Fulbright

The Fulbright Program is actually a collection of international exchange opportunities, with an overarching goal to “increase mutual understanding and support friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” Named for Senator J. William Fulbright, who introduced legislation that was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1946, the program has expanded into partnerships with 160 countries; 49 of those countries have binational Fulbright Commissions, funded and operated jointly by both governments, while others rely on U.S. embassies to liaise with their governments.

Through the various exchanges, grant recipients are able to pursue international research, teaching, and study in their fields of expertise. Grants are awarded on a merit basis and are considered highly prestigious! Notably, Fulbright alumni have received 62 Nobel Prizes, 82 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, 98 Pulitzer Prizes, and are among 44 current or former heads of state or government.

Funding and support come from many entities, primarily the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

I am participating in the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program. Thanks to this category, K–12 educators from the United States are able to conduct research and participate in professional learning experiences abroad for three to six months. Each educator must design, propose, construct, and implement a plan relevant to their own school or community, with the ultimate goal of sharing it with the greater educational community.

For example, the basis for my research stems from a need in my own second-grade classroom. I’m not a language specialist, but almost half the students in my class are ESOL students, with nine home languages represented in this year’s class! Year after year, I witness children struggle to acclimate to unfamiliar cultural and school routines while also trying to learn a new language, plus follow the regular curriculum. I want students to feel at ease in their surroundings from Day 1. I also recognize the value in multilingualism and encourage students to tap into home languages in class. The product of my research will help them do that!

Much of the guidance for this suite of awards comes from IREX, who has provided tremendous support to my cohort of 14 U.S. award grantees! Our cohort has grown close, first as we prepared to head out, and now as our projects are underway in 12 countries around the world.