Inside the Fulbright ETA Experience in Kosovo: Isabel Leka

Isabel Leka is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) at the American Corner in Pristina, at the National Library of Kosovo. Since arriving in September, she has embraced Kosovo’s welcoming spirit, immediately struck by the kindness and respect shown by everyone she met. Over time, she has come to love the country’s vibrant café culture and the cherished tradition of evening walks along Mother Teresa Boulevard, where families gather each night.

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program places U.S. students in classrooms in Kosovo to support local English teaching staff while teaching the language and serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States.

This program is jointly funded by the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Kosovo.

Please introduce yourself by briefly sharing who you are, where you are currently teaching, and the name of your host institution: My name is Isabel Leka and I am teaching at the American Corner Pristina, which is housed in the National Library of Kosovo! I have been in Kosovo since September 2025. 

What was your very first impression when you arrived in Kosova? My first impression when I arrived was just how incredibly kind and respectful the people were.

What’s one thing about life here that you’ve really grown to love? I've really grown to love the café culture here, as well as the nightly walks down Mother Teresa Boulevard that families do together.

How would you describe your students in one word - and why? Driven. My students are extremely motivated to learn English; teaching adults has been extremely rewarding, and they come to class prepared and excited to learn every day.

What’s been your favorite classroom moment so far? Some of my favorite moments include doing vocabulary Kahoots with my students and charades as well!

What’s one cultural difference that surprised you - in a good way? I feel incredibly lucky to be based at the American Corner at the National Library, not just because the staff is amazing, but because some of my students are librarians at the National Library as well! Their warmth and eagerness to connect has been such a pleasant and positive cultural surprise.

Is there a word, phrase, or tradition from Kosova you’ve picked up and use often? Yes! I’ve started using the word “tung”, which people use to say hello or goodbye here. It’s short for “tungjatjeta”, which literally means “may you live long”. I think it is the sweetest phrase ever and really speaks to how kind and welcoming the culture and people are here in Kosovo.