How Do I Become A Fellow?

Fellow Eligibility Criteria

Required

U.S. citizenship
Master’s in TEFL/TESL, Applied Linguistics, or other Master's degree with a focus in TEFL/TESL.
Degree must be conferred by end of 2010 spring semester.
Fellows must have minimum two years of professional TESOL experience (one year of experience equals two semesters of 15-16 contact hours/week).
Senior Fellows must have minimum four years of teacher training experience.
Two letters of recommendation, including one letter from a current or most recent supervisor, submitted by references directly through the on-line application. Former Fellows must provide a written recommendation from the PAS/RELO overseeing the Fellow’s most recent fellowship.
If your qualifying degree was awarded by a non-U.S. institution you must have your degree evaluated by an educational credential evaluation service. Visit National Association of Credential Evaluation Services for a list of evaluation companies.

Preferred

Fellow preference: teacher training and curriculum/materials development experience

Senior Fellows preference: overseas experience in TEFL

Applicant has worked professionally in the TESOL field and has resided in the United States within the past five years.

In addition to professional qualifications, successful Fellows have other qualities that prove beneficial for a successful fellowship; these include patience, flexibility, determination, and adaptability. They often have to deal with situations and conditions not common in the United States. Please consider the living conditions of (some) English Language fellowships in your decision to apply to the EL Fellow Program. Click here for a list of possible living conditions.

Georgetown reviews EL Fellow applications and candidate portfolios as they are received. Applications completed and received by March 1, 2010; receive priority consideration for the 2010-2011 academic year (which, for most projects, is September 2010 through June 2011). Applications completed and received AFTER March 1, 2010, may also be considered for the
2010-2011 academic year, depending upon project availability.

Candidate Selection Timeline

Recruitment (ongoing)
The Georgetown Program Management team and the Regional Recruitment Centers screen and process applications as they are received. Qualified applicants are entered into the EL Fellow candidate database. Georgetown focuses its recruitment efforts on English teaching professionals who closely match the needs of individual country proposals for U.S. Embassy sponsored projects.

Interviews (ongoing)
The Georgetown Program Management team contacts qualified applicants to schedule interviews beginning in January. Georgetown University and Regional Recruitment Centers conduct interviews in person, through webcam conferencing, or by phone. In addition, some candidates may be interviewed at TESOL conferences and events.

Georgetown University will attend the 2010 TESOL Annual Convention March 25-27, in Boston, MA, to conduct in-person interviews and share information about the Program.
Projects (March)

Approximately 100 State Department approved AY 2010-2011 projects will be posted on the EL Fellow Program website in March.

Candidate Rosters (April - June)
Beginning in April, Georgetown draws upon the pool of qualified applicants to identify finalist candidates for specific U.S. Embassy-sponsored EL Fellow projects. Georgetown presents a roster of candidates for each EL Fellow project to the Office of English Language Programs and to the appropriate U.S. Embassy. Each roster is compiled based on the needs of the specific project, the applicant’s skills and experience, and the applicant’s Regional Preferences.

Selection of Fellows (April - June)
The vetting process of candidates is conducted by the Department of State and is completed by the end of June. The Georgetown Program Management team notifies the successful candidates. Candidates have two business days from the time they are notified to accept or decline the fellowship offer.

Preparation for Departure (June - July)
The Georgetown Program Management team ensures that selected Fellows are well prepared for their assignments. Fellows receive a comprehensive Fellowship Information Package, which includes a program handbook, detailed description of the country project, agreement to program terms and conditions, health benefit plan and health verification forms, and other logistical and travel details.

Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation in Washington, DC (August 9-12, 2010)
All Fellows will travel to Washington, DC, for a three-day orientation. The EL Fellow Program provides travel costs, hotel, and a per diem during the orientation. The State Department and the Georgetown Program Management team explain all logistical, legal, security and health-related issues. The orientation also usually addresses issues of leadership, team building, EFL teaching best practices, and cultural sensitivity/awareness training, as well as problem-solving and conflict prevention techniques. Small group and region-specific briefings are conducted at that time.

Fellowship (September - June)
Fellows typically begin their assignments the first week of September. However, some fellowships begin in late September or early October, and other projects begin in early 2011. Throughout the fellowship, Public Affairs Section (PAS) and Regional English Language Officers (RELOs) posted at U.S. Embassies provide on-the-ground support and guidance.

“Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
-Mark Twain