Mongolia is working hard to strengthen English education, and this article explains how one community is part of that effort. It describes the need for better English teaching in public schools in Ulaanbaatar, why English has become so important for Mongolia’s future and what is being done to meet this need. By looking at government policies, international partnerships and the work of volunteers, the article shows how improving English skills can open doors for Mongolian students and help the country connect more with the world.
My Peace Corps service is focused on English education in Mongolian public schools, especially at Public School Five in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. The school system in Mongolia is different from schools in the United States, but both share the same mission: educating young people. In Mongolia, many public schools need support with teaching English. Both students and teachers are still developing their English skills, and schools often need help improving English lessons so they can be more effective. Because of this, my work centers on helping teachers from many grade levels build their own English ability and confidence. Most of what I do is called “capacity building,” which means I am helping teachers improve so they can continue teaching English well in the future.
