In this era of globalization, it is of utmost importance that teachers develop intercultural competence to masterfully navigate through increasingly diverse classroom environments. Fortunately, there are abundant transnational mobility opportunities for educators to cultivate their pedagogical skills abroad. Among these opportunities is the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program; a non-degree grant offered in the United States that provides promising educators with an opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of unique contexts within academic landscapes all over the world. Hence, this study delves into the multifaceted experiences of nine Fulbright FLTA scholars from the 2022-2023 cohort during their nine-month stay at a private US university, offering insight into the rewarding and challenging aspects of their experience. By conducting a thematic analysis of their narratives, five superordinate themes emerged as the rewarding aspects: student engagement and success, a renewed sense of nationalism, enhanced pedagogical skills, professional growth and impact, and heightened intercultural competence. On the other hand, four superordinate themes-- role ambiguity, insufficient or restricted access to resources, culture shock, and lack of promotion for less commonly taught language programs emerged as the challenging aspects of the participants’ FLTA experiences. This study concludes that the participants’ experiences were diverse and complex, and provides insights not only on how future FLTA scholars can maximize their experiences, but also on how host institutions can establish an enriching experience and supportive environment for international educators.

Authors:
Gianinna Elaine Labicane, Romblon State University, Philippines
Celimpilo Ndebele, Curro Holdings, South Africa
Margarita Staruk, Skyeng Online School, Russia
Malick Diagne Diouf, Blaise Diagne High School, Senegal
Dian Febrianti, Universitas Katolik Santo Agustinus Hippo, Indonesia
Chayanin Phansriswan, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Thailand

About the Presenter(s)
Gianinna Elaine M. Labicane is an Assistant Professor and the Community and Global Affairs Liaison at the Romblon State University in the Philippines.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianinna-elaine-labicane-352723250/

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