US Teaching Assistantships
Fulbright
Austrian-American Educational Commission
Program Objective
The
Austrian-American Educational Commission, funded by the Austrian Federal
Ministry for Education, the Arts and Culture (Bundesministerium für Unterricht,
Kunst und Kultur), offers a U.S. teaching assistantship for one academic year
in secondary schools all around Austria. Selected participants will have a
rewarding opportunity to not only gain teaching and classroom experience, but
also serve as a linguistic and cultural ambassador for the United States.
Applicant Qualifications
Applicants
must be U.S. Citizens, have completed (or in the process of completing during
application period) a bachelor’s degree. Ideally applicants are interested in
public education or public service. Those with documented interest in the
German language as well as German and/or Austrian studies are particularly
encouraged to apply. A working knowledge of German is required and necessary to
facilitate on-site orientation and work.
Program Placement
The
Austrian Ministry of Education, the Arts and Culture works in a partnership
with provincial school boards to place approximately 130 U.S. teaching
assistants at schools in all nine Austrian provinces. Applicants may request a
city or region to which they wish to be assigned. However, the number of
positions available in larger metropolitan areas, such as Vienna, Salzburg,
Graz, and Innsbruck, is limited. Therefore, applicants also should be prepared
to accept teaching positions in smaller, more rural communities. Flexibility of
placement in prospects enhances applications.
Duration of Teaching Assistantship
Participants
are employed from October 1 – May 31 of the academic school year. Selected
teaching assistants are required to attend an orientation seminar before
beginning their assignments. U.S. teaching assistants with a superior record of
performance may apply to have their assistantships extended for a second year.
Work and Stipend of the Teaching Assistants
Participants
typically have a 13 hour work week, divided between two schools, under the
supervision of an assigned teaching superior to keep track of their overall
performance and trouble shoot, if need be. The stipend is ca. € 1,367 per month
for eight months, from which deductions are made for health and accident
insurance (full coverage under the Austrian plans) and income tax. This results
in a net income of approximately € 1,100 per month. No additional support for
travel to Austria or for dependents is provided.
Application Process
Graduating
seniors may apply, provided they have their degrees before assuming the
positions. Complete applications are due January 15, 2014 for the following
school year. For further information on the program, application materials, and
advice on application procedures, consult the Commission’s website: http://www.usta-austria.at
