Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
“Becoming fluent in Spanish will allow me to reach wider groups of children and families, so that my future work can have a more meaningful impact.”
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant: The English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Programs place Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to the local English teachers. ETAs help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. For fellowships during the 2025-2026 academic year, there were 916 applicants for ETA awards to Spain, and 180 of those received awards (an acceptance rate of about 19.5%).
Ellie Walter is spending her Fulbright year on Tenerife, a central island of the archipelago Canary Islands, off the west coast of Africa. Morocco and Western Sahara are the closest countries to the Canary Islands (owned by Spain).
Walter admits that the Fulbright application process was a long but rewarding one. “I began working with [Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black] in May 2024, and she guided me through every step of the process. She helped me choose the country and type of Fulbright award I wanted to apply for. She helped me refine my supplementary project proposal and provided critical feedback on my essays. She gave me the confidence I needed to present a strong application. The full process, from the initial brainstorming to receiving the finalist notification, spanned roughly 13 months.”
Walter’s supplemental project, which focuses on nature, well-being, and mental health, was inspired by her experiences at SMCM and a study abroad trip to Costa Rica. “During my time in Costa Rica, I developed a strong interest in environmental science and the relationship between humans and their surroundings,” she says. “I wanted to create a project that would allow me to connect with the locals of the Canary Islands. This past year I worked as a youth rehabilitation specialist for a nonprofit. During this work, I noticed how easily I could connect with the kids I was working with when we were outside and being active. This made me realize the potential for a project to immerse myself in the local environment and connect with the people. I am excited to create a project that is both personally meaningful and relevant to the host country.”
When the Fulbright concludes in June 2026, Walter plans to pursue a Ph.D. program in pediatric clinical neuroscience, bolstered by fluency in Spanish. “Becoming fluent in Spanish will allow me to reach wider groups of children and families, so that my future work can have a more meaningful impact,” she says. “I’m excited to one day work in a field where I feel I can make a real difference.”