1. Sponsored by:
Fulbright U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Office of Global Educational Programs
Teacher Exchange Program Administered by:
Institute of International Education
Holly Emert, Ph.D., Institute of International Education (IIE)
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

2. FULBRIGHT TEACHER PROGRAMS OVERVIEW
• The Fulbright Program has 60+ year history and funding from the U.S.
Department of State. Over 20,000 participating teachers to date.
INTRODUCTION
• Fulbright teacher programs are administered by the Institute of
International Education (IIE) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
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State, assum typi Commissions & U.S. Embassies/Consulates abroad, and
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U.S. and international K-12 schools and universities.
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• There are two Fulbright Teacher Programs:
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• Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange (CTE) Program
• Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching (DA) Program
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

3. FULBRIGHT TEACHER EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
FULBRIGHT CLASSROOM TEACHER EXCHANGE (CTE) PROGRAM
•Participating K-12 teachers exchange classroom teaching assignments and related school duties
with an international teacher for one semester or year
INTRODUCTION
•Participating countries for 2012-2013 are the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, India, Mexico,
Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (36 matches, 1 individual)
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DISTINGUISHED FULBRIGHT AWARDS IN TEACHING (DA) PROGRAM
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•A one-way professional development program for K-12 educators (classroom teachers, media
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specialists, counselors, Special Ed/G&T coordinators)
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•Participants go abroad for 3-6 months to:
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• Visit local K-12 schools to observe classes, guest lecture, and work with host country educators
• Design and complete a Capstone Project of their own design that is of practical application
•Participating countries for 2012-2013 are Argentina, Finland, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco,
Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom (40 total)
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

4. CTE exchange teacher
from the Czech Republic in
Kansas
CTE exchange teacher
from Hungary in
Maryland

5. DISTINGUISHED FULBRIGHT AWARDS IN TEACHING (DA)
PROGRAM
U.S. DA
Teacher in
South
Africa
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

6. CTE & DA PROGRAM BENEFITS
Teacher Benefits School Benefits
Cross-cultural understanding and skills Integration of global perspectives
INTRODUCTION
Professional development and methods into classroom practice
Study and observe international best Increase global awareness of
practices in education students and staff
Share professional expertise with host Increased ability to work with
country teachers and students culturally diverse populations
Develop leadership skills Develop cross-national school
Develop networks partnerships
Effective pre-departure preparation lays the foundation
for these to occur.
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

7. PRE-DEPARTURE PREPARATION
Why is it necessary and worthwhile?
Living and working abroad for 3-12 months in a fully immersive setting
requires adaptation and adjustment. Well-designed pre-departure
preparation and ongoing support fosters a positive experience.
Pre-departure preparation assists teachers to:
•Set realistic personal and professional expectations
•Become culturally self-aware and better able to adapt to the host culture
•Prepare to work/teach in a new educational system (CTE)
•Conduct independent research (DA)
•Develop support networks
•Learn about logistical and administrative details of their program
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

8. TYPES OF PRE-DEPARTURE PREPARATION
WRITTEN MATERIALS ONLINE RESOURCES
•General program materials (handbooks, •Website
cross-cultural guidelines, etc.) •Online facilitated workshops
•Country-specific information •Webinars (varied topics; taped and real-
•Examples of alumni projects (DA) time)
•Recommended books •Pre-departure surveys
DIRECT COMMUNICATION/MEETINGS OTHER
•Staff communication with participants by •Alumni support
telephone, email, Skype •Host country support networks
•Teacher & administrator May meetings
(CTE)
•Orientation Workshops
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

9. TYPES OF PRE-DEPARTURE PREPARATION
• Direct communication with teachers by telephone, email, Skype from selection
through departure
• Participation in a mandatory three-week Online Module
INTRODUCTION
• CTE The module focuses is on key topics: Teacher networking; Cross-cultural Adaptation;
new school culture, classroom discipline, U.S. educational system; Action Planning
• DA Focus is on teacher networking, capstone project design and execution
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• facer possim assumSurvey Questionnaire (mid-program and end-program surveys also
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used)—electronic dissemination via online survey platform
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• Attend workshops on cross-cultural issues, teaching abroad, classroom discipline (CTE),
capstone project (DA), and program logistics/administration.
• Connect teachers with program alumni
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10. SAMPLE: CTE ONLINE MODULE
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

11. PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION
SNAPSHOT: DA ORIENTATION ACTIVITIES
Morning: Morning: Morning:
INTRODUCTION •Capstone Project, part 2: Content
•Welcome Remarks •Reflecting on your Fulbright
•Program and Orientation Overview Area Meetings at Local Organizations Program Preparations
•Orientation Wrap-up and
Welcome Luncheon Lunch Concluding Remarks
•Completion of evaluation form
Afternoon: Afternoon: Late Morning-Afternoon:
•Administrative Session •Presentation on culture Departures
•Capstone Project, part 1: Overview •Alumni Panel Presentation •International teachers travel as
and Guidelines •Capstone Project, part 3: Country group to UMD (IIE staff
Group Discussions accompanies)
•U.S. teachers leave throughout
Evening: Cultural event Evening: Closing Dinner at area day
restaurant
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

12. CTE &DA PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION
PROGRAMS
INTRODUCTION
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

13. POST-PROGRAM FOLLOW-UP AND SUPPORT
• Follow-up with teachers soon after they return home to debrief experience
and discuss personal and professional impact of the Fulbright experience
INTRODUCTION
• Ongoing communication with teachers to learn about their post-program
activities, to share program materials for outreach, to connect alumni with
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• AlumnilitterarumFunds:humanitatis per per year available to each
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• Foster mutual understanding
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•
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• Fall 2012: Alumni Grant Workshop for U.S. DA Alumni
fulbrightteacherexchange.org

15. fulbrightteacherexchange.org
Thank you for your interest in the
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program
www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org
SPONSORED BY: U.S. Department of State ADMINISTERED BY:
Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs Institute of International Education (IIE)
fulbright.state.gov fulbrightteacherexchange.org
iie.org/fulbright

16. Quotes from Fulbright Alumni
“ The Fulbright program offered me and my family a golden opportunity, a
“gift” to peer deeply into a culture and the many groups within that culture
and to emerge slightly but significantly shifted from our old selves. We are
all now thinking, behaving, and planning in new ways."
-Chris Gould, Pelham, MA, 2009 grantee to Singapore
"This has been an incredible experience both personally and professionally.
As classroom teachers, we rarely have the time to do this kind of research
and investigate alternative educational practices. I learned so much during
my time in Argentina that’s going to make me a better educator back in the
States. Personally, I loved having the opportunity to immerse myself in
another culture and develop friendships and bonds with the people living
here. This has also been an incredible experience for my family, especially
my seven-year-old son who made friends and improved his Spanish."
-Gordon Jack, San Francisco, CA, 2009 grantee to Argentina

17. Quotes
"Words cannot describe how much this experience has
done for me both personally and professionally. On a
personal level, every opportunity provides the means
for growth, but living in a different culture is far and
away the best. Professionally I met new colleagues
(both teachers and professors), conducted research that
will be instrumental in my PhD program, and learned
teaching methods/philosophies that have profoundly
affected my view of what American education is and
what it should be.”
-Ben Hedrick, Bethelhem, PA, 2009 grantee to Finland

18. Quotes
"This Fulbright experience is the most memorable learning experience that I ever have.
The duration is long enough for me to experience fully and appreciate the US
culture and education system. Being able to immerse totally in the US culture is
certainly the best way to learn about its rich culture. I am particularly moved by the
acceptance of the diversity of the culture from different countries and how each one
of them is respected to give everyone an equal chance to succeed. Professionally, I
was able to gain and kept myself abreast with some of the current education issues
and readings that I have not been able to do much when I am back in my home
country. I will always remember the time here being able to have the luxury of time
to reflect upon my own beliefs as a teacher and reaffirm my commitments to do my
best to be a better teacher for my students. It is also rewarding for me to be able
to put together some of my learning points in my project and I am excited to share
what I have learnt here with my colleagues back at home. Overall, this has been
another steep learning curve for me.”
-Ann Mei Leng Wong, Singapore, 2011 grantee to the U.S.