Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

TEA consists of a six-week academic program at a U.S. university, including intensive training in teaching methodologies, lesson planning, teacher leadership, and teaching strategies for participants’ home environments. Furthermore, TEA teachers will learn various computer platforms for teaching and cross-collaboration. The program also includes field experience at a secondary school, which allows participants to actively engage with American teachers and students.

The TEA fellowship provides the following:

• J-1 visa support
• A pre-departure orientation held in your home country
• Round-trip airfare from your home city to and within the U.S.
• A Welcome Program in Washington, D.C.
• A six-week professional development program at a U.S. university
• Housing (generally shared with other program participants) and meals
• Accident and sickness health coverage
• A baggage allowance to alleviate domestic travel checked luggage costs
• A maintenance allowance will be allocated for six weeks to cover the costs of incidental expenses such as laundry, medicine, etc.
• A book allowance will be allocated towards purchasing books and educational materials
• The opportunity to apply for alumni small grants

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a current secondary school, full-time teacher in a school that serves a primarily local population (not expatriates)
• Have five or more years of classroom experience in TEA teaching disciplines: English, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), social sciences, mathematics, science, or special education
• Be a citizen and resident in an eligible TEA country (countries vary by year)
• Have earned a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Obtain a minimum score of 450 on the paper-based TOEFL or equivalent English language examination
• Demonstrate a commitment to continue teaching after completion of the program
• Submit a complete application

You are ineligible to apply if you are a:

• U.S. citizen or Green Card holder
• Ministry of Education official
• Full-time principal or educational administrator
• Full-time teacher trainer
• University faculty
• Private English language tutor
• Former participant of TEA, the International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP), Partners in Education (PiE), or the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program

*If you have participated in other professional development exchange programs, please talk to the Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy in your country about your eligibility.

CONTACT

fulbrighttea@irex.org