KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 23, 2026 – A pair of recent University of Rhode Island graduates are currently overseas teaching English to students residing in different parts of the world as part of the U.S. Fulbright fellowships they received.
Jia Yao Chen ’26, a West Warwick resident who earned degrees in Chinese and public health and was enrolled in the University’s Chinese Language Flagship Program, began mentoring students in Taiwan in August. Amanda Queiroz ’25, a Cromwell, Connecticut, resident who graduated from URI last fall with her Master of Arts in International Relations and is currently mentoring students in Uruguay on a Fulbright fellowship she earned last year, will remain in South America for close to another year to teach English in Bolivia beginning in early 2027.
“Receiving a Fulbright fellowship is like a full-circle moment as a language learner. I grew up learning both English and Chinese, so I had to figure out balancing two languages inside and outside of the house. I believe this gives me a unique perspective on learning English as a second language,” Chen said. “I understand how it feels to sit in a classroom being completely clueless and lost. Now that I get to stand in front of students in New Taipei City, I want to make students comfortable with learning.”
“I’m extremely excited to receive another Fulbright fellowship and continue teaching here in South America. I really love what I’m doing here, and I have so much to learn from the people here to expand my world view,” Queiroz said.
Taiwan has become Chen’s home away from home of late. She spent the 2025-26 academic year in the country as part of the Chinese Flagship program—which offers students opportunities to develop strong fluency in Mandarin Chinese while completing an array of majors.
Chen understands the rigors of learning a new language. Although born in the United States, Chen resided in China for four years. After returning stateside, Chen had to learn English on her own, she recalled.
Chen said she applied for the fellowship because she wanted to continue further her language studies. Additionally, the opportunity to teach English in Taiwan would allow Chen to meet new people in the country’s rural areas and make a positive difference, she said, including helping students conquer their fear in learning a new language.
“A lot of students in New Taipei City come from impoverished backgrounds and without this program, none of those students would have a chance to interact with someone from the United States with a native English-speaking background,” Chen said. “So, this is a perfect opportunity to help kids speak and read English while furthering my language studies.”
Chen said she not only learned Chinese in University’s Chinese Flagship Program, she also found strategies on how to better acquire the language. Learning a language is not only about vocabulary and grammar, she said, but it is to understand the nuances of communication.
Another year abroad
For Queiroz, her upcoming trek to Bolivia will be the second Fulbright fellowship she has earned. Queiroz, a URI Ryan Scholar, is currently teaching English to students of all ages in Uruguay on a Fulbright fellowship that she was awarded last year.
Queiroz admitted she had a learning curve of her own when she began teaching in the South American country back in March, particularly creating lesson plans for different grade levels for the first time. She learned quickly that she had to teach English in the context of everyday life in Uruguay so it applies to how citizens there live.
“When I learned Spanish, it was always in the context of a Spanish-speaking country. In Spain, they do this, and in Mexico, they do that,” Queiroz said. “In Uruguay, I had to learn what the students like and live every single day and how can I incorporate what I know about the English language to help them navigate their lives. Their English books are literally called ‘Living in Uruguay.’”
Come February, Queiroz will begin her next fellowship trek in Bolivia. Along with getting to know a new group of students, Queiroz is looking forward to expanding her knowledge of Spanish by interacting with the residents there. Plus, the Spanish dialect spoken in Bolivia derives from the citizens embracing its indigenous culture, different from Rioplatense Spanish spoken in Uruguay, she said.
Along with looking forward to helping students become versed in English, Queiroz hopes her extended time in South America can help increase her skillset in teaching students from different cultural backgrounds and dialects.
The U.S. Fulbright Student Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by providing high-achieving students with the opportunity to study or teach abroad.
URI students and recent graduates who are interested in applying to the Fulbright program should contact the URI Office of National Fellowships and Academic Opportunities for guidance.