Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship (FLTA)
The Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) aims to strengthen Arabic foreign language instruction by establishing a native speaker presence at U.S. educational institutions. FLTA candidates must be employed by the Ministry of National Education, and apply through said Ministry.
The program enables the teachers to engage in non-degree studies at post-secondary accredited educational institutions while teaching one or two language courses.
TAs are recruited from diverse backgrounds, but are required to have formal academic training, minimum BA or license, and/or professional experience in the teaching of a foreign language. Candidates’ dossiers are pre-selected by MACECE then sent to the Institute of International Education (IIE) for final selection and matching of the background of each nominee to a particular teaching assistantship post at a host institution. In addition to academic benefits, this program also provides both native speaker TAs and Americans with an opportunity to learn about each other's cultures and customs, thereby enhancing mutual understanding.
In addition to teaching one or two Arabic language courses (Fussha), TAs may serve as:
- resource persons in conversation groups
- cultural representatives
- attendants in language laboratories
- guest speakers in civilization courses
- supervisors of language clubs, houses and tables.
Each host institution tailors the assistantship to its language teaching needs.