Mongolia
8 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodAugust StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Each year, the Fulbright program offers up to eight English Teaching Assistant Awards in Mongolia to U.S. graduates. English Teaching Assistants co-teach English for a 10-month period at Mongolian universities, institutes, or vocational training colleges and serve as U.S. cultural ambassadors in Mongolia.
Grant Length
Grant Period
In Mongolia, the Fulbright ETA Program starts in mid-August of every year and ends in mid-June of the next year. Grantees arrive in mid-August to attend an in-country orientation organized by the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend both the pre-departure orientation in the United States and the in-country orientation in Mongolia.
Candidate Profile
Applicants should be mature, articulate, and motivated individuals who understand the challenges of the harsh climate and daily challenges of living in a developing country. The most successful ETAs are flexible, open-minded, independent, and industrious. Applicants must be fluent English speakers. Those already holding certificates/degrees in TESOL are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility
Accepted Degree Levels
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
In compliance with the Mongolian government regulations regarding health and assignment in the school system, candidates must include any medical disclosures for the applicable medical conditions listed below in the medical examination forms provided by IIE after being selected as Fulbright finalists. Strict adherence to these regulations is mandatory, and your grant is contingent on the ability to secure a placement in Mongolia. Any attempts to omit or falsify information are immediate grounds for revoking/terminating the grant.
Candidates who are recommended for final review may be contacted for a 15-30 minute interview by the embassy via phone or Zoom.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Applicants should demonstrate a clear interest in Mongolia and learning Mongolian. The in-country orientation will include a Mongolian language component, so some level of self-study is encouraged prior to arrival.
Placement Type
- Vocational/Technical School
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Most ETAs are placed at universities, institutes, or vocational training colleges in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, though the Fulbright Mongolia Program seeks to place ETAs outside of the capital when possible.
If an applicant is interested in a placement outside Ulaanbaatar, it should be noted in the Statement of Grant Purpose of the application. Placement decisions are made based on a number of factors, including the level of need for English-speaking instruction in a particular school relative to other schools in the city. However, individuals should not apply for or accept this award unless they are committed to teaching in a placement that may differ from their preferences.
Mongolia is known for its natural beauty and breathtaking vistas on the open steppe. ETAs assigned to Ulaanbaatar often make it a point to travel outside of the city and enjoy Mongolia’s countryside. Famed for its nomadic traditions, Mongolia is also undergoing rapid modernization. Ulaanbaatar is a burgeoning metropolis with a population over 1.6 million, but severe air pollution is a health risk in the winter months.
ETAs are expected to conduct approximately 20 hours of classroom teaching, 8-10 hours of class preparation time, and 6-8 hours of extracurricular English language-related cross-cultural student activities at their host institutions per week. ETAs focus on capacity-building through co-planning and co-teaching.
ETAs engage in embassy-initiated public outreach activities, especially those for promoting English language learning. The mix of co-teaching and independent teaching will vary from school to school and will depend on the host institution’s situation, as well as the ETA’s background and qualifications.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
English Teaching Assistants are typically placed at universities and vocational training centers in the capital and regional cities.
Supplementary Project
No research or independent study is required. English Teaching Assistantships are not study/research awards, and teaching takes most of the grantee’s time. The Statement of Grant Purpose should focus on why the applicant wishes to teach English in Mongolia and how to make it a memorable cultural experience.
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements will be facilitated by the host institutions and the U.S. Embassy. ETAs are typically housed in a school dormitory room with private bathroom. In some cases, if the host institute is unable to offer a dormitory room, it provides a comparable housing allowance or housing in the community.
Dependents
Special Considerations
Although Mongolians are welcoming towards Americans in general, there have been incidents of crimes against foreigners, especially towards men. These incidents often occur in areas with nightlife and when foreign men are believed to be accompanied by Mongolian women. Women can be targets for sexual harassment such as cat calling and offensive gestures, and there have been incidents of sexual assault. ETAs will receive a safety briefing from the embassy’s regional security officer upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Program participants must make mature and sensible choices about personal safety.
English Teaching Assistants coming to Mongolia MUST obtain an Employment Visa (C2) to enter the country. The host institutes will assist ETAs in acquiring the necessary documents, but it is the ETA’s responsibility to follow up with the host institutes and acquire a visa in time. Due to the national holiday Naadam in mid-July, Mongolian organizations and the Mongolian Embassy in Washington, D.C. close for up to five days. It is mandatory for grantees to start their visa process well in advance. In general, Mongolians take extended leaves in the months of July and August. For more information on the employment visa, please visit Immigration Agency of Mongolia and Mongolian Embassy in the United States.