U.S. Embassy & Consulate
in Iraq

Program Information

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program is a nine-month non-degree program that provides early career teachers of English an opportunity to refine their teaching skills through exposure to U.S. teaching methodologies, increase their English language proficiency, and extend their knowledge of the society and culture of the United States.  Participants will serve as teaching assistants in Arabic classes for U.S. students during the program, strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities.

Fulbright FLTA participants also interact with their host communities in conversation groups, extracurricular activities, and community outreach projects.  FLTA participants may assist in up to twenty hours of Arabic language classes a week and are required to enroll in at least two courses per semester at the host institution, one of which must be in U.S. Studies.  Coursework is offered on either an audit or credit basis. Fulbright FLTA participants will also be expected to facilitate cultural events, language clubs, and language tables.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must:

• Be a teacher, or be in training to become a teacher (prior teaching experience is preferred);
• Possess no more than seven years of teaching experience;
• Hold Iraqi citizenship and reside in Iraq throughout the application and selection process;
• Hold a B.A. or B.S. by May 13, 2023 in one of the following fields:
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • American Studies
  • Journalism and Media
  • American or English Literature
• Be fluent in English, as demonstrated by a minimum score of 550 (paper-based TOEFL – PBT); 213 (computer-based TOEFL – CBT); or 79-80 (Internet-based TOEFL – IBT) or 6.0 (overall score International English Language Testing System – IELTS); applicants who do not have a valid test score at the time of application will be required to take the test later as part of the selection process;
• Be fluent in Arabic;
• Possess maturity, dependability, integrity and professionalism.

Application and Selection

Download Iraq-specific application instructions by clicking here.

For application checklist click here.

All applications must be submitted online at https://apply.iie.org/flta2024.
Those candidates whose applications pass the initial review will be invited for an interview at the U.S. Embassy and to take the TOEFL test.  Final selection will be made by J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in the United States.

A complete application package includes the online application, original academic transcripts and diploma (if already graduated), and three letters of reference.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism or material misrepresentation by not properly citing sources during the application or grant period (personal statements, essays, etc.) will not be tolerated and is grounds for selection withdrawal or grant termination, as well as ineligibility for future participation.  All applications will undergo a thorough plagiarism review and every year numerous candidates are disqualified due to copied text from uncited sources appearing in their applications.

Policies of the Iraq Fulbright Program:

While there are overarching policies to which all Fulbright scholarship recipients from around the world must adhere to, there are also policies which are country-specific:

• Two-year home residency requirement: The J-1 visa is an exchange visa which requires all Fulbright scholarship recipients to return to their home country for at least two years upon successful completion of the program.
• Intention to return to Iraq: Your eligibility for a Fulbright scholarship is based, in part, on your intention to return to Iraq immediately following your program.  If you show intent other than to remain in the U.S. for a temporary, specific, limited period (such as applying for an immigrant visa to the U.S., asylum in the U.S., or residency in a country other than Iraq) you will be ineligible to receive the Fulbright scholarship.
• No-dependents: J visa sponsorship is offered only to the Iraq Fulbright scholarship award recipient. J-2 visa dependents (spouses and children under the age of 21) cannot accompany the Iraqi scholarship recipient on his/her study program.

For questions about the program, send an email to FulbrightIraq@state.gov

Application deadline : Closed