For Australian Language Teachers

The Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships (ELTF), a part of the broader Endeavour Awards, provide opportunities for:

• practising language teachers in Australian schools
• trainee (pre-service) language teachers in Australian universities

to improve their language and cultural skills through intensive short-term study programs. The study programs take place over a three-week period in January each year. Programs may be held in Asia, Europe, Latin America or the Middle East.  Destinations may vary from year to year subject to identified need and the Australian Government’s international education priorities and taking into account the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s travel advisories.

To date, 739 practising language teachers and trainee language teachers have benefited from this intense professional learning program. Read about the experiences of previous award recipients.

The broad objectives of the ELTF program are to:

• provide practising language teachers and trainee language teachers with the opportunity to improve their knowledge, skills and understanding of the language and cultures about which they will teach;
• help develop a pool of language teachers with recent in-country experience and expertise as a resource at school, system, state and national levels;
• strengthen linkages between educators in Australia and in targeted countries;
• promote the value of languages education in Australian schools; and
• strengthen mutual understanding between the peoples of participating countries.

More specifically the ELTF program aims to:

• provide intensive professional learning to increase language proficiency levels of language teachers and trainee language teachers
• strengthen networking among language teachers and trainee language teachers nationally and in each state/territory.

The ELTF is available to two categories of applicants – practising language teachers and trainee (pre-service) language teachers. The eligibility requirements are:

(i)  Practising Language Teachers

To be considered for an ELTF Award, an applicant must:

• complete the application form (available when applications are open)
• address each of the selection criteria (set out in the application form)
• agree to a criminal history check (if required) by completing the National Police Check Application and Consent Forms
• provide the relevant documentation (as specified in the application form)

meet the eligibility criteria set out below:

• be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status in Australia and provide certified documentary evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent resident status in Australia
• be of good character and conduct
• be currently employed as a teacher in an Australian primary or secondary school for the year in a part-time or full-time position and be teaching the language of the nominated study program applied for
• have the written support of his/her school principal
• not have participated in an ELTF study program previously.

(Eligibility requirements are subject to change and full details are set out in each year’s application pack)

(ii) Trainee (Pre-Service) Language Teachers

To be considered for an ELTF Award, an applicant must:

• complete the application form (available when applications are open)
• address each of the selection criteria (set out in the application form)
• agree to a criminal history check (by completing the National Police Check Application and Consent Forms); and;

meet the following eligibility criteria:

• be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status in Australia and provide certified documentary evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent resident status in Australia;
• be of good character and conduct;
• be currently enrolled in an approved primary or secondary teacher education course in Australia to be a teacher of one of the languages of     Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Indonesian and provide certified copies of transcript of academic record of tertiary language and teacher education studies (listing subjects/units studied or enrolled in and results obtained);
• have the written support of his/her Faculty/Department/School at the university he/she attends; and
• not have participated in an Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships study program previously.

(Eligibility requirements are subject to change and full details are set out in each year’s application pack)

Applications are usually open in April each year and are advertised in all capital cities’ newspapers.  Further information and the application form will be set out in the application pack and posted on this website when applications are open.

Applications for the 2009 ELTF Program have now closed. The list of successful applicants are expected to be announced and posted on this website in September 2008.

Who can apply?
How do I apply?
Information about eligibility requirements are set out above.

When do applications open?
Applications are usually open in April each year and are advertised in all capital cities’ newspapers.  Further information and the application form will be set out in the application pack and posted on this website when applications are open.

When do applications close?
Applications for the 2009 ELTF Program have now closed.

What is the structure of the Program?
Generally, each overseas in-country study program consists of two weeks of intensive language training and a one-week field trip.  The onshore Bahasa Indonesia Program in Australia consists of an integrated three-week program of language and cultural training.

What is included in an ELTF Award?
Each study program will include costs of domestic/international return air travel in economy class (where applicable), mid-range twin share accommodation and/or home stays, some meals (to be advised prior to departure), language tuition fees and field trip costs.  Awardees will be responsible for the costs of some meals and tips, their own out-of-pocket expenses such as laundry, telephone and Internet, travel and medical insurance, health checks and inoculations, visa fees and other incidentals.

Can I pay a single supplement so that I can have my own room?
All awardees will be accommodated on a twin-share basis.  Room sharing is intended to maximise awardees’ networking opportunities, and to facilitate group dynamics.  Moreover, many locations cannot accommodate single-room accommodation when catering for a large group.

I live in a regional area.  Will arrangements be made to get me to the nearest international airport?
Travel arrangements will be made for those who live three or more hours by road from the nearest international airport.

Can I choose what places I want to see?
No.  All successful applicants will be advised of the scheduled activities as part of their study program preparation. The ELTF programs are designed to maximise opportunities for language teachers to improve their language and cultural skills, and group activities are a feature of the program.

Are my travel dates flexible?
Can I vary travel arrangements to spend time with family/friends, or attend another language course?
All intending applicants must be available between 30 December – 23 January (during the summer school/university vacation) in order to participate in the study program and have no other commitments during this period.

Due to travel and risk management issues, all awardees must travel as part of the group at all times.  Variations to travel are not possible.

Will I have free time?
Limited free time will be scheduled to allow awardees to conduct their own curriculum research, purchase resources for classrooms, and have some ‘down time’.  However, it is recommended that awardees consider carefully how best to utilise their free time as it is limited.

I have relatives/friends who will be in the area.  Can they visit me during the program?
Visitors can meet you, providing their visit does not coincide with any scheduled program activities (ie the visit can only occur during free time). Please note that  visitors cannot be allowed to participate in any of the group activities or room sharing arrangements.

Can I bring my partner or friend with me at his/her expense?
Under no circumstances can family members, partners or friends accompany the group.  The ELTF is a professional learning program and, as such, activities are only available to ELTF awardees.

Can an ELTF program be cancelled?
Although unlikely, an ELTF program could be cancelled due to a number of reasons, such as a heightened travel warning issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).  Any study program change such as cancellation is at the discretion of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Are there any reporting requirements required of awardees?
All awardees must complete an evaluation at the end of the study program, as well as a follow-up report approximately three months later.  Further information on these requirements will be provided as part of the ELTF program preparation.

• 2008 Study Programs
• 2007 Study Programs 
• 2006 Study Programs
• 2005 Study Programs