P R E - A R R I V A L I N F O R M A T I O N

2019 HUBERT H HUMPHREY FELLOWSHIP LTE PROGRAM

WELCOME!Congratulations on your acceptance to the Hubert H Humphrey

Fellowship program.  All of us at the English Language Institute

(ELI) are so excited to have you begin your fellowship program

with us here in Missoula, Montana.  Missoula is a lively

community in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States,

and it is a fun, safe place to study and explore.  Previous

Humphrey fellows have truly enjoyed studying here, and we

hope you will too!

ARRIVAL 

A representative from ELI will pick you up at

the airport and take you to your apartment. 

IIE will provide us with your flight details. 

When you arrive at the Missoula airport, look

for a representative with a University of

Montana sign.  This team member will help

you get settled in your new apartment

and assist you in getting  food or other

necessities.  

WEATHEREven though you will be arriving in

April, Montana winters are long.  It

might be quite cold (and even snowy)

when you get here.  However, it can

be difficult to find winter clothes in

Missoula in April  Please bring a

winter coat, warm clothes, and boots

with you if you can.  By the end of

your stay in Missoula it will be warm

and sunny. We promise!

If your flight is delayed and your arrival time

changes, please  call                             and

leave a message with your new arrival plan

and details. This after-hours phone number

will be checked before your arrival.  Please,

also contact Sarah Bortis at                               

or                                                    as soon as

possible.

406-243-6149 

sarah.bortis@mso.umt.edu 

406-243-5885 

WE WILL ARRANGE YOUR AIRPORT PICK-UP & HOUSING

YOUR MISSOULA HOME

You will be living in university housing with one or two

other Humphrey fellows in a two- or three- bedroom

apartment.  These apartments are furnished, and ELI will

provide you with basic amenities, such as kitchen supplies,

hot water kettle or coffee maker, bedding, and towels. 

Please note that these supplies will be limited; you will

have enough for simple cooking, but you may want to

purchase additional items.  We can help you find

inexpensive supplies.

For more information about Lewis & Clark Village, please

visit their website:  

www.umt.edu/housing/lcv/default.php

LEWIS & CLARK VILLAGE

COMPLETE THE HOUSING SURVEY!We want you to have a great experience with your housemate.  This survey helps us make good

matches. Go to the survey             2019 Humphrey Fellows Housing Survey

MISSOULA FACTS

Montana's second-largest city: over

115,000 people in area

Amazing recreation opportunities

Close to world-famous Glacier and

Yellowstone National Parks

Very safe community

Free buses!

Vibrant arts and entertainment culture

More information: Destination Missoula

ORIENTATIONDuring your first week in Missoula, we will provide you with a

comprehensive orientation to the program and the university.  An

orientation schedule will be provided upon your arrival.  More information

about what to expect can be found at our website here.

WHAT TO EXPECT

ENGLISH STUDYInstruction at ELI is student-centered and interactive.  Classes meet

five days a week, Monday through Friday.  Program participants are in

class for at least 18 hours each week.  

FIELD TRIPS 

CULTURAL ACTIVITIESOptional cultural events may include local summer farmer’s market and

art walks, a trip to the Flathead Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council and

Reservation, wilderness hikes, fly-fishing lessons, a baseball game

and barbecue, and an Independence Day celebration at Fort Missoula. 

This program includes organized off-campus weekend experiences that

will enrich your understanding of American culture and leisure

activities. Several trips will be planned specifically for the

Humphrey fellows, including an 3-day trip to Glacier National Park, an

overnight trip to Yellowstone National Park, and at least one day excursion. 

SERVICE LEARNINGEach fellow will volunteer with a local non-profit organization throughout

the late spring and summer.  Fellows will receive an orientation and

introduction to local non-profit organizations and placement advice. 

Fellows will present on their volunteer experience to other fellows, UM

faculty, and community. 

Humphrey fellows will have a 4-week

Integrated Skills class and a 3-week

Service Learning & Presentation Skills

class.  These will be followed by an 8-

week summer session integrated with

regular ELI classes. Formal classes will

be supplemented with many

opportunities to use and improve your

English outside of the classroom.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSEach of you will be paired with a local family or community

member through the Community Partner program.  These

partners are members of the community who have volunteered

to provide you with friendship, cultural orientation, and logistical

support..  

