Julia Barone is a second year Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Luxembourg in the 2024-25 academic year. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College in 2022, where she studied English and French. After spending her senior year at the University of Oxford, she returned to Pennsylvania to teach students in her local district. Her assistantship in Luxembourg has brought her into contact with a wide array of schools and students, where she teaches largely English language, literature, and American studies. In her free time she enjoys being a part of local knitting and book clubs.
Q: Can you describe your grant project as an ETA?
As an ETA in the Fulbright Program, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time working directly with Luxembourgish students and teachers. We explored topics related to English language learning, English literature, and American and Luxembourgish cultural studies. I was placed at a trade school, a high school, and the University of Luxembourg, all of which were unique and valuable experiences.
Q: What inspired you to apply to the Fulbright Program in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg was interesting to me for a number of reasons. It is a small nation with a significant immigrant population, and it balances its strong sense of identity with a deep appreciation for other languages, cultures, and populations; in Luxembourg’s immigration history and reliance I saw an interesting parallel to the United States, albeit with significantly different management and scale.
Q: What has been the most interesting or rewarding topic you have been able to share with your students?
The most interesting conversations that I’ve had with my students have been about their understanding of American culture and politics. We’ve explored where their questions, assumptions, and reflections come from, as well as the ways in which they compare to my own impressions and experiences; in doing so, we all have the chance to learn about our respective nations.
Q: In what ways have you engaged with your host community in Luxembourg?
I loved taking language courses during my grant. Luxembourg is an incredibly multilingual nation, and the emphasis on language learning is both admirable and translates into very effective and accessible education. I also really enjoyed getting involved in a book club!
Q: Can you tell us the story of a particular memorable moment from your time in Luxembourg?
One of my favorite moments in Luxembourg happened my very first day in the country: I was waiting for the bus outside of the airport and the group of teens next to me were having a very energetic conversation that was bouncing effortlessly between Luxembourgish, French, German, and – when I tentatively asked if I was in the right place – English. It was the first sign of what an incredibly sharp linguistic community I was joining, and it was an entirely accurate sign of what was to come.
Q: Has Luxembourg been what you expected? In what ways has life in Luxembourg surprised you, either for its similarities to or differences from your own culture?
Luxembourg is much more regionally diverse than I expected. I naively believed that its small size would mean that it was relatively culturally homogenous, which was entirely wrong. The north and south of Luxembourg are extremely different places, varying in everything from public language to transportation and cuisine.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying to the Fulbright Program?
Do your research ahead of time, but don’t be overly attached to it: getting a sense of your target host country is important, but be prepared for the reality that flexibility on the ground will serve you better than meticulous preparation in advance.
