Among those honored by the highly selective Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program was UNC Greensboro student Alex Holmes. A member of the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) master’s program, Homes was selected to travel to Poland for the program. In 2021-22, just three awards were issued from among nearly 60 applicants wishing to complete the program in Poland.
“For me, this award is a reflection of the supportive community of family, friends, and colleagues that I am beyond grateful to have around me,” said Holmes. “I am excited for the opportunity to share this recognition with my community, and represent them and UNCG in Poland.”
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program places grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms. The age and academic level of the students varies by country, ranging from kindergarten to university level.
Holmes joined UNCG’s TESOL program in the summer of 2021, completed his student teaching at the Newcomer School, and plans to finish the TESOL program this summer.
Prior to enrolling at UNCG, Holmes graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2021 where he majored in advertising and public relations with a minor in Spanish translation and interpretation. He says that one of the highlights of his undergraduate career was working at the YMCA, where he assisted with afterschool programs, sports programs, and summer camp.
The mission of the TESOL program at UNCG is to prepare educators to work with English learners in both local and global instructional settings. Graduates are prepared with professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions through ongoing critical reflections and field experiences in school and community settings.
