We continue our series of reports about how foreign students
can study at an American college or university. This information
also can be found on the Special English Web page at w-w-w dot
voaspecialenglish dot com.
Last week, we gave information about financial aid for foreign
students. Today, we tell about a special educational program
that began more than fifty years ago. It is called the Fullbright
Program.
The Fulbright Program of the United States government helps
people study or do research in other countries. Senator J. William
Fulbright established the program in nineteen-forty-six. He
believed that international exchange was a good way to improve
world understanding. He also believed the program could educate
future world leaders.
Senator Fulbright thought that living and learning in another
country would help people understand other ideas and ways of
life. And he thought the experience would help them understand
their own country, too.
More than two-hundred-thirty-thousand students, teachers and
researchers have taken part in the Fulbright Program. Some of
them later became famous. Two examples are the former secretary
general of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali and the
former official poet of the United States, Rita Dove.
Those who take part in the program are called Fulbright Scholars.
Americans study or teach in foreign countries. People from other
nations study and work in the United States. Fulbright Scholars
receive enough money to pay for travel, education and living
costs. The program is paid for by the United States government,
governments of other countries, and private groups.
Nearly five-thousand Fulbright grants are awarded each year
for American and foreign students, teachers, professors and
professionals. The program is organized by the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.
It operates in one-hundred-forty countries.
You can get information about the Fulbright Program at the
United States Embassy in your country. Or use a computer to
get the details. Just type f-u-l-b-r-i-g-h-t p-r-o-g-r-a-m into
an Internet search engine and you will find the Web site.
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This V-O-A Special English Education Report
was written by Nancy Steinbach, courtesy of VOAnews.com
