TALMA is an ROI Community Project & joint initiative of Schusterman Family Philanthropies,
The Steinhardt Family Foundation in Israel, and the Government of Israel joint initiative of Schusterman Family Philanthropies,
❖ Teaching Fellowships ❖ Trainings ❖ Virtual & School-Based Programs ❖ Curriculum Development ❖ Bridge Building ❖
THE FULL YEAR FELLOWSHIP
The TALMA Full Year Fellowship is a paid, full-time, 10.5-month professional program for early to mid-career educators. If you're looking for an international teaching experience; interested in testing the waters before making aliyah; or looking for social and professional support to integrate into the Israeli school system and society, this program is for you!
TALMA Fellowship benefits include:
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Generous monthly salary
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Housing (single or double occupancy)
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Health Insurance
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Transportation
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Ulpan
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Guaranteed job placement
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Mentoring & coaching
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Professional development stipend
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Supportive and warm community
THE FULL YEAR EXPERIENCE IN A NUTSHELL
As a TALMA Full Year Fellow, your full-time commitments will include teaching, professional development, and community service. Four days of your work week will be spent teaching English at an elementary, middle or high school. You'll have all of the responsibilities of an Israeli English teacher, including planning your lessons, attending English team meetings, etc. On the day you're not teaching, you'll attend Hebrew class, and deepen your connection to the community through service. You'll also engage in a wide range of professional and social events that will help you become a stronger, more culturally competent teacher, build relationships with other young professionals, and have an amazing experience in your new home!
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the TALMA Full Year Fellowship, you must:
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have at least a Bachelor's degree;
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have at least one year of classroom teaching experience; and
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be eligible for Israel's B-1 visa, as defined by the country's Law of Return
While we prioritize educators with state teaching certifications, we will also consider teachers with education-related degrees and three or more years of teaching experience.
APPLICATION PROCESS
(1) Your first step is to complete a written application, which includes a couple of short-answer questions. Within the application, you'll also need to submit a 1-2 page resume, and name and contact information for two references. These references will not be contacted until after your interview, and we'll let you know before we reach out. Note that resumes over two pages or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
1-2 weeks later
(2) Once your application is reviewed, you may invited to interview with TALMA's Deputy Director and Full Year Director. The interview will take place over Zoom, and may last up to 45 minutes. You'll get information on how to prepare for the interview in the email you receive inviting you to interview.
Up to 1 week later
(3) If, based on the interview, we're inclined to move forward, you will need to submit a lesson plan and a teaching video of up to 5 minutes long. These are not materials that have to be prepared specifically for TALMA; you can use a lesson plan and/or video from any point in your teaching career, that you feel best highlight your skills as an educator. You'll get more specific information on how to select samples in the email you receive requesting this information.
Up to 2 weeks later
(4) Once we receive your sample materials to review, the last step will be for us to reach out to your references. We will let you know when this happens so you can give your references a heads up, if desired.
Up to 1 week later
(5) If all goes well, we make you an offer!
MORE ON THE FULL YEAR FELLOWSHIP
In August, when you arrive in Israel, you'll undergo two weeks of an initial orientation, and also have time to settle into your location, and get to know your fellow Fellows and the community you will call home for the next year. The orientation is designed to help you learn about the Israeli school system and curricula, and get you ready for when school starts on September 1st (unless that's a Saturday, in which case it'll be September 2nd).
Once school starts in September, you'll teach English full-time four days a week (for example, Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu) at an elementary, middle, and/or high school. You may co-teach, teach independently, do small group pullouts, or any combination of these, which will be determined together with the school and our Full Year Director. The school day runs from about 8 am until 2 or 3 pm, depending on your school and grade level.
On two of those same days after school, you'll teach English to adults in one of our workforce programs that we operate in partnership with Israel's Ministry of Economy. These programs primarily serve ultra-Orthodox (Haredi), Arab-Israeli, and Ethiopian-Israeli communities, as well as single mothers and Ukranian refugees.
Your non-teaching day (Tuesdays, for example) is often called your TALMA day, and it's dedicated to your learning and professional development. You'll have intensive Hebrew class (ulpan), and later in the day you'll have a workshop, training, or activity of some kind that may be on Zoom or in-person, and can take place just with the Fellows in your location, or together with the entire Full Year community. These activities will also incorporate young Israeli professionals, to help you expand your network and create a rich social life. In addition, you'll have opportunities to immerse yourself in Jewish life, celebrate Shabbatand holidays with TALMA staff and/or with host families, and travel together with the entire Full Year community a weekends out of the year.
LOCATIONS
Current (2022-23) TALMA Full Year Fellow communities exist in the Ben Shemen Youth Village, Be'er Sheva, Jerusalem, and Eilat.
