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

June 13 - August 05, 2007

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, 2007. 

Travel
Participants leave from New York City on June 13, 2007 and will be met on arrival in Durban.  The project will end on August 04, and participants will depart from Durban on August 05, 2007.

Curriculum
The Zulu GPA curriculum is carefully designed to allow students to strengthen their communicative competence 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 tours.    The following are the five (5) components of the curriculum:

1- Classroom instruction
1) Communicative/interactional Zulu (re-inforcing productive and receptive competency)
2) Zulu Literature (traditional and contemporary)
3) Zulu Grammar
Participants receive six hours of intensive language instruction each day.
 
2- Lecture Series
Each week, University of KwaZulu-Natal faculty members from various disciplines give lecture seminars to the group.

3- Research Project
Students will undertake research projects in Zulu.  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 with daily activities in a Zulu family.  It’s an excellent environment for students to practice conversational Zulu and to strengthen their competency in spoken Zulu with native speakers.

5- Community Tours of Historical/Cultural Sites
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 future 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:

• 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.)
• 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, 2007:

• 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, 2007 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:

Summer 2007 Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad for
Intensive Advanced Zulu
June 13-August 05, 2007

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, 2007.