We will organize a few group events for community partners

and fellows, but most of your activities will be organized

independently.  In the past, community partners and fellows

have shared dinners, gone on weekend excursions, explored

Missoula, gone shopping, and more.  

We hope this friendship will be an important and positive part of

your time in Missoula!

WHAT TO EXPECT

JEANETTE RANKIN PEACE CENTER TALKSThis non-profit community organization is founded on the principles of fostering peace through cultural

understanding and communication. Each Humphrey fellow will speak in an open forum about issues

facing her/his country and profession. These public presentations are a great way for fellows to interact

with the community and discuss important global issues.  Your English classes will help prepare you for

these talks.

IIE will make grant payments through IIePay.  Funds will be directly deposited

into your bank account.. To enroll in IIePAY, you must have a U.S. bank

account and valid email address. We will help you set up a U.S. bank

account during orientation.

Wait to set up your bank account until you are in Missoula.  You will need a

tax identifying number (TIN) to open a U.S. bank account.  This is a number

issued by your home country's government.  It may be called a national

identification number.  Please have your TIN  before you leave for the U.S.

  

IIE will use the primary email address from your Humphrey Fellowship

application.   You will receive an email with instructions and you will receive

payment notifications by email.

GRANT PAYMENTS

ELI PEOPLE

JEANIE CASTILLO, ELI CHAIR

JOSH ROSENBERGER, ELI INSTRUCTOR

SARA SCHROEDER, ELI INSTRUCTOR

Jeanie Castillo, M.A. in Linguistics, is an instructor, writer, and curriculum

designer with 30 years of experience developing and teaching courses in a

variety of fields including English language instruction, academic writing,

linguistics, and career and business development.  Currently, she teaches

face-to-face and online classes for the University of Montana in the

Linguistics Program and for the English Language Institute. 

Sarah Bortis worked in Missoula’s thriving community agriculture scene for

over a decade before returning to school to study Mandarin and costume

design.  Sarah has worked as a farmer, herbalist, dancer, trail crew member,

and graphic designer.  She likes to be outside, and she likes to make things

with her hands, including elaborate meals, baby sweaters, tinctures,

dresses, and the like.

Lee Ann studied Anthropology and English Literature at the University of

Colorado, Boulder, and received her Master's in Teaching English as a

Second Language from San Francisco State University.  She has traveled

extensively, and she taught in San Francisco and Kumamoto, Japan,

before coming to Missoula in 1993 and co-founding the English Language

Institute.  She loves learning from her students about other cultures and

styles of music from around the world.  

Josh graduated from the University of Montana with an MA in Applied

Linguistics. Josh began teaching ESL in 2001, when he worked with

refugees and immigrants as an Americorps volunteer. Since then he has

taught English in Ecuador, Korea, Nebraska, and Montana. 

Sara graduated from the University of Montana with a master’s degree in

Linguistics.  Sara has been teaching at ELI since 2013. Her favorite thing

about teaching at ELI is getting to meet so many interesting people from all

around the world.  She really enjoys learning about her students’ countries

and cultures. When she’s not teaching, she likes to be outside as much as

possible, and she loves to take students on outdoor adventures with her!

SARAH BORTIS, ELI & SPECIAL PROGRAMS ASSISTANT

LEE ANN MILLAR, ELI INSTRUCTOR

CONTACTS    

Sarah Bortis

ELI & Special Program Assistant

sarah.bortis@mso.umt.edu

(406) 243-5885

Jeanie Castillo

ELI Chair

jeanie.castillo@mso.umt.edu

(406) 243-6235

For more information about the English Language Institute, the University of Montana, and

the Humphrey Program in Missoula, please click on the link here.

We can't wait to meet you!  In the next two weeks we will be sending you a few important

emails.  If the email asks you to confirm that you have received it, please take the time to

let us know.  We want to make sure you have all the information you need to be

successful as you begin this big adventure!

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.  We are here to help.