Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTA)

Wheaton College has participated in the FLTA Program since 2010 with the benefit of having participants from Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Argentina and Spain. The program allows participants the opportunity to refine their teaching skills, increase their English proficiency and extend their knowledge of the society and culture of the United States, while being teaching assistants for their native language to Wheaton students and strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities.

The Exchange Visitor Program was established by the U.S. Government to facilitate the visitors from other countries to come to the U.S. to participate in Educational and Cultural programs. The objective of the program is to increase mutual understanding between the citizens of the U.S. and the Exchange Visitors’ countries. The visitors may participate in studies, research, teaching, or receive training. Universities, research institutes, and organizations can be recognized by the U.S. Department of State as Exchange Visitor Program Sponsors.

Center for Global Education

The Center for Global Education (CGE) at 5 Howard Street, offers immigration and support services to international students. We also provide opportunities for students who want to study abroad throughout their time at Wheaton. We are here to assist you with navigating through visa regulations, as well as academic, social and cultural adjustment.

The Center for Global Education is here to help spread global awareness into the overall community. Everyone here has the opportunity to create an educational, cultural and/or a social program that is designed to improve and diversify our understanding of global issues and concerns regarding not just our international students but all of Wheaton. The Center for Global Education also provides exciting excursions throughout the school year to give international and domestic students an opportunity to come together. Click here to see examples of past events.
For more information, please contact [email protected]

How To Apply

It is likely that participants have applied through their home institutions or an outside program such as Fulbright.

The Center for Global Education will issue a DS-2019 form “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status” which the prospective visitor takes to a US Embassy/Consulate to apply for J-1 visa. Fulbright participants will get their document from Fulbright but will need to still send certain documents to the Center for Global Education for reporting purposes.

At the time of processing the DS-2019 form, the Exchange Visitor must present evidence of financial support for the duration of the period stated in the DS-2019 form.

Disclaimer: Do not fill out this application or submit any documentation unless you have been nominated by an institution.

Step 1: Fill out and submit the Exchange Student/FLTA Application (Google Form).

Step 2: Collect Required Application Documents

Step 3: Please download, print and fill out all required medical documentation that can be found on the New Student Health Forms page.

Step 4: Please collect all documents from steps 2 and 3 and send to [email protected]

Next Steps

Step 1: Once all documentation has been submitted, a DS-2019 form will be created and mailed to the address on the application.

Step 2: Please review the Visa Application Process

Step 3: Check your personal and Wheaton email periodically as you will receive a monthly summer pre-arrival newsletter from the Center for Global Education.

Step 4: You will receive an email during the summer to sign up for International Student Pre-Orientation. Please make sure you do this in a timely fashion.

What to do when you arrive

It would be beneficial for you to attend International Student Orientation, but it is not required. Be sure to bring all your international student documents (passport, visa and DS-2019) with you. At orientation you will have an opportunity to meet new students as well as have a few days to be on campus before the rest of the students arrive. This is also an opportunity to discuss topics including culture and living in the United States.

When you arrive, you will need to get a school ID, which is used for access to some rooms and buildings, as well as for purchasing food. You will also need to go the Campus Mailroom in Balfour-Hood Campus Center to set up a mailbox, as it is very difficult to have mail delivered to the FLTA house.

Mandatory Check-in and International Student Pre-Orientation

The arrival of a newly admitted Wheaton College J-1 visitor must be updated in the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This process is called ‘validation’ and must be completed within 30 days of the starting date stated on Box #3 on the DS-2019 form. In order to do this, the Exchange Visitor is required to check-in with the Center for Global Education upon arrival to Wheaton College. Failure to validate one’s arrival will result in automatic termination of their J-1 status in the SEVIS system. Exchange Visitors are required to bring the following documents:

Wheaton College issued initial DS-2019
Original Passport
Original Visa

Special Student Status

Exchange visitors are considered special students and their application, room selection and summer communication process are not the same as fully admitted incoming students. During the summer, you will receive communication not only from your international advisor at Wheaton but also from various offices, which will tell you to do things or adhere to deadlines to which you are not subject. Your international advisor will communicate with you throughout the summer on what you will need to do. You will be able to disregard certain messages from the college. Please make sure that you follow the instructions of your international advisor.

As most exchange visitors do not pay tuition to Wheaton, there is no financial aid funding from the college.

Many exchange visitors are concerned about health insurance. You will automatically be enrolled in the Wheaton health insurance program. You do not need to have health insurance from your country, but if you want to, that is your decision. You cannot waive the Wheaton Health Insurance Plan. Here is a link containing information about the health insurance but you do not need to enroll. The college will automatically enroll you into the plan.

How to Register for Classes

Prior to arrival, you will be able to register for classes using the application form. Some classes have course requirements and you may have to request permission to get into those classes. If you are not able to get into certain classes that you want, you will be able to speak to professors within the first two weeks of arrival.

Courses and schedules can be viewed using the Course Catalog.

Paying for Bills

Students are billed electronically per term for all expenses. Fall charges are billed mid-June, early July and due August 1; spring charges are billed in early December and are due January 1. FLTA tuition is paid for by the College. If you receive a bill please make sure that you notify us immediately.

The FLTA House

The FLTA House located at the corner of Route 140 and Parking lot 1A. You can find the location of the house on the map below. It is the red X on the map. There are four bedrooms in the house: two for FLTA’s and two for VISTA volunteers who are also with the College for the academic year. The house has a shared kitchen, bathroom and living room space.