Description

Volunteer teaching in Mongolia is an ideal way to help at some of the most poorly resourced schools in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. The Mongolian government plans to increase its economic trade with neighboring countries to improve high unemployment levels after years of slow economic growth and debt. With this in mind, the hard-pressed schools desperately need native English speakers to help give the children a better chance to move the country forward.

Volunteer abroad in Mongolia and you can gain work experience teaching without the need for TEFL training or previous teaching experience. All we ask is that you have a good level of spoken English and the energy and enthusiasm to work in the classrooms of the most remote capital city in the world!

Whether you want to volunteer in Mongolia as an English teacher during your gap year, career break or during an extended vacation, you will have an important role to play in one of the schools in which we work. The impact you have on your students will be obvious, but you will also be part of a much larger network of international volunteers, which is making a positive and ongoing contribution to the wider community.

When you arrive at your school in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, don't be surprised if you find an old "communist-style" concrete structure with basic, clean but purely functional facilities. The stark buildings certainly don't reflect the welcoming nature of the people within. Our Projects Abroad Mongolia staff will introduce you to a friendly supervisor, usually one of the English teachers at the school, and then to lots of enthusiastic students. They are unlikely to have had a great deal of contact with Western people in the past and you may well find yourself rapidly become something of a celebrity!

Volunteers who have placements in secondary schools teach children between the ages of roughly 12 and 17. Those who work in language centers during the summer holidays could be teaching groups of young teenagers and adults. The average class size in a school is between twenty and thirty and volunteers are expected to work for about four hours per day. In a language center class, classes will be much smaller, but you will still be asked to teach a similar number of hours.

Your main role as a volunteer teacher is to help the local staff by teaching the conversational elements of their lessons. Although learning the English language is the aim, many of your lessons will also be opportunities for cultural exchange. Your students are the perfect age to spend English lessons talking about soccer, current affairs and pop music. Find out what Mongolians really think about fashion or whether they celebrate Christmas!

The exchange works both ways because teenagers in Mongolia are generally curious to find out what life is like in the West. Sandwiched between China and Russia, you will find their perception of life outside the vastness of Asia is interesting, to say the least! Answering your questions will increase their confidence, and before long you will have made some new friends.

Teaching in Mongolia doesn't just have to be about teaching English, as French-speaking volunteers are also welcome. Pupils will be delighted if you can develop their language skills by incorporating music, games or drama into your lessons. Previous volunteers have also taught math, geography and sports. Please let us know what skills you have and we will try our best to use them on our placements.

Volunteer teaching in schools in Mongolia doesn't just end there. If you'd like to work with younger children please ask us about the nursery placements we have available. Also, during the summer vacation, volunteers can work in summer camps out in the countryside where you can teach local children in a fun and informal environment.

Highlights

Life in Mongolia is never dull. If you're after a different kind of adventure it's definitely the place to consider. You will be living in one of the world's most remote countries. Once outside of the capital, you will find that 'roads' marked on maps are not really roads and 'settlements' can be small and temporary. If you have a taste for adventure, you will want to explore the remote Altai Mountains and the Gobi Desert.

Travel opportunities might take you across the Steppe, where you could stay with a local nomadic tribe in a Ger. The unusual experiences you'll have will really make the trip worthwhile. You may find yourself gathering camel dung to put on the fire! You will certainly be riding horses, and drinking the traditional Mongolia drink airaag, fermented milk which can be either alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

Qualifications

No qualifications or experience required.

Languages

• English

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• English

Cost in US$:

Please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Childcare/children
• English Teaching
• Primary Education
• Public Education
• Teaching

Typical Volunteer

Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range

16-70

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992