Information to Consider Before Applying to be an English Language Teaching Assistant in Austria

"I have learned much about the teaching profession and about Austria through much appreciated guidance from the teachers. They have given me the opportunity to be as creative as possible and have often put my ideas into practice.... I have had the opportunity to learn from errors in presentation and I have improved my quality as a teacher.... In my time outside of the classroom I have had ample time to improve my skills in German, and I can understand and take part in most conversations.... I have had the opportunity to live among Austrians, as far away from American influence as possible, and I have experienced sides of Austrian life that I never would have seen as a tourist or as a student."
-- a former TA reflecting upon her experiences teaching in a smaller town in Upper Austria

Program Description

	Program Background and Objectives Since 1963, this program has provided college and university graduates with opportunities to work at secondary schools throughout Austria as teaching assistants. U.S. teaching assistants not only enhance the instruction of English as native speakers; they also are important resource persons for first hand information about the "American way of life" and representatives of the United States. This program is financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, the Arts and Culture, and applications are administered by the Austrian-American Educational Commission (Fulbright Commission). Although the participants in this program make a substantial contribution to the fulfillment of the Fulbright mandate of promoting mutual understanding between the peoples of Austria and the United States, this teaching assistantship program is not part of the official Fulbright Grant Programs.
	Description of Position U.S. teaching assistants are assigned to one or two Austrian secondary schools and required to assist teachers of English in classroom instruction 13 hours per week. Applicants should have at least a Bachelor's degree and be interested in careers in education. Prospective teachers of German or TESOL and/or graduates with a documented interest in Austrian studies are particularly encouraged to apply. A working knowledge of German is required and necessary to facilitate classroom work.
	Placement The Austrian Ministry of Education, the Arts and Culture works together with provincial school boards to place approximately 120 U.S. teaching assistants at schools in all nine Austrian provinces. Applicants may request city or region to which they wish to be assigned. However, the number of teaching positions available in larger metropolitan areas, such as Vienna, Salzburg, Graz, and Innsbruck, is limited. Therefore applicants also should be prepared to accept teaching positions in smaller communities.
	Duration U.S. teaching assistants are employed from October 1 - May 31 of the school year. They are required to attend an orientation seminar held during the last week of September before beginning their assignments. U.S. teaching assistants with a superior record of performance may apply to have their assistantships extended for a second year.
	Remuneration Teaching assistants currently (2008-2009) receive a monthly gross salary of € 1,246 from which deductions for mandatory compulsory health and accident insurance and Austrian income tax are made, resulting in a net salary of ca. € 984.- (approximately $ 1,524). Teaching assistants do not receive any additional support for travel to Austria or for dependents.

Some Aspects of the Austrian School System Worth Noting

Perhaps the largest difference between the Austrian and the American public secondary school systems is the tracking into various programs that Austrian children face already as early as age 10. While the American public school system generally keeps its students in a uniform liberal arts educational track at least until high school graduation (and only in college do they first pick a 'major'), the Austrian schools begin to separate into various areas after completion of the 4th grade (which ends the primary school, or Volksschule). At that point, a child, usually advised by his/her parents, chooses between the Gymnasium, the university-preparatory track, and the Hauptschule, which already offers the potential for concentration of studies in a more specialized field. At various stages throughout their secondary school years, students have the option of changing from one track to the other, but most stay in the track with which they begin.

The Gymnasium, the university-preparatory track, continues from American grades 5 through 12. (Note: Within the Austrian system, the numbering begins again at '1' at the beginning of the Gymnasium years. Thus, Austrians refer to the same Gymnasium grades as '1 through 8.') Though the Gymnasium curriculum most commonly continues the student's general liberal arts education until graduation, there are some Gymnasiums which choose to focus more intensely upon (emphasize) specific academic disciplines (e.g., in the sciences or languages). Upon graduating from the Gymnasium, the student receives the Matura certificate, which enables him/her to study at any university in Austria.

The Hauptschule continues for another 4 years after the Volksschule. After completing that program, a student chooses between a school either among the various upper-secondary vocational tracks (e.g., engineering schools, kindergarten teacher schools, and other senior vocational schools) or in the Oberstufenrealgymnasium track. Students who choose to attend an Oberstufenrealgymnasium continue with the Gymnasium curriculum for the 9th through 12th (American) grades. Both the Oberstufenrealgymnasium and the upper-secondary vocational tracks continue for another 3 to 5 years. After completion of the Hauptschule, it is also possible to enter an apprenticeship. Austrian apprentice-training is a unique system that complements a continued compulsory attendance at a vocational school with actual training experience as an apprentice with an employer in one of the many trades. The program aims to strengthen not only the student's general education, but also the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary for his/her trade.

Public and Private Schools: Schools are public when either the federal or the local government finances the teachers' pay and building maintenance; when this is not the case, they are considered private schools (e.g. parochial schools). The public schools of the federal government are indicated by the term, 'Bundes-' in their name. Private schools that meet certain requirements obtain the right of the public schools, the Öffentlichkeitsrecht, to grant valid certificates, or Zeugnisse (such as for grades and diplomas), to their students. Teachers of private schools with this Öffentlichkeitsrecht also receive pay from the federal/local government, and then only building maintenance is the responsibility of the school.

NOTE (for TAs): Teaching assistants assigned by the Fulbright Commission will only be teaching students who have completed at least their 4th American grade year. TAs will be assigned either to a Gymnasium of any type, including the Oberstufenrealgymnasium, or to an upper-secondary school in one of the various vocational tracks. No TA will be assigned to a Volksschule and only in rare cases to a Hauptschule. TAs will be either at a public school or at a private school with Öffentlichkeitsrecht.

The Austrian-American Educational Commission (Fulbright Commission) endeavors to update
the information on this site on a regular basis, but cannot guarantee its accuracy at all times.