These answers to frequently asked questions will help inform you about the program in Mongolia. If you have further questions, please call the WorldTeach office at 1-800-483-2240 or 617-495-5527 . Because the program is new, we cannot put you in touch with a returned volunteer from Mongolia.

Please scroll down for answers to these questions:

When does the program start and end?
Do I need to speak Mongolian?
What special requirements are there?
What type of school will I be teaching at?
Where will I live?
What will I eat?
Will I be paid?
Will I get training?
Will there be a chance to travel to other places?
Do I need to get a visa?
What else will I need to do before departure?
What immunizations are required?
What do I need to take with me?
How much money should I take?
Is it safe?
What if I get sick? Are there doctors and hospitals?
What is the cost for the year-long Mongolia program?
Can I make my own travel arrangements?
What other groups are teaching in Mongolia?
Can I come home during the year?
Can my parents or friends visit me during the year?
Can I talk to a returned volunteer?

Q: When does the program start and end?

A: The year-long Mongolia program will depart the first of August in 2008. After three weeks of orientation, volunteers will teach for the academic year from early September through the first of July.

Q: Do I need to speak Mongolian?

WorldTeach provides language instruction during your three week orientation training. Because so few people speak English, however, you may want to continue studying Mongolian on your own. You will have as a liaison at your school, someone who speaks English, who will help you navigate your school and community. You may want to exchange English lessons for Mongolian lessons with someone while at your teaching site. But this is your choice.

Q: What special requirements are there?

A: Our partners in Mongolia, the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, require that our volunteers be native speakers of English, and healthy including being free of sexually transmitted infections.

Persons participating in this program need to be independent, resourceful, flexible, and self-motivated. It is a difficult country to live and work in, with extreme temperatures and aging Russian-type infrastructure, and the stipend is low. Volunteers need to be hearty, independent, and resilient, and in excellent health both physically and emotionally, because they will not come into the capital often. But it is a fascinating place for volunteers who are looking for adventure even as they are serious about helping teach English to this country that is very interested in insuring their population can communicate in this international language. The volunteers we spoke with there uniformly are very happy with the country and their experiences teaching in Mongolian schools, and are fascinated by the challenges they face every day.

Q: What type of school will I be teaching at?

A: Volunteers in Mongolia will teach in high schools in the aimag centers, or provincial centers, throughout Mongolia. Many of these schools have had Peace Corps volunteers before, and some have local teachers who have studied English, so you will likely have at least some students who have studied some English. A second placement type is at community colleges teaching English, likely in Ulaanbaatar itself. WorldTeach will not know until several months before departure the exact sites where the Ministry wishes to place the volunteers.

The schools are fine, and the directors and teachers impressively committed to education. Students are quite eager to learn, and generally well-behaved. The Russian legacy in support of education is evident in the infrastructure for schools. Resources are adequate. The Ministry reports that there is a curriculum in place and teaching materials for English, but WorldTeach will also supply you with materials to teach English.

As a member of the teaching staff, you will be expected to participate fully in the life of the school and observe the regulations and procedures of your host school.

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Q: Where will I live?

A: You will live in a room in the dormitory of your host school. The apartment is likely to be on or near the school campus. The apartments at the college level are likely larger and better equipped than those at the high schools. They may, for example, have their own bathroom facilities, and may have a separate living/dining/cooking area from the bedroom. Like the college rooms, the high school rooms will be equipped with basic furniture, and access to cooking, bathroom, and clothes washing facilities, but you may have to share these with the students. You will be responsible for purchasing your own food, but you may be able to eat at the school, either for a fee or perhaps for free. You are likely to have Internet access at school or at one of the many "Internet bars" springing up in the aimag centers.

There is an outside chance that you will live in a ger (Russian for the Mongolian ger is yurt.) If so, it would be on a compound, in the yard, of a family who owned the ger. It would have electricity, and a central stove for heat and cooking. Currently, however, there are no plans for placing volunteers in gers, although many Western volunteers are currently living in them.

