For International Education Week 2024, the Fulbright Association partnered with Reach The World to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange. As part of the Meet The World initiative, Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FTLAs) and Fulbright Association members visited elementary, middle, and high schools across the United States to share their Fulbright stories with students.
Hannah Kim, a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to South Korea (2023), visited Brian Gardner’s sixth-grade classroom at Kittredge Magnet School in Atlanta, Georgia, to share her experiences abroad. She recounted,
“I was blown away by how enthusiastic and cooperative [the students] actually were. They asked great questions about Korea that I hadn’t thought to put into my presentation, such as how long a school day in Korea was or what sort of sports they played. They were also very eager to try “jegichagi”, which is a traditional Korean game where you have to keep the “jegi” up in the air, not unlike hackysack (or as the kids so kindly taught me the modern term, keepie uppie).”
Terefi Abate, a Fulbright grantee to Ethiopia (2022), teamed up with Mia Kiet (FLTA from Vietnam) and Idris Akinade (FLTA from Nigeria) to discuss their Fulbright experiences with 60 students at Salem Elementary School in Naugatuck, Connecticut.
Mia expressed how the classroom visit “deepened the impact of cultural exchange and international education” and extended the opportunity to teach students about “Vietnamese greetings, food, and holidays, while also learning from their diverse heritage backgrounds and the American classroom.”
Paula Souza Alves, a Fulbright FLTA from Brazil, partnered with Andrew Barclay Levine, a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to France, to visit Benjamin Banneker High School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Paula said, “It was a truly rewarding experience to fulfill my role as a cultural ambassador—talking about my home country and culture, reflecting on my experiences in the US, and hopefully inspiring the students to embrace future international opportunities with an open mind.”
In Clinton, Mississippi, Anuja Halder, a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant from Ghaziabad, India, partnered with Fulbright grantee to India (2006), Karen Waters, to visit Kim Jordan’s second-grade classrooms at Northside Elementary.
Anuja shared, “Participating in International Education Week was an ecstatic learning experience that enabled me to connect with curious students, share about my Indian culture, and engage in fun activities. The chance to meet with such an enthusiastic class was truly inspiring and I’m grateful to have been part of such a meaningful initiative.”
Calling all Fulbright Association members!
Join the Fulbright in the Classroom (FIC) program to connect with K–College students and share your Fulbright journey. By sharing your experiences, you can spark curiosity, foster cross-cultural appreciation, and inspire the next generation to explore international education and exchange opportunities.
Interested in making an impact? Complete this form to learn more about upcoming FIC opportunities.
Visit the Fulbright in the Classroom website and email fic@fulbright.org for more information.