Papua New Guinea
2 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFebruary StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Teaching Assistantships are for 10 months (including a week-long orientation in Port Moresby).
All placements will be made by the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby. Approximately 16-18 hours per week of classroom teaching, plus class preparation time and school-related activities are required. A combination of co-teaching and independent teaching will vary from school to school and will depend on the school's situation as well as the ETAs backgrounds and qualifications. ETA will be supervised by teachers at the host schools.
To help the ETAs better prepare for assignment in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, selected candidates who do not have TEFL/TESOL certificates may be required to take online course(s) for TESOL prior coming to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to take up the grant. More details will be provided in the grant documents.
Grant Length
Grant Period
All English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) are required to begin their grants in February 2027 after the in-country orientation in Port Moresby. Grantees start from the first semester in Papua New Guinea and proceed to the first semester of the subsequent academic year. During Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands winter school vacation, grantees are assigned to internships and may be engaged in English camps, outreach, or other related community activities.
Orientation
A pre-departure orientation will be facilitated by post and cohosted with ECA and IIE.
The week-long orientation will be held right after arrival in Port Moresby. The orientation programs cover intensive basic Tok Pisin, ESL teaching techniques, PNG and SI cultural issues, and practical teaching.
Candidate Profile
Candidates must be articulate, fluent English-speakers. Candidates are expected to demonstrate the necessary initiative to teach conversational English at middle-high school, and teacher training college for an average class size of up to 35-45 students with a tradition of rote learning. Moreover, candidates must be able to adapt and thrive within a variety of intensive cultural environments including the challenges of living in a less comfortable setting. Candidates must be willing and able to physically and mentally adjust to work in the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands cultural context and the PNG And SI educational system.
Candidates need to be self-motivated, adventurous, flexible, and independent. Candidates from all majors are welcomed but those with Education/English majors who possess prior teaching experience are preferred. As cultural ambassadors, ETAs are expected to exhibit a high level of professionalism and share aspects of American culture with their schools.
ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
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.
Grantees for the Fulbright ETA Award for Papua New Guinea will be part of a small cohort of Fulbrighters in the country. As such, prospective grantees will need to be independent-minded and proactive about researching their intended host country and community.
Availability of medical services in Papua New Guinea is also limited compared to the United States. In some cases, grantees may need to travel outside of their host country to access necessary medical services.
As a starting point for learning more about Papua New Guinea, please review the information on the United States Department of State website:
Eligibility
10 Months
Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application. Individuals who have resided in Papua New Guinea or the Solomon Islands for more than six consecutive months during the 12 months prior to the grant start date are ineligible to apply. Dual citizens of the United States and Papua New Guinea or the Solomon Islands are eligible to apply. The Fulbright Student Award to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands is a 10-month program open to candidates with a strong academic background, demonstrated cultural adaptability, and interest in conducting research or engaging in projects that contribute to mutual understanding between the United States and the host countries.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
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.
Tok Pisin and Pidgin language proficiency is not required, but some self-study of Tok Pisin and Pidgin prior to arrival is recommended in order to promote deeper engagement with the host community. ETAs will be provided basic Tok Pisin and Pidgin language as part of the in-country orientation.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- Teacher Training
Grantees will teach at either the middle/high school and teacher training depending on the placement. ETAs will be assigned to public schools and teacher training colleges in cities and towns in the provinces of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. ETAs are not assigned to schools in Port Moresby and Honiara.
Placement Locations
- Regional City
Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) will be placed in Wewak, the provincial capital of East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea. Wewak is a regional coastal town with basic and limited services, including small local markets, a provincial hospital, and a handful of guesthouses and eateries. While mobile network coverage is available, internet access may be unreliable or slow compared to urban centers. There is no road connection between Wewak and neighboring provinces, so travel to and from Wewak is primarily by air, with flights available from Port Moresby.
ETAs will be placed at St. Benedict’s Teachers College, a small teacher training institution affiliated with Divine Word University. The college trains primary school teachers to serve rural and remote communities across Papua New Guinea. The campus offers basic classroom facilities, a library, and student dormitories, and fosters a close-knit learning environment. Students come from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and ETAs will have the opportunity to engage not only in English language teaching but also in cultural exchange activities, helping to enhance students' communication skills and global awareness.
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.
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
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
Additional Grant Benefits
- Housing placement
Upon arrival in Papua New Guinea, Fulbright ETAs will participate in an in-country orientation that includes accommodation, cultural awareness sessions, and Tok Pisin language classes, all fully funded by the program. These sessions will help ETAs gain essential communication skills and a deeper understanding of local customs, cultural norms, and the diverse communities they will be working with.
During the mid-year break (summer), ETAs will have the opportunity to participate in a short-term outreach assignment in Honiara, Solomon Islands, where they will engage with local educational institutions, community groups, and youth-focused programs, further broadening their regional experience and strengthening educational and cultural ties between the U.S., Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands.
Supplementary Project
English Teaching Assistantship grants are not study/research awards and teaching takes up most of the grantee's time. In applying, the Statement of Grant Purpose should focus on the reasons why the applicant seeks the cultural experience of teaching English in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and what candidate will bring to the classrooms, activity to support the ETA's teaching responsibilities, club activity to further focus on using English in the school and/or the community, etc.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
The cost of living in Papua New Guinea can be higher than expected, particularly for imported goods, which are often more expensive than their equivalents in the United States due to shipping costs and limited availability. Basic local food and products are affordable, but items such as Western-brand groceries, electronics, and personal care products can carry a significant markup.
Applicants are encouraged to research current costs for essential items, transportation, and accommodation in their host city. A helpful resource for estimating living expenses is: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements are made by the host schools and with approval by the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby. Housing situations vary from site to site, and this requires a high degree of flexibility and adaptation on the part of the ETAs.