While some of the places in Mongolia are very difficult to get to, the centers are connected to Ulaanbaatar by roads and public transportation. These may be slow, however

Q. What will I eat?

A. You may opt to buy lunches from the school dining hall, eat at local restaurants, or cook your own meals, depending on your choice and the availability at your locale. Local fare is heavy with fatty meats, root vegetables, bread, and tea. Potatoes and onions are available, also carrots and cabbage. Many cuts of beef and mutton are more reasonable than in most countries. In the summer especially the diet turns to dairy products. The nomads of Mongolia traditionally had to eat those things that they could take with them as they moved from place to place. So the cultivated fruits and vegetables are not serious components of their diets.

There are more choices in Ulaanbaatar, and some stores in the aimag centers can special order food for you. In fact there is a wide variety of foods in the stores in the capital city, but they are imported and very expensive by Mongolian standards (they cost about as much as they would in the US.) These prices are difficult to afford on the stipend that volunteers receive.

This is a difficult country for vegetarians, but not impossible, report Peace Corps volunteers. One reported he made vegetarian chili every night he was a volunteer!

Q: Will I be paid?

A: As a volunteer you will receive a monthly stipend of approximately $120 for each full month of teaching (10 months). The bulk of the stipend is provided by the Ministry to WorldTeach and is intended to cover your very basic daily living expenses. This is the same amount that the Peace Corps volunteers and other volunteer teachers receive, and it is possible to live on this amount, but if you want “extras,” especially imported food, you will definitely want to bring extra cash. However many of the volunteers we spoke with like the challenge of living more nearly like the local people live, and getting by with the money they have to live on. You will be paid at the beginning of the month, even though you have not yet taught, so you will have money to cover the costs of living for the month.

You will need to bring your own spending money for travel and to supplement what you want past the very basics.

Q: Will I get training?

A: Yes. Your first few weeks in Mongolia will be in Ulaanbaatar where you will receive an intensive orientation training program with your fellow volunteers. This will include orientation to the country and culture, Mongolian language classes and teacher training. Teacher training will focus on TEFL teaching methods, lesson planning, teaching resources, and a teaching practicum. The orientation will encompass an experiential approach, with opportunities for volunteers to learn through experience so that they are prepared to live and teach in Mongolia.

Q: Will there be a chance to travel to other places?

A: Yes. Mongolia is an extremely interesting, geographically diverse with the Gobi Desert and the steppes, and culturally rich country. IN 2006 they celebrated the 800th anniversary of the great Mongolian empire under Chinggis Khaan, (Genghis Khan) who once ruled the largest empire in the world’s history. Mongolia is the least densely populated country on earth, and one of the highest, and also one of the least traveled. Travel is both hard and easy. There are not hotels in much of the country, but Mongolian hospitality is core to its culture. And families welcome strangers for food and bed. Travelers must always repay the kindness of their hosts, though, best with sacks of food or other provisions. It is not good to travel in the spring, because after the difficult and cold winter, the dry spring is when the livestock (and the people) are at most risk for starvation. If you plan on staying with families along the way, it is best to plan your trips for the summer and fall or even the winter if you share more than you take!

We encourage volunteers to travel. However, any travel must be done during school vacations or after the end of your teaching commitment. As a volunteer you are a full time teacher and cannot take time off during regular school hours. You will have weekends free and the same vacations as other teachers. The main vacation is during Mongolian New Year (usually in January or February).

Q: Do I need to get a visa?

A: Yes, a visa is required to travel to Mongolia to work. WorldTeach through the Ministry will assist you in the visa process once you are accepted and confirmed in the program. You will need to collect various documents and have a health exam, while WorldTeach obtains official letters of invitation from the hosting authorities in Mongolia. As a first step, make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the program is due to end.

Q: What else will I need to do before departure?
A: You will receive a checklist of pre-departure preparations when you are accepted for the program. Make sure to follow the timeline and dates that are specified on that checklist. You will need to find somewhere to gain at least 25 hours of experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). You will need to make an appointment with your doctor for a medical exam and to get your immunizations. WorldTeach recommends you allow yourself at least 3 - 4 months for pre-departure preparations.

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Q: What immunizations are required?

A: The best source of information on immunizations and travel health is the Center for Disease Control's website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ . This site provides recommendations for travel to Central Asia as well as detailed information on specific diseases. Also refer to the Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America book that WorldTeach will send you when you confirm your participation in the program. You must consult your doctor or a travel health specialist about immunizations and other health needs. Please understand that WorldTeach staff are not qualified to give medical advice.

