United States-India Educational Foundation
www.usief.org.in
Completing the Embark Online Application
Instructions for Indian Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA) Applicants in the 2019-2020 U.S. academic year
Application Deadline: August 31, 2018, 23:59:59 hrs (IST)
Read all instructions carefully and follow the application guidelines below.
THESE INDIA SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS SUPERSEDE ANY GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.
All applications must be completed online at: https://iie.embark.com/apply/flta
STEP 1: Click Register to start a new application. To begin, please add email id, password, first name and last name. Once your account has been created, you may proceed to login and complete your application. Do not write in CAPS.
· Your email address is your User ID. Keep your User ID and Password in a safe place. While you cannot change your User ID, you can change your password by clicking “Forgot My Password” at the application log-in page.
· You are not required to complete this application in one session. You can re-enter at any time and edit your application before you submit it. However, please remember that 60 minutes of inactivity will automatically log you out. You will have to log in again to resume your application.
· Once you submit your application, you can NO longer make any changes to it.
· Responses to questions on the application must adhere to established character limits.
· Review the entire application before submitting it. The application should be free of grammatical and spelling errors.
· All forms in this application are to be completed in English. Items must be answered completely and carefully.
· Some questions are “required”. In other words, you will not be able to complete and submit your application until all required items are completed. When you click on Review button on the Home page, your application will be checked for completeness. You will be prompted to enter any missing information on required questions.
· Often specific instructions for completing a question or item will be provided in the application.
Country of Nomination
Before you start filling the forms online, you will be asked the following two preliminary questions:
1. What is your country of citizenship?
2. Have you checked with your Fulbright Program Office in your home country?
Please select “India” from the drop-down menu and “yes” as answers to questions 1 and 2.
The home page allows you to view all of the sections required to submit your application.
STEP 2: Complete the Application
Please read all instructions carefully. In addition, please review the following important information.
General Information
Applicant Name: It is very important that you list your name exactly as it appears (or will appear) on your passport. Please be sure to indicate whether or not you currently have a passport.
Please use upper and lower case when entering your name, e.g. Ron Smith. Avoid using all capital letters or using all lower case. Also, do not use diacritical markings (accent marks) as this can sometimes create computer-related problems.
Plagiarism Agreement
Please read the agreement carefully and check the box, as indicated.
Please note that material misinterpretation (e.g. plagiarism) at any time during the application or grant period is grounds for selection withdrawal or grant termination, as well as ineligibility for future participation.
Objectives and Motivations
This is the long essay you must complete for your application. Do not write the essay in CAPITAL letters. You can only upload this essay. Uploaded objective statements should be limited to a maximum of two pages. Your application may be disqualified if your essay significantly exceeds the page limit.
Completing the Objectives essay provides the readers (your future supervisor and other university/college officials) with a picture of you and your career interests.
This essay will allow you to:
· Emphasize key qualifications, areas of expertise, skills and/or goals
Tip: Reflect on your overall qualifications and career goals: In what ways do they fit with the FLTA Program?
· Help the readers find out about your character/personality
Tip: Think about making a good first impression
· Tell a story
Tip: Consider: What’s special, unique, distinctive and impressive about your life story?
· Present your life experience
Tip: Consider: Why might you be a better and more successful FLTA than others?
· Appeal to college/university supervisor expectations
Tip: Consider: What qualifications are most desired by college and university professors in a language teacher/assistant? What other personal qualities do you possess that would make you attractive to them? Think about what role--or roles— you expect to have on campus?
A good essay for this task will answer these questions:
1. Why are you applying for the FLTA Program?
2. What details of your (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help a person better understand you or set you apart from other FLTA applicants?
3. What are your main qualifications?
4. What are your career goals?
How do you get started?
Research the Fulbright FLTA Program by visiting www.flta.fulbrightonline.org and communicating with USIEF. From your research you should know the program’s purpose and the goals of the program that interest you.
A proper essay will include:
• An introductory paragraph
• At least three (3) body paragraphs
• A concluding paragraph
A proper paragraph will include:
• An introductory statement
• Supporting evidence of the introductory statement
Note: Don't write that you would make an excellent FLTA unless you can support your statement with specific reasons. Your desire to become an FLTA should be logical, the result of specific previous experience.
Remember: You will likely need to write more than one draft. Use proper grammar and punctuation. Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. You may want another person to read your essay and check it for errors. You should take great care to write a clear and detailed description. Take your time. The way a person devises the essay, determines the length, develops the response is all part of the process. The level of effort sends a message.
