Applicants should review the eligibility requirements before submitting an application.

Applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements, but many Specialists also present with the preferred qualifications. While meeting the minimum eligibility requirements is sufficient to be admitted into the available candidate pool, it may not be sufficient to get matched to a project. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to provide ample detail in their applications/CVs regarding the breadth and depth of their TESOL expertise.

Personal Information:  All applicants are also asked to complete a brief Personal Information section.

Background Information:

• Current Address and Contact Information
• Previous U.S. Government Grantee Information – Whether the applicant has previously been a recipient of another U.S. government grant. This can include, among many others, participation in  English Language Programs – as a Specialist, Virtual Fellow, etc.; receipt of a Fulbright grant as an ETA, Student, Scholar, etc.; or serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
• Criminal Conviction History – Applicants who, at the time of application, or at any subsequent time prior to becoming an English Language Specialist, have been convicted of commission of a felony or a misdemeanor (excluding minor traffic violations), must inform the program

Availability – Applicants indicate their availability for both in-country and virtual projects. This helps with determining which candidates may be available during project rostering. Once an applicant has been accepted into the available candidate pool, the applicant is strongly encouraged to update the applicant’s availability regularly.

Education/Credentials – The applicant’s academic background, including relevant degrees, certificates, diplomas, state ESL endorsements, or other required credentials for eligibility.

CV – The expertise documented in an applicant’s CV is used to help determine if they meet the minimum eligibility requirements. CVs should detail both the breadth and depth of an applicant’s expertise in the field of TESOL and other fields, as relevant.

Areas of Expertise – Applicants indicate their areas of expertise that are demonstrated in their CV through teaching, teacher training, research, or publishing. A brief explanation is included for each area of expertise identified.

International Expertise – Applicants indicate the countries in which they have professionally worked and provide a brief description of that work. Examples include employment, fellowship or grant opportunities, volunteer opportunities, or leading or participating in workshops. Applicants should not include personal travel abroad or study abroad experiences.

Language Skills – Additional language skills are not required, but they can be helpful for projects in certain regions.

Professional Experience – Details regarding relevant professional experience, including employer name, city, state, and country, as well as the applicant’s title, employment dates, average hours per week and instructional hours (if applicable). This information will be reviewed alongside the CV, so the two should match.

References – Contact information for two references, at least one of whom must be a professional reference, which is defined as an employer, supervisor, or colleague. References may be contacted during the application review.

Affiliations – Affiliations to organizations or professional associations relevant to the field of TESOL, such as TESOL International, regional TESOLs, NABE, or others.

Relevant Awards – Relevant awards or accolades received throughout the course of the applicant’s career.

Additional Documentation – An opportunity for applicants to upload any documents (certifications, licenses, reference letters, writing samples, etc.) they wish to support their applications.

Applications to the English Language Specialist Program are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, year-round.

When submitting an application, applicants are applying to be included in the available candidate pool for all available projects (in-country, virtual, or both in-country and virtual). Being in the available candidate pool does not guarantee a match to, or selection for, a future project. Additionally, it is not possible to anticipate if or when an applicant who has been accepted into the available candidate pool might be contacted for a project. 

A detailed overview of the Specialist application review and selection process can be found below.

Online Application:

• Applications for the Specialist Program are accepted only through the online English Language Programs Portal.
• Through the Portal, applicants can create a new application or access an existing application using their original login information.
• Applicants should review the overview of requirements for a complete application, here. Failure to follow instructions will delay the review of the application.
• Applicants must accurately reflect their skills and experience; material omission or misrepresentation of any information submitted may be grounds for removing an application from consideration and/or rescinding an offer to participate in the program.
• Applications do not need to be completed in one sitting; applicants can begin an application at any time, save the information, and come back as many times as is required before submitting.