Prospective Fulbright participants should be aware that public health conditions, availability of consular services and travel, as well as U.S. institutional operating status and policies may affect their ability to travel to the U.S. and participate in academic programs.

Participants have the opportunity to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency and extend their knowledge of the society and culture of the United States, while being teaching assistants for their native language to U.S. students and strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities. Fulbright FLTA participants also interact with their host communities in conversation groups, extracurricular activities, and community outreach projects. 

The FLTA program promotes cross-cultural understanding in the U.S. and in the home countries of the FLTA fellows. U.S. universities benefit from the presence of a native speaker on their campuses. FLTA fellows and U.S. students have the unique opportunity to learn about each other’s culture and to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries.

In preparation for their return to careers in their home countries at the conclusion of the program, participants have the opportunity to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency, and extend their knowledge of the society and culture of the United States while serving as teaching assistants for their native language to U.S. students and strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities. Fulbright FLTA participants also interact with their host communities in conversation groups, extracurricular activities, and community outreach projects. Fulbright FLTA participants must return to their home countries upon completion of the program.

Fulbright FLTA participants will assist in up to twenty hours of language classes a week and are required to enroll in at least two courses per semester, one of which must be in the U.S. Studies.  Coursework is offered on either an audit or credit basis. Fulbright FLTA participants will also be expected to facilitate in-person or virtual cultural events, language clubs and language tables.

Fulbright FLTA participants will be required to attend two activities, which are sponsored by ECA and coordinated by the Institute of International Education (IIE). There is an orientation after participants’ arrival in the United States prior to the start of the program. Additionally, Fulbright FLTA participants will be required to attend a mid-year enrichment conference in the United States (December 2023) to receive additional training on teaching techniques and pedagogy and share information about their current teaching experiences with other Fulbright FLTA participants. Prospective FLTAs should be aware that flexibility will be required due to possible COVID-19 related adjustments to the 2023-2024 academic year, including the requirement to teach remotely and assist with online teaching responsibilities.

Applicants must be residing in their home countries throughout the nomination and selection process and must intend to return to their home countries immediately following the nine-month FLTA program. The Fulbright FLTA program does not support dependents or family members. Candidates may not have any dependents accompany them for any time during the program. Family and friends may visit program participants during the holiday periods only. By extension of this policy, pregnant candidates may not participate in the program if the birth is due during the program period.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Malaysian citizens
2. Applicants must be residing in Malaysia throughout the nomination and selection process.
3. Possess the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree with a good academic record; Master’s degrees are highly desirable at many institutions.
4. Be teachers of English or training to become teachers of English. Candidates who are teachers in the fields of American Studies, Journalism and Media, and American/English Literature will also be considered on a case-by-case basis
5. Fluency in English is mandatory, demonstrated by a score of no less than 79-80 (Internet Based TOEFL) or 6.0 (Overall Score International English Language Testing System-IELTS).
6. Clearly demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity and professionalism.
7. Must be open to living with U.S. student peers in undergraduate or graduate level campus housing.
8. Candidates in the related fields should have a background in English language teaching.
9. Should have prior teaching experience and a TOEFL score of 79 IBT.
10. Must return to home country upon completion of the nine-month program. ECA will not support any extension requests for participants.

Age profile:

1. Young, energetic, early career educators.
2. Capable of succeeding in the dual role of teaching assistant and student at an undergraduate or graduate host institution.

Applicants in the related fields are eligible to apply:

Anthropology, Area Studies, Arts, Communication, Computer Sciences/Technology, Education (Rural, Teacher Training) Educational Administration, Educational Psychology, Educational Technology, Humanities, Languages, Literature, Social Sciences, Social Work and Sociology.

Grant Benefits

Monthly stipend, accident and sickness insurance coverage and travel allowance. Fulbright FLTA program does not support dependents or family members.  Host institution provides tuition waivers to support the required coursework.

Fulbright Plagiarism Procedure

This program seeks applicants whose writing achieves the highest academic standards of original research, writing, and citation. Application materials will be processed using software to help identify any instance of plagiarism. Plagiarism in any part of your application will result in your disqualification from participating in the program.

Plagiarism will be understood to include any of the following:

Presenting wording, statistics or concepts as your own which should be attributed to someone else or to publications (online or offline). This includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying the exact wording of a written source
• Presenting material with alterations in wording
• Paraphrasing the content of a source without citation

It is expected that your application will be your own work and writing, with a clear citation of secondary sources if describing the academic work and writing of others (including one’s own previously published work). Any sources used in the construction of your responses must be clearly cited.

Application Procedure

To apply for this award, please click here to complete the online application and provide all the required documents.  

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. For inquiry, please contact Kalis/ Karen  at 03-2166 8878 or email: [email protected]