Academic Information
Academic Interests: The FLTA program provides its participants the opportunity to participate in coursework at the U.S. institutions for enrichment purposes. This question allows you the opportunity to express your areas of academic interest. Please note that you are not guaranteed courses in the subject fields you indicate interest in.
Education: Please list all post-secondary institutions attended in reverse order (putting the most recently attended first). List all post-secondary institutions attended even those from which you did not obtain a degree.
Occupational Experience
Please list the employment information, as asked in the form.
Additional Information
Complete the items as per the instructions on online form.
Examination Results: Include the test score, if you have recent scores. Please note that TOEFL scores are not required at the time of application. Candidates recommended by the selection committee will have to appear for the TOEFL in November 2018. USIEF will provide fee vouchers towards the TOEFL exam. The Fulbright FLTA Program provides payment vouchers for the TOEFL, but is unable to do so for the IELTS or any other exam
Teaching Methodologies and Techniques and Sharing Your Culture
Although these are shorter essays, you should take great care with your responses. These short essays provide another opportunity for you to communicate your understanding of the program’s goals and why you would be an appropriate candidate, as well as showcase your ability to meet the language teaching assistant needs of U.S. host institutions.
You must type these two essays in the space provided in the application form.
Personal Information
Complete the information as per the instructions on online form.
Completing your application
Reference Forms List the names of persons from whom you have requested letters of reference and provide the details as requested.
You must have three letters of reference (or recommendation) submitted on your behalf. Letters of Reference are extremely important. All letters of reference should be written by teachers under whom you have studied or pursued research or by someone who has supervised you in your work. Letters of reference should not be written by persons related to you either by blood or marriage or by personal friends. The letters should be written in English if possible. If they are not, an original English translation must be provided.
Recommender Registration
Your recommenders can complete the form online and submit electronically. You must click on the Recommendation button on the Home page of this application to register your recommenders. Thereafter, you must contact and request your recommenders to submit their letters of reference online. You will receive an email notification after the referee submits the online recommendation letter.
Note: All letters of reference should reach USIEF or submitted online by the August 31, 2018 application deadline. Please follow-up with the referees to ensure that the letters of reference are submitted on time. Referees can submit their online letters of reference while you are working on your application or after the submission of your application. However, ensure that your referees complete their letters of reference prior to the application deadline.
Transcripts
Please upload one file containing scanned copies of your degrees/diplomas certificates and mark sheets, beginning with your bachelor’s degree. You must include mark sheets for all yearly or semester examinations, and not just the final one. The set must be arranged in chronological order, beginning with the latest or the highest degree/diploma. Do not include high school/senior secondary school mark sheets or certificates. Certificates and mark sheets in any language other than English must be accompanied by certified English translations.
Please scan and upload the documents. Do not upload images taken by your mobile camera.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Please upload a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae. It should not exceed three pages. Do not include photos.
Supplemental Documents
Please upload a copy of your passport, English test score reports (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) and teaching experience certificates.
Please scan and upload the documents. Do not upload images taken by your mobile camera.
STEP 3: Review
Before you can submit your application electronically, your application will be reviewed for completeness. If there is missing data, you will be prompted to correct.
STEP 4: Review and print your application
Review a PDF version of your application and print a copy for your records.
STEP 5: Submit your application
After completing this application and thoroughly reviewing it, you will submit it electronically. Please note it is very important that you identified your country of citizenship correctly in the preliminary questions. If you entered the wrong country of citizenship when you answered the preliminary questions, you must correct this prior to submitting your application.
Note carefully, after submitting your application electronically, you will be able to access it in a viewable PDF format as well as be able to access supplemental forms. You will be able to print these documents. However, you will not be able to make changes to your application.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Duration of the FLTA Program Grant: The Fulbright FLTA grant is awarded for one academic year usually beginning in August and ending in May. The FLTA Program is a NON-DEGREE program. Candidates are required to arrive on the reporting date indicated when notified of an award and will be required to return to their home country when their FLTA Program is completed. There are NO EXCEPTIONS. Candidates wishing to pursue an advanced degree in the U.S. should NOT apply to the Fulbright FLTA Program or should be aware that they MUST return to their home countries and apply for a new visa category before they can return to the United States. Candidates cannot be accompanied by dependents during their assistantships and must be able to travel to the U.S. without an escort.
For any further queries, you can write to Dr. Gayatri Singhal at
********************
4