in Lilongwe.
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.
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
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Many western goods have to imported and are expensive. Inflation averages about 30 % and Malawi has experienced devaluations which have caused prices to increase significantly.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
ETAs are responsible for arranging their own accommodations. The Public Diplomacy Section can provide suggestions to assist in identifying long-term accommodations in Malawi, but each grantee is ultimately responsible for arranging his/her own accommodations.