1. US TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP PROGRAM Challenges and Opportunities
Belona Berchtaler, Fulbright Austria

2. Financed by the Austrian Ministry of Education (BMB)
FULBRIGHT AUSTRIAN STUDENT PROGRAM
Background of the Austrian USTA Program
Established in 1962
Financed by the Austrian Ministry of Education (BMB)
Administered by Fulbright Austria
USTAs are part of the Fulbright Austria community but they are not Fulbright grantees (employees of provincial school boards)
In the program year 147 teaching assistants have been placed in secondary schools all over Austria

3. Residency permit application and other legal matters
FULBRIGHT AUSTRIAN STUDENT PROGRAM
Challenges and Opportunities: Challenges for USTAs
Residency permit application and other legal matters
Pre-departure issues
Getting used to a new country, a new environment, new duties
What we do:
Fulbright Austria provides guidance and ad hoc emergency intervention from the day they apply to the last day of their employment
Every Austrian province has a volunteer regional advisor/coordinator

4. Not all USTAs necessarily have a lot of teaching experience.
FULBRIGHT AUSTRIAN STUDENT PROGRAM
Challenges and Opportunities: Teaching Experience
Not all USTAs necessarily have a lot of teaching experience.
What we do:
USTAs are selected and placed with the utmost care and according to the schools‘ needs
USTAs receive a week of training by qualified Austrian teachers at orientation seminars
USTAs have mentor teachers -> critical! TAs need guidance!
The USTA community is a strong network, teaching ideas and advice are being shared on a daily basis
What USTAs do:
USTAs are expected to be flexible and work independently in a wide variety of institutional settings for 13 hrs/week
Providing for authentic native speaker US-English in Austrian classrooms under the guidance of experienced teachers
Foster active educational and cultural exchange

5. Cultural ambassadors – representing and explaining the US
FULBRIGHT AUSTRIAN STUDENT PROGRAM
Challenges and Opportunities: Cultural Differences and Cultural Exchange
“[...] the most significant lesson that I’ve learned all year was: certain things defy the language barrier. ... Like the look of confusion and disgust on every Austrian’s face when I mention my extreme love for peanut butter … the sigh of relief when the students were expecting an exam but then I walk into the room instead of their usual teacher… the blank stares when I try to explain the rules of baseball… the roars of laughter when I ask if Austria has a good soccer team … and the loud applause when I surprised the students with my perfect pronunciation of “Oachkatzlschwoaf” during the final weeks of school”. (Lauren, USTA in Innsbruck, Austria)
Cultural ambassadors – representing and explaining the US
Promoting mutual understanding in communities large and small all over Austria

6. Fulbright Austria (Austrian-American Educational Commission)
FULBRIGHT AUSTRIAN STUDENT PROGRAM
Q & A and Contact Information
Fulbright Austria (Austrian-American Educational Commission)
Belona Berchtaler
USTA/FLTA Program Officer
Q21/MQ
Museumsplatz 1
1070 Vienna
Austria
Phone: +(431)