Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA)

Deadline: March 30, 2013

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the scholarship opportunity for the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA). This program will provide Cambodian teachers with unique opportunities to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge of the United States.

TEA Program will bring international secondary level teachers of English, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), social studies, math or science to the United States for a total of two six-week professional development programs (one program in the spring of 2014, the other in the fall of 2014). Teachers will be placed in cohorts of about 20 teachers at eight U.S. universities that will be selected through a competitive process. The program will consist of academic seminars focusing on new teaching methodologies, curriculum development, lesson planning, teaching strategies, and instructional technology training. Intensive English language instruction will be offered to teachers who need additional practice. The program will also include a practicum at a U.S. secondary school where participants work closely with U.S. teachers and teach and present to U.S. students. Cultural enrichment, mentoring, and support will be provided to participants throughout the program.

Upon returning home, TEA program alumni are eligible to apply for small grants for essential teaching materials, follow‐on training for other teachers, collaborative projects between schools in their home country and the United States, and other activities that build on their U.S. experience.

Areas of the TEA Program are:

• English as a Foreign Language
• Social Studies
• Mathematics
• Science

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be secondary-level, full-time teachers
• Have a Bachelor's degree or the equivalent
• Have five or more years of classroom experience in English as a Foreign Language (EFL), social studies, math, or science
• Reside in the country of citizenship (Cambodia) at the time of application
• Have English language skills adequate to develop lesson plans, conduct research, audit classes in U.S. host universities, and team-teach in U.S. schools (TOEFL score of 450 or equivalent); and
• Have had little or no experience in the U.S.

Please note that this is a program for practicing teachers. Ministry of Education officials, full-time principals or educational administrators, full-time teacher trainers, university faculty, private English language tutors, and teachers from schools primarily serving expatriates are not eligible.

Tentative Program Dates in the U.S.

• Cohort I: February – March 2014 (Spring)
• Cohort II: September – October 2014 (Fall)

Required Documents (Application Package)

Applicants must submit the original application and three complete copies (total: four copies). Each copy of the application should be submitted in the following order:

1. Application. Click here to download (PDF - 356 KB).
2. Completed Institutional Support and Reference Form. Click here to download (PDF - 96 KB)
3. A copy of your passport (if available).

English Language Proficiency

Interested applicants who do not already have a valid TOEFL score of 450 or above should plan to take the Institutional TOEFL Practice (ITP) on March 2, 2013, or March 30, 2013, at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP).  Registration for the test must be done at least 7 working days prior to the test date. Please contact Mr. Thavuth for the registration at 023 884 320 or 016 696 699.

Instructions & Submission Guidelines

• Please answer all questions on the application.
• Please type or print in black ink.
• If a question does not apply to you, enter “N/A” (Not Applicable).
• Include your full, legal name as spelled on your passport (if available) or other photo identification.
• Include complete contact information (House number, street number, khum/sangkat, srok/khan, city/province).
• Write your full name, city, and country in the top right corner of each page.
• You may attach additional pages if necessary to answer the questions completely.
• Please indicate in which cohort (Cohort I, or Cohort II of 2014) you would prefer to participate. (Please note that effort will be made to accommodate your first choice; however, applicants will be considered for both cohorts and the placement in your first choice is not guaranteed.)

Institutional Support and Reference Form

1. The “characteristics” section must be completed by the applicant’s supervisor (i.e., school director). A family member may not complete the reference form. Please provide an English translation if it is not written in English (informal translation is acceptable).
2. The “recommendation letter” section must also be completed by the applicant’s supervisor.
3. Finally, this Institutional Support and Reference Form must be signed by the school director. This will confirm that the school supports your participation in this program.

Deadline for submission: March 30, 2013

Please return the completed application package in hard copies (one original and two photocopies) to:

Mr. Socheat Ou
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Section
U.S. Embassy
#1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
Telephone: 855-23-728-248
Email: ous1@state.gov