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The 2024-2025 Fellow application is open. Apply today!

Teachers in India participate in a teachers training workshop

Fellow Program

Fellows are experienced and dedicated English language educators with an MA in TESOL or related field. Fellows have 10-month, in-person assignments around the world. Projects include English language teaching, teacher training, and daily opportunities for cultural exchange.

What Do Fellows Do?

We like to say every Fellow project is different and so is every Fellow, but there are many common experiences as this carousel illustrates.

This Fellow developed unique workshops and conversation clubs on Environmental Sustainability in Mexico.

Take a glimpse at a Fellow’s daily life in Montenegro as he teaches, trains, and explores!

A Fellow in India connected with and empowered women through Cultural Events and Collaborations.

Fellow presents plenary presentation

Fellows are frequent plenary speakers at teachers’ association conferences.

Fellow primary duties often include teaching undergraduate language and methodology classes and leading clubs.

Fellow meets her students and neighbors on the street

Fellows live in the communities where they work, making new friends among neighbors every day.

Fellow in Togo leads workshop with teacher trainees

In Togo, this workshop combined creating videos for the internet and promoting critical thinking.

Thai food

Discovering new cuisines is one of the great pleasures of being a Fellow

Fellow learns how to play local music instrument in Kazakhstan

If you learn a local instrument, such as the Kazakh dombyra, you too might be interviewed on national TV.

Fellow shops for souvenirs on the streets of Armenia

Fellows are shoppers, whether searching for ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner at the American Corner or for souvenirs.

Fellow interreacts with teachers at workshop

Providing pre- and in-service professional development workshops for local educators is a mainstay of the Fellow schedule.

Fellow makes a presentation for teacher trainees

Fellows are often asked to organize an activity that is completely new to them, for example, an inter-class debate competition.

Fellow competes in a local bicycle race

Fellows can often incorporate personal interests in their projects, for example, sports and public diplomacy.

Fellow Program

Benefits

English Language Fellows receive a generous benefits package for the valuable role they play in U.S. Embassy programming and in achieving U.S. Department of State public diplomacy goals.

  • The final benefits package is outlined in the agreement Fellows receive from the program. 
  • Refer to the English Language Fellow Program Policy Handbook for more information on taxes and withholdings, and the benefits that are considered taxable income. Fellows are not employed by the U.S. government, the cooperating agency, or any agency or government of the country of assignment. Fellows are considered grantees and, for tax purposes, suppliers or independent contractors.

Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $3,500, deposited directly into their U.S. bank account, according to the payment schedule laid out in their agreement. 

Fellows receive a living allowance, which varies from country to country, to cover the cost of reasonable, safe, and comfortable housing (comparable to a moderate standard of living in the country of assignment) and utilities, and to offset the cost of food and local transportation to and from work for one person.

When possible, the mandatory pre-departure orientation is held in-person in Washington, D.C. The program provides one round-trip economy class ticket and Fellows receive up to a $400 allowance to offset ground transportation costs, airline baggage fees, meals, and incidental expenses during orientation. The program also directly covers the cost of lodging during the orientation.

The program provides two one-way economy class tickets, to and from the fellowship host city. Additionally, Fellows receive a relocation allowance of $1,500 to offset expenses such as, but not limited to, visas, medical examinations, vaccinations, ground transportation to/from the airport, baggage fees, required COVID-19 tests, personal protective equipment (“PPE”) for travel to and from the country of assignment, and settling-in costs for household items.

Funds are available for Fellows to supplement and enhance fellowship activities in the country of assignment such as attending the post arrival orientation; facilitating local conferences, workshops, seminars, lectures, etc.; traveling to attend or conduct academic programs, including mid-fellowship professional development events; sponsoring local EFL teachers to attend or conduct academic programs; and, purchasing materials.

The program enrolls Fellows in a supplementary health benefit plan, the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), for the duration of the fellowship, as well as international travel dates. ASPE only provides coverage while a Fellow is in the country of assignment.

For Fellows with one or more qualifying dependents, the program provides a $500 monthly allowance to offset their expenses.

A qualifying dependent is defined as a spouse, domestic partner, or relative (child, parent, or sibling) who spends between five and ten continuous months with the Fellow in the country of assignment. The allowance of $500 per month is the same whether one or more dependents accompanies the Fellow.

The English Language Fellow Program provides numerous professional benefits.

  • All Fellows are provided a pre-departure orientation and are invited to take the U.S. Department of State Training of Trainers Course.
  • Through their projects, Fellows often have opportunities to expand their professional skills, for example by designing and teaching an advanced methodology course or giving plenary presentations at national conferences.
  • Fellows are members of the English Language Programs online Community of Practice, with access to resources, discussions, online webinar events including Specialist Master Classes, and numerous networking opportunities among current participants and alumni.
Fellow presents student with participation certificate
Fellow Program

Learn More

The following page provides detailed information about Fellow Program eligibility and the application process.

Review Application Process

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This is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by Georgetown University, Center for Intercultural Education and Development.

All decisions related to participant terms (including candidate review, selection, funding, suspension, revocation, and termination) and all criteria related thereto are made and established by the U.S. Department of State.