Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad For Intensive Advanced Zulu in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The Program

            The Fulbright-Hays Zulu Group Project Abroad (GPA) offers up to 15 participants the opportunity to advance their competency in Zulu language and culture through interaction with faculty, students and families in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.  The eight-week program combines campus living and intensive study with home stays, cultural activities and visits to historical sites.   Students will spend time in the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, in a rural village at Maqongqo, Eshowe, KwaZulu-KwaNongoma, and at the Drakensberg mountains. 

Who is eligible?

            The Zulu GPA is for graduate students from all disciplines who are specializing in Africa, and for undergraduates with a strong interest in African Studies.  To be eligible for funding applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.  Qualified non-citizens may participate at their own expense.

Cost

            Each participant will pay a fee of $900 to cover tuition and administrative expenses incurred in the US.  International travel and living expenses in South Africa are covered by the US Dept. of Education grant.  See details below.

How to apply

            Complete the application forms below and submit with two recommendations and the relevant fees by February 15. 

Travel

Participants leave from New York City and will be met upon arrival in Durban.  The project participants will depart from Durban at the end of the program (See itinerary below).

South African Itinerary

The GPA Program will be hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, and participants will be housed on the campus.  They will also leave the campus for two home stays in rural and urban settings with native speakers of Zulu.   Below is the itinerary of the program detailing the schedule of each of the three program phases, namely, pre-program phase (orientation), program phase, and post-program phase.

JUNE 13 (Friday):		Departure from the U.S., JFK, NY
JUNE	15 (Sun):		Arrival in Durban Airport, South Africa
JUNE 15 (Sun):			Orientation in Durban 
JUNE 16 (Mon):			Orientation at UKZN
JUNE 16 (Mon)-JUNE 20 (Fri):	Classes-UKZN  (Week 1)
JUNE 23 (Mon)-JUNE 29 (Sun):	Classes-UKZN/Urban Home Stay (Week 2)
JUNE 30 (Mon)-*JULY 04 (Fri):	Classes-UKZN  (Week 3)
JULY 07 (Mon)-JULY 11 (Fri):	Classes-UKZN  (Week 4)
JULY 14 (Mon)-#JULY 18 (Fri):	Classes-UKZN  (Week 5)
JULY 21 (Mon)-JULY 25 (Fri):	Rural Home Stay (Classes at Amaqongqo-Week 6)
JULY 28 (Mon)-AUG 01 (Fri):	Rural Home Stay (Classes at Amaqongqo-Week 7)
AUG 02 (Sat)-AUG 08 (Fri):	Trips to Historical/Cultural Sites (Week 8)
AUG 08 (Thurs)-AUG 09 (Sat):	Debriefing and Farewell in Durban
AUG 10 (Sun):			Departure from Durban Airport
AUG 11 (Mon):			Arrival in the U.S., JFK, NY	
*U.S. Embassy Independence Day Celebration
#Program Evaluation by External Program Evaluator

Curriculum

The Zulu GPA curriculum is carefully designed to allow students to enhance their communicative competence in the Zulu language and culture by taking full advantage of the formal setting of classroom instruction as well as the informal setting of KwaZulu-Natal through classroom activities, research projects, lecture series, home stays, and educational tours of historical and cultural sites.    The following are the five (5) components of the curriculum:

1          Classroom instruction

            Classes are taught by experienced Zulu language professors who are

native speakers and experts in the Zulu language and culture.  The course-work is comprised of the following components:

1)         Communicative/conversactional Zulu (re-inforcing productive and receptive competency in the language)

2)         Zulu Literature (traditional and contemporary literature to

            expose students to the history and culture of the Zulu

            people)

3)         Zulu Grammar

Participants receive six hours of intensive language instruction each day.  (See Daily Schedule on this website menu)  

2          Lecture Series

Each week, University of KwaZulu-Natal faculty members from various disciplines and experts from the Zulu community give lecture seminars to the group.  While there are always presentations on the history and cultural aspects of the Zulu language and people, a variety of topics (ranging from health, education, music, religion, etc.) are planned for the lecture series to meet diverse interests of participants who come from various academic backgrounds.  

3          Research Project

Students will undertake research projects in Zulu on topics of their interest.  They will conduct interviews with community members and the research results will be presented to peers and faculty in oral presentations in Zulu.

