The University of Notre Dame will host its third annual Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship (FLTA) orientation for the coming academic year, bringing 61 foreign language teachers from 34 countries to campus Aug. 12 to 16 (Tuesday to Saturday) for a series of workshops designed to enhance their teaching in the United States.
Faculty members from Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters, Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, International Student Services and Activities, First Year of Studies and Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies will lead sessions focusing on the latest and best practices in language teaching, preparing syllabi, curricular development, American academic culture, student life, effective time management, and designing and grading student papers. The program also will provide lectures by representatives from Notre Dame Security Police and the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union, as well as tours, activities and social events focused on American culture, politics and sports.
On completion, the language teachers will travel to their host institutions across the United States for the 2008-09 academic year where they will teach undergraduate foreign languages.
“Hosting this event not only places Notre Dame at the center of Fulbright’s foreign language program, but it underlines our leadership and also accentuates our expertise and reputation as foreign language teachers,” said orientation director Brian Conchubhair, assistant professor in the Department of Irish Language and Literature and a fellow in the Keough-Naughton Institute. “Notre Dame will serve as the gateway to their American experience and will shape how they perceive the United States.”
The FTLA participants come from Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria, Senegal, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
The orientation is organized and funded by the Fulbright Commission, U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and Institute for International Education.
Contact: Brian Conchubhair, 574-631-0499, boconch1@nd.edu
Originally published by at newsinfo.nd.edu on August 06, 2008.