US Fulbright ETAs expand to Sabah, Sarawak

The latest group of 100 Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) just arrived to begin their 10-month assignments at primary and secondary schools across Terengganu, Johor, Pahang, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak.

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to welcome this year’s Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) to Malaysia.

Based on its great success, the ETA program has been expanded to Malaysian Borneo and the number of ETAs has increased from 75 to 100, making it one of the largest ETA programs in the world.

The program is administered jointly by the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE) and the Malaysian Ministry of Education and supported by the U.S. Embassy.

Fulbright English Teaching Assistants are graduates of leading universities throughout the United States. Each ETA will have direct, sustained contact with hundreds of students in their schools.

The United States provides technical support to the ETAs through visits by English language specialists from the United States who also help train Malaysian English language teachers and advise on curriculum.

The ETAs will bring with them the latest teaching materials, provided free of charge by the U.S. Department of State.

U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, Joseph Yun said, “I’m pleased to welcome 100 talented young Americans who will dedicate themselves to helping teach English in schools throughout Terengganu, Johor, Pahang, Perak, and for the first time in Sabah and Sarawak. As this program continues to expand, the bonds and friendships the ETAs make will bring our two countries together and help us better understand each other.”

The ETA program is intended to enrich and enhance English instruction in primary and secondary schools by providing American native speakers who strengthen English language education as well as mutual understanding.

In addition to their classroom work, the ETAs organize extra-curricular clubs and activities conducted in English while also gaining a deep understanding of Malaysian culture by living and working in towns and cities throughout the six states.

The objective of this program is to fulfill the Fulbright program goal of increasing mutual understanding between Americans and other peoples of the world.