Indonesia
20 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodAugust StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Since 2004, AMINEF, the Fulbright Commission in Indonesia, has placed Fulbright U.S. Student English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in high school classrooms in Indonesia to assist local English teachers. ETAs work to improve students' English language abilities and to promote mutual understanding and knowledge of the United States' culture through English study. Each host school will tailor the assistantship to its English language teaching needs and will place the ETA under the supervision of a counterpart teacher. The schools normally pair an ETA with one to three local English teachers with whom the ETA will teach 20-25 hours per week in the classroom.
The program is an entry-level professional development opportunity for ETAs to advance their teaching skills, to learn about the host country, and to exchange knowledge about the U.S. at the same time. The intensive cross-cultural interaction in a local community almost invariably provides valuable experiences for the ETAs who have come to Indonesia. Indonesians are well known as open, friendly, and hospitable, and ETA alumni inevitably talk of their experiences as ETAs there as transformative and life-changing.
Indonesia is a great place to be an ETA. The world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, and one of the world's largest democracies, it is a diverse multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. An archipelago of over 17,000 islands, the country is home to hundreds of ethnolinguistic groups. Indonesia is a dynamic country with a rapidly growing economy, and it is gaining momentum on the international stage. ETAs will enjoy the extraordinary natural beauty of the country in addition to experiencing first-hand its stunning cultural riches. ETAs are often placed in rural areas and can gain a sense of the needs and aspirations of citizens of a developing country. For many Indonesian students and teachers where ETAs are placed, previous interactions with Americans are minimal, and they know the U.S. mainly from Hollywood movies and through digital media. Meeting and interacting daily with an American gives them an opportunity to get to know Americans first-hand, which can be very exciting for students and teachers alike who are often eager to interact with a native English speaker. ETAs thus play an essential role as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. in Indonesia.
There are many things to adapt to in a country very different from the U.S., of course. A posting as an ETA in Indonesia requires flexibility, tolerance, empathy, patience, and maturity. For the right person, though, it is an excellent choice.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The Grant is planned to begin in August 2026, and will end in May 2027.
Orientation
AMINEF will organize online pre-departure orientation sessions in June-July 2026 that all selected ETAs are expected to attend. There will be four to five sessions held over four to five days. A single session will last for a maximum of two hours.
During the first month after arrival in Indonesia, there will be a mandatory in-country orientation lasting around three weeks. It involves an intensive Indonesian-language course, and modules to enhance English-teaching skills that are especially geared to the Indonesian context and developing intercultural skills. Details of the orientation will be available upon arrival.
Candidate Profile
To comply with the regulations of the Government of Indonesia, ETA candidates must be able to produce a bachelor’s or master’s degree diploma by June 2026.
Candidates must have relevant teaching experience and should be committed to working in an instructional setting with Indonesian high school students. Candidates with degrees in education, English, and TESL are given preference, but candidates from all majors are welcome to apply. Since some ETAs will be placed at vocational high schools, the program especially welcomes ETAs with teaching experience in trade or vocational schools.
Throughout the grant period, ETAs are expected to exhibit high levels of professionalism, cross-cultural sensitivity, and respect towards the people in their host schools and community. As cultural ambassadors, ETAs are also encouraged to share aspects of American culture with their schools.
Candidates must be native English-speakers. They should be mature, responsible, open-minded, articulate, resourceful, motivated, and flexible. They should show initiative and be collaborative with their peers, co-teachers, and members of the school community where they are placed.
Candidates must be able to adapt and thrive within a variety of cultural environments. This may mean dealing with the challenges of living in a less comfortable setting than they are used to. Candidates must be willing and able to physically and mentally adjust to work in the Indonesian cultural and educational context. For instance, they may be assigned to teach in a rural setting without many urban conveniences.
It is assumed that candidates will be interested in learning basic aspects of Indonesian history, culture, language, local values, and norms.
ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
Applicants planning to pursue post-graduate study (Master’s, Doctoral, MD/MPH, etc.) in the period immediately following the grant should seriously consider their ability to complete the preparation for any such program while in Indonesia. These preparations are often logistically difficult or impossible in Indonesia and are likely to interfere with grantees' ability to successfully complete all of their ETA responsibilities.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Most ETAs find life in Indonesia as challenging and overwhelming but worthwhile to experience and can be transformative. They find studying the Indonesian language is important prior to coming to Indonesia. Religion, privacy, and identity are all concepts that are experienced very differently in Indonesia than in the US. Many things that can raise health concerns for Americans may not be perceived the same way by Indonesians.
Each ETA has different experiences from one another, and they are encouraged not to compare. This is because each ETA has a different personality, mindset, and motivation to join the Fulbright ETA program. Also, they are placed in different host schools that have different working cultures and environments, teacher and student profiles, and financial capacities.
Eligibility
1 Month
· Residency in Indonesia (defined as one or more months) is NOT permitted in the year prior to the grant.
· Dual citizens of Indonesia and the U.S.A. are NOT eligible to apply.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Upon receipt of the Fulbright award, all ETAs will be expected to complete a 120-hour online TESOL/TEFL course designated and paid for by AMINEF. Those already holding TESOL/TEFL certificates or who have a degree in TESOL/TEFL are not required to complete the course.
As part of the selection process, AMINEF may ask nominated semi-finalists to participate in virtual interviews. Please note that this step is not a guarantee that the semifinalist will be selected for the grant.
