AY 2007-2008 Projects - East Asia and Pacific

Country                       Mongolia
City                              Ulaanbaatar
Host Institution           University of Education

Project Description
The University of Education is keen on hosting the EL Fellow. S/he will teach courses in methodology and speaking for graduate students and speaking for undergraduates, for a total of twelve hours a week. Providing such classroom teaching would be very valuable in Mongolia because access to native speakers and to new methodologies and ideas is limited. The University of Education understands the need to share the excellent resource that the EL Fellow represents, so the EL Fellow will also conduct teacher training workshops at other universities and schools. As a secondary project, the EL Fellow will have regular opportunities to engage Mongolian youth. S/he will conduct a weekly evening English hour or English through American culture hour at post’s American Corner. Programs at the American Center, located in the Ulaanbaatar Public Library, are open to the public and attract university students and English teachers. In addition, the EL Fellow will meet with Access Microscholarship students in Ulaanbaatar once a month for a one hour program focusing on American culture. This would provide an enhancement activity for the Access Microscholarship students as well as an opportunity for the EL Fellow to meet Mongolian high school students. It is in our national interest that Mongolians not only learn English, but that they also learn about the United States and its values through their study of English. The EL Fellow will be an important resource in this effort. 

Time Frame
August 27, 2007: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
September 3, 2007 - June 27, 2008: Classroom teaching at University of Education
September 26, 2007 - June 18, 2008: Weekly program at the American Center
September 2007: Trip to a provincial city for a Friday-Saturday workshop
October 2007 - May 2007: Monthly program with Access Microscholarship Students
October 2007: Trip to another provincial city for a Friday-Saturday workshop
November 2007: Trip to provincial city for a Friday-Saturday workshop
December 2007 - April 2008: Workshops focused in Ulaanbaatar
May 2008: Trip to provincial city for a Friday-Saturday workshop
June 2008: Trip to provincial city for a Friday-Saturday workshop
June 30, 2008: End of Fellowship, depart Ulaanbaatar

Project Objectives
The EL Fellow project will contribute more broadly to promoting economic development and democratic systems, as well as favorably influencing Mongolian public opinion. Until now, outreach efforts have often been hampered by the small number of English speakers. We view this project as a great opportunity to contribute to a new generation of leaders, proficient in English. The timing is perfect, with deep Mongolian interest in improving English education. In 2005, the Mongolian government decided to make English the second national language. Indeed, during his November 2005 visit to Mongolia, President Bush was asked by both the Mongolian President and Prime Minister for more scholarships for Mongolians and for more English-language training and programming. Clearly, the EL Fellow will contribute in a much needed area and be very well received.

About the Host Institution
The EL Fellow will be based at the University of Education, the primary training center for Mongolian English teachers. Mongolia recently expanded English language education to start in fifth grade, and most primary and secondary school teachers graduate from the University of Education. The needs in Mongolia are very basic: most primary and secondary teachers have great difficulty conversing in English and schools and universities have very limited resources. With the EL Fellow teaching future English teachers and supplementing classroom teaching with teacher-training workshops, this project will contribute at the grassroots level with significant multiplier effects. English Department faculty at the University of Education are active in English language associations in Mongolia, an important group for the EL Fellow to engage. Moreover, with alumni throughout the country, the University of Education presents an ideal host institution for outreach to teachers already working in the classroom; this also offers an excellent opportunity for the Embassy to contribute in regions beyond the capital.