lkjl2007

There is nowhere in your application (as far as I remember...it's been a year and a half...) that requires you to submit information about your physical or mental health. If you feel that your OCD is well-managed and wouldn't interfere with a successful experience as a TA (keeping in mind that for a lot of people, the stress of moving to a new country and starting a new job could make symptoms more intense), then you should definitely apply! If you make it to the final round and are accepted, you will have to get a physical and your doctor will have to fill out some forms. If you're under the care of a psychiatrist (presumably, since someone prescribes your medication), then that person will also have to fill out some forms, basically verifying that you can handle this experience in terms of your mental health. I have a mild-to-moderate anxiety disorder (controlled by medication) and my Dr. simply wrote a note on the form that I was well-adjusted and in control of my disorder and would have no problems completing my assistantship--and he was right! My anxiety has actually gotten better since being here Good luck with your application!

I feel similarly, but hey, practice/drilling can't hurt. I would definitely appreciate more advanced content.

So it starts out on a very "baby" (aka basic) level but Duolingo is AMAZING for practice and review--kind of fun and you can test out of the different little "units" plus it's free, online, and you go at your own pace.

I don't think that there is any official cooperation or communication between the two programs (and I know people last year who were accepted to both, myself included...) as regards "who gets who" or anything like that. However it wouldn't surprise me if one (or both) countries pass on their alternates/rejected list (of those applicants who applied to both) to the other for consideration. Chances are that someone accepted for both will choose Germany based on the prestige factor etc. and Austria wouldn't want to accept someone who's going to turn them down in favor of Germany, you know?

That's so bizarre! They can do that??

Congratulations! I'm sure Germany will be a great experience. Two friends of mine also found out today that they are alternates for the USTA.

They gave us acceptance data at our orientation in September, and for 2012-2013 there were over 300 applications for 90 new TA positions which is approximately a 30% acceptance rate (and as I'm sure you know, Austria has no finalist process--you submit your application and sit in limbo forever). Germany had 140 applicants for 411 positions for 2012-2013 (this is prior to anyone being recommended as a finalist, even), which is 34% so technically slightly less competitive than Austria. Since you've already been chosen as a finalist, your odds are even better--probably about 50% based on the assumption that twice as many are recommended as there are slots. So don't assume that a rejection from Austria = rejection from Germany. Hopefully you will get both--having a choice is nice! Previous years (last year and presumably before that) we had an online portion of the application, but in addition had to submit hard copy of that and hard copy of resume, letter, transcript, recommendations, etc. by mail as well. Regarding some people hearing "yes" and some people hearing nothing on the USTA, I know they were having delays with some of the schools (you receive your school assignment in your acceptance) and that may be why some have heard and some have not. Among those of us currently here who applied for a second year, some heard right away and some were a few days delayed--yours may simply be further delayed. There's a lot of bureaucracy for the AAEC (Fulbright Commission) to coordinate with the Ministry of Education, the provincial schools boards, and the individual schools. Regarding Austria USTA notification dates in general, last year they mostly came at the end of spring break (after Easter) with some people getting bumped up from alternate in the weeks following. Good luck to all of you! Hopefully one of you will be taking my spot in a beautiful southern city

My blog (Austria): http://livainaustria.blogspot.com (Lots more Austria TA blogs in the blogroll, as well as other countries, not all TAs). I used to write a lot more about the teaching/bureaucracy/etc. in the beginning and now it's other things too.

My Austrian students are all obsessed with Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, and Two and a Half Men. They are all dubbed/subtitled here. I think it's hilarious, also because I've never really watched any of those shows They do know Jersey Shore but not Real Housewives (which is the reality show, and I'm guessing what you meant) so I'm thankful for that since it's terrible. Sharing different shows is a fantastic idea--I've used video clips in quite a few of my lessons and a couple of times have had students start watching the show because they thought the clip I shared was so interesting!

Not to be a downer but Germany ETAs don't go to the DC orientation Just an in-country one.

Congrats to both of you--because I think I saw that you both got the Fulbright for Austria Just so you know, while technically the teaching assistantship is part time for everyone, combined Full/USTA grantees (aka both of you) work the same number of hours/are doing the same teaching as us lowly USTA-only people. That is, assuming they haven't changed the program for next year, but that seems unlikely. One of my good friends here is a combined grantee and there are all kinds of extra perks (trips! balls!) especially if you're in Vienna. Get ready for an amazing year!

there'sanappforthat is actually a finalist for the ETA Germany I'm currently a TA in Austria, and you are right on about the lack of direction and few resources. I work at two grammar schools teaching upper secondary (basically high school) and between the two have over 300 students Kind of a nightmare, I know the names of less than 1/3 of them. However there's really no need to panic regarding starting to plan lessons. Obviously I only speak for Austria, but as I understand it, the format of the programs in Austria and Germany are almost the same. Teachers here (mostly) understand that we are not in any way trained teachers. Lessons are mainly conversational (the contract for us in Austria actually does not allow/make us teach grammar, and I believe that's the same in Germany) or informational about US-related topics, though there's always the teacher who wants you to do a lesson on something totally obscure that requires a lot of research. No need to worry until you're actually selected...and even then, you will have time and probably outgoing TAs as good resources, so don't worry.

You can't, but that doesn't mean people don't do it

Once you're in Germany, you will have plenty of free time and can sign up to take a German class (or another language) at your local Volkshochschule. You will have to pay--but it's still a German class!

If I recall correctly, you're a Germany ETA applicant, right? Most of the TAs here in Austria pick up some extra income by tutoring (their students, random adults, etc.), doing English conversation (usually with businesspeople), and sometimes babysitting. What you can get will really depend on the size of your city, but I'm sure it's possible in Germany too