Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program in Switzerland

Full-time U.S. teachers are eligible to apply for a year-long or semester-long direct exchange of teaching positions with a counterpart in Switzerland teaching the same subject(s) at the same level.

The Fulbright program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright Program became part of the Fulbright-Hays Act (the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act) which was signed by President Kennedy in 1961.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government designed to increase mutual understanding of the people of the United States and people of other countries. The Fulbright Program provides participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential—with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

The Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program provides opportunities for teachers to participate in direct exchanges of positions with colleagues from other countries for a semester or academic year.  By living and working in the cultures of their host countries, Fulbright teachers gain an understanding and appreciation of the similarities and differences in national cultures and education systems.  Fulbright teachers enrich their schools and communities with a new awareness of other cultures and of events occurring in different parts of the world, providing students and citizens with new perspectives about the world in which they live.

Fulbright exchanges result in continuing relationships between schools, some of which establish their own student and faculty exchanges and Internet links.  In other instances, exchanges benefit local communities by providing them with international resources that are not otherwise available.  International collaborations such as these foster enduring relationships and continuously provide students with opportunities to increase their subject knowledge and understand its relevance in the greater context of the world.  Participating teachers develop and share their expertise with colleagues abroad, and schools gain from the experience of having an international resource in their communities.

Full-time U.S. teachers are eligible to apply for a year-long or semester-long direct exchange of teaching positions with a counterpart in another country teaching the same subject(s) at the same level. Fulbright program staff in the U.S. and abroad match U.S. and overseas candidates in the spring of each year. Fulbright staff then propose matched-exchanges that each candidate and each school administration must approve before the program takes place.

Website: http://www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org/cte.cfm

Application deadline: October 15, 2011

Dates: August through July
Estimated Awards: 2
Dependents: Permitted*
Language Proficiency: Proficiency in German, French or Italian strongly recommended.**
Teaching Assignment: English language and literature or other subjects for which the U.S. teacher has been trained or certified: foreign languages, math, science, history, geography, art, music or physical education. Placement may be at any type of Swiss secondary school.
Level/Subject: Teachers (grades 7-12) of German, French, Italian, English, English as a second language, Spanish, mathematics, science, history, geography, art, music, or physical education.
Terms of Agreement: Direct exchange of teaching assignments.  Requires that U.S. teacher obtain a leave of absence with pay from school administration.  The U.S. school agrees to accept a teacher from Switzerland who has also secured a leave of absence with pay (no additional cost will accrue to the U.S. school).
Transportation Award: Round-trip economy airfare, for grantee only, from airport nearest grantee’s home.
Other Allowances: U.S. participants will receive a $4000 maintenance allowance per semester. Please note that the cost of living in Switzerland is significantly higher than in the U.S. Applicants should budget accordingly.
Other Benefits: Four-day pre-departure orientation workshop for grantee in Washington, D.C.  One day orientation workshop in Switzerland.
Counterpart Agency: If you are a Swiss citizen and would like more information on applying, please see the website of CH Youth Exchange, Solothurn at http://www.echanges.ch.
*Free schooling for dependent children in Swiss public schools.
** Language of instruction is generally English, except when teaching a foreign language, although some Swiss schools may request U.S. teachers teach non-language classes in German, French or Italian.