Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA) Program at MSU

The FLTA program brings teaching associates from around the world to U.S. colleges and universities. While here they take courses, teach foreign languages, assist in language instruction, and serve as cultural ambassadors on campus and in the local community.

The Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures has hosted 5-12 FLTAs per year since 2008. For more information about the program, or to ask how the FLTAs may participate in local events, please contact the FLTA Coordinator, Danielle Steider.

2024-2025 Fulbright FLTAs

Email list

Ms. Saima Andalib	Urdu/Pakistan	andalibs@msu.edu
Ms. H Lu Ba Ayun	Vietnamese/Vietnam	ayunh@msu.edu
Ms.Tanusree Basak	Hindi/India	basaktan@msu.edu
Ms. Jooyoung Choi	Korean/Korea	choijo20@msu.edu
Ms.Busra Coskun	Turkish/Turkey	coskunbu@msu.edu
Mr. Ismail “Suma” Kaminambeo	Swahili/Tanzania	kaminamb@msu.edu
Ms.Yi-Jen Ke	Chinese/Taiwan	keyijen@msu.edu
Ms. Rula Talhouni	Arabic/Jordan	talhouni@msu.edu
Ms. Yeye Tinuade Tope-Ogunrinde	Yoruba/Nigeria	topeogun@msu.edu
Ms. Elsa Yuquilema	Kichwa (Quechua)/Ecuador	yuquilem@msu.edu

Ms. Saima Andalib, Urdu Saima Andalib is a highly accomplished English and Urdu language teacher with over a decade of experience in teaching secondary and college-level students. Her teaching philosophy focuses on developing language proficiency and equipping students with skills that align with 21st-century demands. In the English Access Program, Andalib demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership skills, as English Language instructor as well as Program Manager of the program. She applies activity based techniques in her teaching practice to create effective and engaging learning experiences for her students.Andalib’s impressive academic background includes a dual Master’s degree in Education and English Linguistics, as well as an M.Phil. Degree in English Language and Literature from Qurtaba University in Peshawar, Pakistan. As a US-Exchange Alumna, Andalib gained valuable insights into American culture and educational practices. She is a proud member of the (PUAN) Pak-US Alumni network family, connecting her with a broader community of educators and professionals dedicated to fostering mutual understanding and collaboration. Her linguistic proficiency extends beyond English, as she is also fluent in Urdu and Pashto, allowing her to connect with a diverse range of students and cater to their specific language learning needs.With her passion for teaching, language proficiency, and dedication to fostering a love for learning, Andalib is an invaluable asset to any educational institution. Her commitment to her students, expertise in language education, and leadership skills make her an exceptional educator and a valuable resource for language learning and cultural exchange programs.

Ms. H Lu Ba Ayun, Vietnamese H Lu Ba Ayun, a Master’s graduate majoring in English Language, is an accomplished English teacher who strongly desires to become a university lecturer. She is also passionate about supporting ethnic youths in pursuing a career in the linguistic field. In 2019, Lu Ba received the DARMASISWA Scholarship sponsored by the Indonesian government to study the Indonesian language and culture during the academic year 2019-2020 at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. In her free time, Lu Ba enjoys watching documentaries, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. As a Fulbright FLTA at MSU, she aims to contribute positively to the host institutions and the FLTA program by utilizing her expertise and practical skills for on-campus and off-campus work and any social events.

Ms.Tanusree Basak, Hindi Tanusree Basak works as an ESL Trainer and Course Instructor. She also possesses two years of editorial experience as an Assistant Editor at an academic publishing house. She pursued her graduation and postgraduation in literary studies at the University of Delhi, India. She also has degrees in French and has been teaching French as a freelancer, for fun and for love of the language. She is a trained vocalist, and her active participation in the music society, literary society, and French plays at her university has enabled her to engage in culturally enriched classes. She plans to pursue doctoral studies and has presented her papers at various national and international conferences, alongside publishing research papers and book chapters. She envisions the classroom as a medium to articulate individual experiences and sustain dialogue across differences. As a Fulbright FLTA, she strives to familiarize students with her country, India and its vibrant culture through exciting language lessons.

Ms.. Jooyoung Choi, Korean Jooyoung Choi is deeply passionate about both modern and traditional Korean culture, blending academic rigor with a profound appreciation for Korea’s rich heritage. She earned a B.A. in History Education from Ewha Womans University and has experience working as a history teacher. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in the East Asian Studies Department at Sungkyunkwan University. Her research primarily focuses on the intricate transition of the Korean language and society during the 19th and 20th centuries. Additionally, she holds a profound interest in Korean classics and traditional culture and history, exploring these areas to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Korea’s rich heritage.

