Teaching assistants work in schools near various nations' capital cities, leading activities designed to improve their students' language abilities and knowledge of the United States. Awardees are fully integrated into the host community, increasing their own language skills and knowledge of the host country.

Elizabeth Andersen, Christopher Bruce, Jonathan Justice and Christine Madjar will teach English in Germany.

Andersen, a senior studying German and linguistics, plans to eventually teach German in an American high school.

A senior studying magazine journalism and German, Bruce plans to pursue a graduate degree in German studies and eventually teach German at a U.S. university. As part of his graduate work, he plans to do a comparative study of German media.

Justice, a senior studying German and linguistics, intends to earn a doctorate in German studies and teach German at an American university.

Madjar, a senior studying English, German and education, plans to pursue her master's in German literature and then seek a doctorate either in German literature or serve in a public service capacity involving international law.

"These four awards to Germany are Ohio University's highest number of English teaching assistantships to that country," said Beth Clodfelter, the university's director of U.S. Fulbright programs and liaison for international partnerships.

Jennifer Hayes, a senior studying English and linguistics, will teach English as a second language in South Korea. She then plans to pursue a master's in international education, specializing in cross-cultural exchange, and eventually work in international education and intercultural communication.

"Jennifer Hayes is the second Ohio University student ever to successfully apply for an English teaching assistantship to Korea," Clodfelter said, attributing Hayes' success to a strong academic record and extra coursework.

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and offers opportunities for students, scholars and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and teaching in elementary and secondary schools in 140 countries worldwide. The program awards 140 teaching assistantships to Germany and 80 to Korea annually.

Ohio University had 17 Fulbright finalists this year, a new record for the institution. In addition to the five assistantship winners, four students already have been notified that they have received Fulbright study and research awards, and five other finalists are awaiting results.

Last year, Ohio University ranked in the top 30 intensive-extensive doctoral research universities for the number of Fulbright awards earned by students.