4          Home Stays

The students will participate in two home stays, one at Imbali (an urban setting) and another one at Maqongqo (a rural setting).  Home stays are designed to provide students with first-hand experience in daily activities of a Zulu family.  It’s an excellent environment for students to practice conversational Zulu and to enhance their competency in spoken Zulu with native speakers.

5          Educational Tours of Historical/Cultural Sites in KwaZulu-Natal

Integrated into the curriculum are community tours of historical and cultural sites.  This component is designed to allow students to explore cultural practices and products of the Zulu culture and to draw connections with what they learn inside the classroom.  These tours also provide the students to learn more about the Zulu culture and the history of the Zulu people.

Funding

Project funding covers the following:

·                    International travel to and from Durban, South Africa from New York

      City

·                    Accommodation and food for the duration for the program

·                    Program-related transportation in South Africa

·                    Educational materials distributed during the program.

The fellowship does not cover:

·                    A fee of  $900 to cover tuition and administration costs in the US

·                    Local travel from the participant’s home to New York City, John F.

      Kennedy Airport and return after the program (participants are

      encouraged to seek funding support from their institutions,

      departments, Offices of International Programs, or African

      Studies Centers)

·                    Health insurance for the summer

·                    Passport and visa fees

·                    Inoculations and other health care related to travel

·                    Travel done on the student’s own time and initiative in Southern

      Africa

·                    Personal shopping and gifts (at least $500)

Personal Research Projects

The program is funded by U.S. Dept. of Education to provide intensive advanced Zulu language instruction. During the project, students will have time to make contact with South African academics and administrators to discuss research projects and similar matters related to their academic/career plans. But students will not have time to pursue personal projects related to their own educational programs.

Eligibility  

To determine your eligibility for this program please consider the following:

1)     You must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the United States. (Qualified non-citizens may be permitted to participate at their own expense.)

2)     You should be a graduate or undergraduate student who has studied any of the following languages for at least two semesters (4 quarters) or one intensive summer:

·        Zulu

·        Ndebele (Zimbabwean)

·        Xhosa

·        Swati

Please read carefully the following definition of the GPA given in the Federal Register (vol.60, #154, August 10, 1995: Rules and Regulations, pp. D4-6):

(a)        The Group Project Abroad Program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States by providing opportunities for teachers, students and faculty to study in foreign countries.

(b)        Under the program, the Secretary of Education awards grants to eligible institutions, departments and organizations to conduct overseas group projects in research, training and curriculum development.

Commitment to Equal Access

The University of Pennsylvania intends to provide the highest quality of research, education and service.   It is committed to ensuring that all educational programs and personnel actions including application, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, training, tuition assistance, social and recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, sex (except where sex is a bona fide occupational qualification), sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, age (except where age is a bona fide occupational qualification), disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran. The University's policy is applicable to faculty and staff, applicants for faculty and staff positions, and applicants to educational programs and other activities. This policy is fundamental to the effective functioning of the University as an institution of teaching, scholarship and public service.

     The University has written equal opportunity and affirmative action policies that are monitored by the Office of Affirmative Action. Questions or concerns regarding these policies should be directed to the Office of Affirmative Action, Suite 228 3600 Chestnut Street/6106, (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).

Application Procedure

Please submit the following, postmarked no later than February 15:

·        The completed five-page application.

·        Original official academic transcripts from your college/university (Copies will not be accepted).  If your Zulu study was done elsewhere, transcripts from that institution should be requested as well.

·        A letter from your most recent Zulu instructor giving a detailed evaluation of your speaking, reading and writing proficiency in Zulu.  This evaluation should be mailed by the evaluator directly to Dr. Audrey N Mbeje.

·        A letter of recommendation from a current and/or former instructor.  This should also be sent by letter directly to Dr. Audrey N Mbeje.

Candidate Selection  

Candidates will be selected by a committee made up of specialists in Zulu and other Nguni languages from several universities, and selections will be based on the requirements stated on the Program Announcement. You will be notified by April 1 about the outcome of your application.  If you are successful, you will be sent additional information concerning the program at that time.

Download the Application Document Here:

Fulbright-Hays Intensive Zulu Group
Project Abroad in South Africa

Mail the completed application to the following address:

Dr. Audrey N Mbeje, Project Director
University of Pennsylvania
African Studies Center
648 Williams Hall
Philadelphia PA 19104-6305

Applications must be postmarked no later than February 15.