Ms.Busra Coskun, Turkish Büşra Coşkun graduated from Dokuz Eylül University with a major in American Studies, ranking second in her department. She also holds a master’s degree in the same field from Ege University. During her studies, she participated in the Erasmus+ student exchange program, studying in Romania and Germany. She has been working as an EFL Instructor in higher education since 2016 and holds a certificate in teaching Turkish to foreigners. Büşra is eager to deepen her understanding of American culture through her studies in the U.S. and aspires to pursue a PhD in American Studies in the future.

Mr. Ismail Kaminambeo, Swahili Ismail Kaminambeo was born and raised in Dar es Salaam Tanzania East Africa. He finished his Bachelor’s Degree of Arts with Education, teaching subjects: Swahili and English at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania November 2022. He started an assistantship in the college of Humanities as the publication editor dealing with creating content for the college social media and website and assisting administrative office and preparing different conferences and other academic workshops. Early 2024, he joined Laureate International school Dar es Salaam Tanzania, teaching full time both English and Swahili. He is excited to begin teaching Swahili and sharing his culture as a Fulbright FLTA at MSU.

Ms. Yi-Jen Ke, Chinese Yi-Jen “Jane” Ke was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, and has had a strong interest in different cultures and languages since childhood. She is currently a graduate student specializing in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at National Taiwan Normal University. With experience teaching students from various countries, Yi-Jen has served as a one-on-one teacher for the CLS intensive program organized by National Cheng Kung University and American Council. She is dedicated to fostering cross-cultural discussions in her classes to enhance understanding of different perspectives. In addition to teaching, her academic research focuses on Chinese lexical semantics.

Ms. Rula Talhouni, Arabic Rula Talhouni is a novelist and translator. She received her Bachelor’s double major in Korean Language and English Literature from the University of Jordan. Rula has been working as an Arabic Levant Instructor since 2021 at local centers in Amman, along with being an English teacher at private and public schools for elementary and secondary level students, she co-translated multiple short stories by Edgar Allan Poe and published two fictional novels. She is interested in creating a Levant dialect novel for Arabic language learners. On a personal note, she is passionate about cooking all different types of cuisine, loves to analyze films, especially crime and mystery, plays the guitar, sings, paints, and occasionally does knitting and crocheting.

Ms. Yèyé Tinuade Tope-Ogunrinde, Yoruba Tinuade Oluwabukunmi Tope-Ogunrinde earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in English Language from The Prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, after which she did her Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the National Institute of Teachers in Kaduna. Currently, she is pursuing an M.A. in English Language at the University of Ibadan. She presently works with the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) as an English Language instructor in a Secondary school. Her career is marked by a focus on collaboration, communication, and problem-solving, making her a well-rounded educator. She is a certified teacher,registered by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). She is married to Temitope Ogunrinde and balances her professional and personal life with his support. Due to their love for culture, service and selflessness to Awe community in Oyo state, Tinuade and her husband were honoured with chieftain title in January 2023. She is the Yèyé Baamòfin of Awe land. Her hobbies include reading, music, seeing comedy skits and artistic activities, which inspires her creative teaching methods. Her legacy lies in the significant impact she has made on her students and colleagues, extending her influence beyond the classroom. She lives by the quote, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall,” which exemplifies her resilience and dedication to education. She is excited about this opportunity and looks forward to sharing her culture while experiencing US culture and daily life.

Ms. Elsa Yuquilema, Quechua/Kichwa Elsa Cain is a Foreign Language Teaching Assistance of Kichwa, from Ecuador. Kichwa is her native language, and she has learned Spanish from childhood. Before coming to MSU, Elsa worked teaching English to college students in a bilingual institution of Kichwa and Spanish speakers for almost 8 years in her home country. Elsa´s Bachelor and Master degrees are associated with education, mainly teaching a foreign language. Now, she is glad to share her Kichwa language in MSU since this task will let her showcase her culture as a runa warmi (indigenous woman).

About the Fulbright Program

Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given approximately 360,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

The program’s primary source of funding is an annual appropriation by Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments, universities, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and the U.S. also provide direct and indirect support. Since 2001, more than 4,000 awardees have been Fulbright FLTAs.

Fulbright FLTA recipients are among more than 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. The Institute of International Education administers the Fulbright FLTA Program.