Until March 29, 2024, Bulgarian teachers can apply for scholarships under the Fulbright Bulgaria programme to improve media literacy.
The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (FTEA) programme is aimed at Bulgarian middle and high school teachers in: English language, Bulgarian and foreign languages, social sciences, history, media studies/journalism, psychology, social sciences, ethics and philosophy. Up to four fellows per year are competitively funded, and for approval in 2024 is planned to train for 6 weeks in the spring or fall of 2025. The scholarship amount is approximately $23,000 per fellow, with these expenses covered in full from the US State Department.
Requirements for applicants include excellent English language proficiency, which is certified by a TOEFL test result. If at the time of application the applicant has not passed a test, any language proficiency is verified by diplomas, certificates of completed courses or results of other standardized tests. In such cases, nominated candidates from Bulgaria will receive a free TOEFL exam voucher, which they must pass as soon as possible.
The scholarship provides food, subsistence, an opening and closing seminar in Washington, D.C., a professional and cultural enrichment program, a J-1 visa, a round-trip ticket to the United States, and health insurance. Fellows have academic lectures at a host American university, work in teams with colleagues from other countries, and participate in observation and practice in local secondary schools. Topics may include recognizing bias and propaganda, stereotypes and misinformation, strategies to increase the level of critical thinking, analytical and communication skills of students and colleagues. The workshop concludes with an action plan to improve media literacy.
Full information is published on the website of Fulbright Bulgaria – https://www.fulbright.bg/mediina-gramotnost-za-uchiteli