From: Jaime McQueen
FMF Program Officer

Program Background

The Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program (FMF) is an opportunity for U.S. primary & secondary teachers & administrators to participate in a three-week study visit to Japan. The program, which is fully funded by the Government of Japan, aims to increase the level of understanding between Japan & the United States & to provide a significant opportunity for the professional development of educators.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are employed full-time in any discipline as a teacher or administrator for grades 1 through 12. Individuals complete an application, including a two-part essay describing a follow-on plan for sharing the experience with their classrooms, schools, & communities. Two letters of reference as well as the approval of the applicant's supervisor are required.

The Study Visit

The program begins in Tokyo with an orientation and introduction to Japanese life and culture. Participants attend seminars hosted by government and educational leaders and visit cultural sites. Participants then travel in small groups to different cities in prefectures (states), where they visit local schools and teachers' colleges and meet with teachers and students. Participants also meet with local and regional educational, government and industry officials, and spend a weekend home stay with a Japanese family. The program concludes with debriefing sessions in Tokyo before traveling home to the United States.

2003 Applications

Six hundred award recipients will be selected this year.

Educators from all areas of the U.S. are encouraged to submit applications for the 2003 cycles of the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.

The application deadline is December 10, 2002
Apply online at www.iie.org/pgms/fmf

For more information, or to request a hard copy of the application, contact the Institute of International Education at 1-888-527-2636 or fmf@iie.org