The Foreign Language Teaching Assistant FLTA Program: Policies and Procedures

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The Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA)
Program Policies and Procedures

• Program Sponsors United States Department of
  States Bureau of Educational and Cultural
  Affairs (ECA)
• Program Administrators Institute of
  International Education

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Enrichment and Professional DevelopmentInstitut
e of International Education (IIE) FLTA
Program Staff

• Director Carl DeAngelis
• Assistant Director Edward Monks
• Senior Program Officer Marsha Frith
• Program Officer Eleanor Wendell
• Program Administrators May Almadani Karen
  Forsythe
• E-mail FLTA_at_iie.org

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2009-2010 General Program Information

• 416 Fulbright FLTAs (31 non-Fulbright FLTAs)
• 49 countries
• 31 languages
• 48 states
• 250 colleges and universities

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A Year of Reports

• FIRST SEMESTER
• Arrival Information (already submitted)
• Pre-Survey (already responded to)
• Arrival and Address Report Form
• Student Report Initial
• Initial Program Survey
• Supervisor Survey

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SECOND SEMESTER

• Student Report Mid-Year
• Conference Survey
• U.S. Student Survey
• Final Report
• Final Survey
• Approval of Return Itinerary
• Submission of Departure form

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REMINDER

• Within 10 days of the Start Date on your DS-2019
  you MUST SUBMIT
• Arrival and Address Report Form, Copy of your
  Processed DS-2019, I-94 and Visa Stamp
• Remember you must inform IIE of address
  changes within 10 days

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DS-2019
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I-94/Visa Stamp
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I-94 Card

• Received at Airport
• Must have same name and birthdate as passport
• Must be turned in upon departure

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Additional Reporting

• Within 30 days of arrival at your host
  institution you MUST SUBMIT
• Student Report Form
• Other reporting
• Academic problems
• Changes in personal status
• Health Problems
• PLEASE COMPLY WITH ALL REQUESTED DEADLINES

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Items in your Welcome Packet

• ALL
• Work Authorization Letter
• Insurance Card
• Insurance Booklet/Insurance Coverage Summary
• Health Information Release Form
• Emergency Contacts
• SOME
• E-Funds Card (LCTL only)
• Payment Schedule
• Meal Plan Withdrawal Form

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Health Insurance

• Steps
• 1) Read the booklet and visit the website to
  find what is covered and what will be an
  additional charge.
• E-mail or call Seven Corners with specific
  questions.
• 2) Find a doctor in the network
• 3) Make an appointment (15 co-pay)
• 4) Bring your insurance card and claim form (on
  website)
• If there is no doctor in network near
  school..go to the nearest doctor (be prepared
  to pay up front) for the cost of the visit
• Consult the Doctor Pay first or Submit claim
  form

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E-Funds Activation

• Instructions in Handbook pocket
• SSN 0 IIE ID Example 015096678
• Address 809 United Nations Plaza
• Phone Number 212-883-8200
• Birth Date
• Debit Card, Cash Advance, ATM, POS

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TERMS OF AWARDThere are 25 sections in your
termsIncluding

• FLTA PROGRAM STUDY REQUIREMENTS
• FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
• ASSISTANTSHIP DUTIES
• HOUSING
• DURATION OF STAY
• REVOCATION, TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF AWARD
• REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

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What are the program requirements?

• Teach or perform teaching assistant duties up to
  20 hours per week in your language
• Take two academic courses per semester or one per
  quarter
• Submit surveys/reports to IIE in a timely fashion
• Inform us immediately if you are having
  difficulty meeting program requirements
• Return to home country upon completion
• Comply with J-2 Policy

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Additional Work Stipulations

• Related to teaching of language and culture
• Does not exceed 20 hr. limit
• Does not increase income more than an incidental
  amount
• (possible decrease in Fulbright stipend amount)

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Two-year home-country physical presence
requirement

• Must reside be physically present in the
  country of nationality or last legal permanent
  residence for two years following departure from
  the U.S. before the exchange visitor is eligible
  to apply for
• a nonimmigrant H visa as a temporary worker or
  trainee, or
• nonimmigrant L visa as an intra company
  transferee.
• an immigrant visa or permanent residence

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This is what it means

• AFTER your FLTA program
• BEFORE you can return to the U.S.
• AS an IMMIGRANT or EMPLOYEE
• You must reside in your home country for a period
  of 2 years

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Are there any exceptions?

• What if I get engaged?
• What if I get married?
• NO
• What if I get pregnant?
• What if I get someone pregnant?
• What if I ask you 1,000 times?
• Does NO mean maybe?
• NO, it means

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Can I return to the U.S.?

• May I return immediately to pursue an MA or PhD
  Program?
• YES
• May I return as a tourist?
• May I return to attend a conference?

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Lets Review

• Professional development
• Personal enrichment
• Important contribution
• Not Renewable
• Not an opportunity for securing employment in the
  U.S.
• Not a vacation

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What is your role?

• Enhance the teaching by professors
• Provide a youthful, up-to-date cultural component
• Teach but also support co-curricular events
  language nights, movies, cooking, etc.
• Get involved in the community

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The Role of the Institute of International
Education (IIE)

• Your advocate
• Your primary contact
• Your monitor (SEVIS/Insurance)
• The distributor (for most monthly stipends)
• The informer (ECA)
• The mediator (Host Institutions)
• Organizer and administrator of FLTA Orientations
  and Conference

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Common Challenges

• BEFORE YOU GO, YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Luggage
• Housing issues
• Bills, bills, bills
• Food
• Campus Location/transportation
• Insurance
• Comparing yourself to others in the program
• Faculty vs. Student

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Resources for Resolving Problems

• FLTA Handbook
• Insurance Booklet
• Insurance website
• http//www.usdos.sevencorners.com
• JP Morgan Chase Bank (E-funds issues)
• Toll Free 1-888-606-7058
• FLTA Program Website
• http//www.flta.fulbrightonline.org
• On campus International Student Advisor
• Your Supervisor
• The internet
• FLTA Program Staff at IIE (flta_at_iie.org)

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Mid-Year CONFERENCE

• December 9-13, Washington D.C.
• Professional Development
• FLTA Networking
• Fun!
• Practical Matters
• Travel to and from
• Expenses
• Expectations and Prohibitions

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FLTA Newsletter

• Published monthly
• Theme
• Submissions
• - Article on theme of month
• - Top Ten list on theme of the month
• - Pictures
• Alumni Spotlight

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Expectations

• What you should not expect
• What you should expect

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Do NOT Expect

• Negativity or inflexibility to result in anything
  positive

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EXPECT

• YOUR positive attitude
• and flexibility
• to result in success

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Do NOT Expect

• The same stipend or living conditions as the
  person sitting next to you.

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EXPECT

• Your program will be different than others

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Do NOT Expect

• Large accommodations and your regular diet or
  foods to which you are accustomed

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EXPECT

• Reasonable accommodations and food options
  typical of that U.S. region

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Do NOT Expect

• To have an excessive amount of money to spend on
  luxury items (name brand clothes, laptops,
  flat-screens, first class travel, etc.).

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EXPECT

• The program to provide enough funding to cover
  your basic expenses

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Do NOT Expect

• IIE to be able to resolve every problem in your
  favor or make exceptions for you

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EXPECT

• IIE to be professional, informative, helpful and
  responsive

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And

• EXPECT
• THIS TO BE AN AMAZING YEAR!

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Certificate of Completion
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?

• QUESTIONS