A commitment to participating in the Fulbright ETA program always entails some level of risk. While many domestic and international travel restrictions, social gathering restrictions, and other disease mitigation policies have been eased since the COVID pandemic, there may still be uncertainty regarding the post-pandemic period and/or other unforeseeable events that occur during the grant. ETAs must comply with the standards, policies, and guidance set by AMINEF in the event that an unexpected situation arises.
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Additional Information: Some study of Indonesian prior to arrival is recommended to ease transition to school and community life. ETAs will be provided with intensive but basic language instruction in Indonesian as part of the in-country orientation, as well as limited funds to hire a personal language tutor at site, if requested. ETAs should have the desire to learn about Indonesia and Indonesian language. The following websites may be useful:
1. https://bbiact.wordpress.com/online-indonesian/
2. https://indonesian-online.com/ [highly recommended course from University of Hawai'i and Australian National University, but charges a fee]
3. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Indonesian/Lessons/Introduction
4. https://www.duolingo.com/
5. https://www.aifis.org/language-resources
ETAs are not eligible for the Critical Language Enhancement Award.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
ETAs will typically work with Indonesian high school teachers in teaching conversational English to students at selected public and private schools throughout Indonesia, often in remote areas.
Approximately 20-25 hours per week of classroom teaching alongside local English teachers, from Monday through Friday, plus requisite class preparation time and school-related activities, will be required. ETAs also spend up to 10 hours per week leading extracurricular activities at their host schools. The hours listed above do not include the additional time ETAs often spend at school in order to build community and connections.
ETAs are also required to initiate and execute Community Engagement Projects in the communities where they live, for which small amounts of funding will also be available.
Each school usually has additional expectations for their ETA.
Placement Locations
- Rural
ETAs will typically be placed at high schools that are mostly located in remote areas.
ETAs should expect to encounter various daily challenges, such as power outages, language and cultural differences, unwanted attention and lack of high-quality health care facilities. Local attitudes can be unexpected and discomforting at times, but they can also be seen as opening opportunities to have rewarding and fruitful discussions and exchanges of opinion to better understand and educate one another. ETAs are expected to be prepared to negotiate these differences with maturity, diplomacy and mutual respect. ETAs are also expected to observe all security, safety, and health practices appropriate for a developing country.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
- English language teaching preparatory course
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
The monthly stipend is used to cover living costs, such as meals, local transport, water and electricity bills.
Other than the monthly stipend, Fulbright ETAs will also receive:
- A monthly teaching allowance of $100 for up to 8 months
- A monthly internet data allowance of $100 for up to 8 months
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Excess baggage fees
- Housing allowance (separate from living stipend)
- Settling in allowance
- One-time pre-departure inoculations allowance: $200
- One-time relocation allowance: $500
- One-time repatriation allowance: $500
- Housing deposit: $2,500
Additional Grant Benefits
- Housing placement
- Mid-year seminar
- Funds to hire a local Indonesian-language tutor
- Funds for a Community Engagement Project, including International Education Week funding
- Participation in a mid-year Enrichment Conference
- Participation in a “WORDS English Storytelling and Storybook Competition”
- Participation in an end-of-year Enrichment Conference
Supplementary Project
ETAs are required to initiate and execute a minimum of two Community Engagement Projects during their grant in the communities where they live, for which small amounts of funding will be available. Please note that due to visa restrictions ETAs are not allowed to carry out research, act as journalists, work for NGOs, or engage in political, missionary, medical care, commercial or fundraising activities. ETAs are not authorized to accept employment, whether paid or unpaid.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
ETAs usually spend less than $700 a month for their basic living costs, as the cost of living in Indonesia is significantly lower than in the US. However, ETAs who plan on frequent personal, non-grant-related travel, or who have other significant personal expenses, e.g., for entertainment or shopping, will likely have higher monthly needs.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements are made by the schools where ETAs will be placed, subject to approval by AMINEF. Many ETA sites are in remote, rural areas which tend to be more conservative and communal. ETAs must be prepared to adapt to local customs, conditions and norms. This includes dealing with less privacy than what they are used to and different standards of facilities (i.e., cold water showers, mosquitos, open-air homes, etc). Housing situations vary greatly from site to site. Many placements lack or have limited access to conveniences such as air conditioning, hot water, gyms, Western groceries, or fast internet connectivity. This requires a high degree of flexibility and adaptability on the part of the ETAs.
Health Disclosure and Eligibility
In compliance with the Indonesian government regulations regarding health and assignment in the school system, candidates must include any medical disclosures for the applicable medical conditions listed below in the medical examination forms provided by IIE and AMINEF after being selected as Fulbright finalists. Strict adherence to these regulations is mandatory, and your grant is contingent on the ability to secure a placement in Indonesia. Any omissions or falsification of information are immediate grounds for revoking or terminating the grant.
The Indonesian government may require proof of the followings:
Negative HIV/AIDS test result
Negative drug test result
The Indonesian government is unlikely to provide temporary stay permits to people living with HIV/AIDS or to those with a drug addiction.
Selected candidates must also disclose the following conditions:
Conditions worsened by stress such as: epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.
Severe food allergies including, but not limited to, nuts, shellfish, beans, gluten
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
ETA Guidebook: https://goo.gl/M0lsVA
Indonesiaful (Unofficial Indonesia ETA Blog): https://indonesiaful.wordpress.com/