Seniors graduating this spring can take advantage of an assistantship to teach English abroad.
A Fulbright Teaching Assistantship is available to students to teach in 54 different countries, some of which require knowledge of the host language.
“I think that this is a great opportunity for those interested in learning about other cultures and teaching in other countries,” Erin Denning, senior education major said.
Murle Mordy, international student advisor, suggests South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam because there is no language requirement and the ratio of acceptance for these countries is higher.
“The grantee is usually paired with an experienced English teacher, native to the foreign country, and the grantee can learn what teaching methods are being used abroad,” he said.
Once a student applies for this assistantship, they must also complete a statement of grant purpose, a personal essay and also create a project plan. Once this is completed, a committee reviews the application and rates the student after an oral interview.
Mordy thinks that an experience like this can only help a student grow.
“The grantee is expected to learn as much as he or she can about the new culture that will hopefully help him or her as an English as a second language instructor back in the States,” he said. “In some cases the grantee will even carry out a project in the community such as giving talks to civic groups or helping with theater or music.”
Even though May 2010 graduate Cyrus Oliver didn’t apply for the assistantship, he is teaching English in Hualien, Taiwan and encourages students to take advantage of this opportunity.
He initially started looking into teaching abroad because he loves to travel, but fell in love with Hualien along the way.
“I work at a bushiban, which is a cram school, a school where Taiwanese students go to after public school to learn English,” he said. “I decided Taiwan seemed like the best fit for me because the cost of living is inexpensive, they have many freedoms, and the country itself is beautiful.”
Oliver also thinks that even the language barrier shouldn’t be a factor when choosing a country to teach in.
“I am getting to learn Mandarin in its natural setting, so hopefully I will be bilingual some day,” he said.
Mordy suggests that this can also help the teachers in other Countries expand their knowledge of the English language.
“There is a demand in a number of countries for native American speakers to teach English because a number of the English teachers in other countries are not that proficient in English, especially in conversation.”
Oliver teaches every age from 6 to 18 and says his experience abroad is something he’ll always cherish.
“I just love teaching, and every day I wake up and can’t believe I get paid to do something I love,” Oliver said.
And Mordy, who was once a recipient of this scholarship to France, only hopes that the recipients of this grant will feel the same way as he did.
“A Fulbright grant should not only add another ‘feather’ to the graduate’s resume but also help the graduate mature and become a better international citizen,” he said.