Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program Advances Two Pillars of U.S. Foreign Policy

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. Government’s flagship international exchange program, is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program provides participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential—with the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Increasing the English language capacity of audiences overseas deepens and enriches their engagement with American counterparts and builds lasting bridges between cultures. English language programs advance the Department of State’s economic statecraft and foreign assistance goals by expanding access to the local and global job markets, particularly among youth.

The Department of State’s Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program, one of the fastest-growing Fulbright exchanges, addresses these two foreign policy goals—mutual understanding and English-language learning—by sending recent university graduates from around the United States to foreign countries. Fulbright ETAs spend a year at K-12 schools and universities abroad assisting teachers and professors with English language instruction.

An evaluation of the Fulbright ETA program has found that Fulbright ETAs convey critical skills and serve as cultural ambassadors, deepening their students’ understanding of U.S. society and culture and creating linkages within their host schools and communities that increase dialogue and cultural understanding worldwide.

All of the approximately 800 Fulbright ETAs who participated in the study reported that they brought their own experiences, cultures, and traditions into the classroom. Over 80 percent of surveyed Fulbright ETAs reported that their students had gained greater knowledge and understanding of U.S. democracy and the U.S. political system. Further, more than two-thirds indicated that they had exposed their students to new ways of thinking. The impact of Fulbright ETAs also extends beyond the English-instruction classroom. Seventy-five percent of surveyed Fulbright ETAs reported leading activities outside the classroom, such as starting an English-language book club, facilitating discussion groups, or hosting American cultural activities.

Host country instructors and administrators confirmed that the Fulbright ETAs have become a highly valuable resource for their institutions. The presence of a native English speaker in the classroom often reinforced students’ communication in English. One Russian university administrator commented on the dual impact of Fulbright ETAs on his students. He noted having a Fulbright ETA in the classroom “is not only improving [English-language] speaking, but also opening their minds.”

Visit the Evaluation Division’s web library to view the full report.