As for travel to any developing country, it is generally recommended that you get immunized against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid. You should also make sure that your Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), and Tetanus-Diptheria (TTD) vaccinations are up to date, or get a booster shot if necessary. Also check that you have had a recent TB test.

If you plan to travel to rural areas of China you should ask your doctor about the vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis and pills to protect yourself against malaria. If you will stay in cities these may not be required. If you plan to travel to western China or Tibet or rural Mongolia your doctor may recommend that you get a rabies vaccination.

Q: What do I need to take with me?

A: A suggested packing list will be included in the guide to Living and Teaching in Mongolia (which you should receive with your confirmation packet). Do not take too much baggage - you will need to be able to carry it easily.

You will want to be sure you have a good sleeping bag, adequate for low temperatures if you plan on sleeping outdoors, but comfortable and good for wherever you are. You will also need a water purifier with appropriate filters, etc.

Q: How much money should I take?

A: This will depend on how much you intend to travel, and the lifestyle you intend to lead especially including if you intend to eat local food, or if your crave imported food. Volunteers receive the monthly stipend that covers their very basic costs. However, it is the lowest stipend in all of WorldTeach. That said, it is what the other volunteer teachers in Mongolia receive, including the Peace Corps. It will not be enough if you plan on treating yourself to imported food on any sort of regular basis, buying clothing, or extra cooking supplies, or traveling, or if you intend to purchase souvenirs (leather and cashmere are particularly good buys there.) Check the charts in the “Living and Teaching in Mongolia” guide showing how much food costs to see what additional cash you think you will need for food, if any. Then think of other things you may want to have and to do while you are there. Certainly you will want to have money available, especially in the beginning when you are getting your room set up, and also you will want some when you travel. Our guess from other programs is that about $1,500 - $2,000 is what you may want. But so much depends on what you want and what you need while you are there.

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Q: Is it safe?

A: Yes, conditionally. Mongolia is relatively safe, especially away from Ulaanbaatar. In Ulaanbaatar you will need to be careful and aware in how you act, as you would in many large cities. There are places and times where you shouldn’t go. You will stand out as a foreigner, and therefore as someone who is likely “rich.” So you need to be sensible. You should not go out alone at night, and women especially should take taxis and not walk after dark, even in groups. You should not go into dark alleys or otherwise unlit places that are deserted. Gangs can surround you and in a flash strip you of your valuables. So you need to be vigilant especially at night in the capital city. You need to stay away from drunks; vodka is a very big problem with some men in Mongolia, a heritage from the Russian past. In the aimags it is much safer, but the same general rules apply there as well.

Pollution is very bad in the winter in Ulaanbaatar. Coal is abundant in the country and people burn it for fuel, especially in the long and cold winters. There is a low-hanging smog over the city, sometimes blown away by the winds, but often not, and you will feel it when you breathe. In the summer when the coal-burning slows down, the air is much cleaner. In the countryside, outside of the capital, the air is good, even in the aimag capitals.

Health-wise, Mongolia is also relatively safe but the medical care is less reliable than in some countries where WorldTeach has programs. The cold may be hard on you, but it’s death to many micro-organisms that thrive in milder climates. You will need to be careful with your drinking water, and only drink filtered water or boiled or bottled water. And not eat street food (although there isn’t that much.) Know your butchers and other food providers, and make sure your food is handled well.

During orientation you will discuss ways to stay safe and healthy, and will be introduced to a doctor and hospital in Ulaanbaatar, and will be given contact information for medical care at your site.

Q: What if I get sick? Are there doctors and hospitals?

A: Yes, there are doctors and hospitals, but they are not up to western standards. This is why only persons in excellent health should apply for the Mongolia program. Volunteers should not have any on-going health issues, nor be dependent on any medication that they don’t bring with them and have 100% control over.

As a WorldTeach volunteer you will have health insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance. For medical expenses such as doctor's visits, medicines, etc. you pay up front and then file an insurance claim to get reimbursed. For larger expenses the insurance company may be able to arrange direct payment to the hospital or medical provider. Your field director can assist you in emergencies.

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Q: What is the cost for the year-long Mongolia program?

A: Because we have entered into a partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of Mongolia and its schools for them to provide the $120 per month stipend, which will be given you by the Field Director monthly. The rest of the costs of the program must be covered by a volunteer participation fee, which is $4,990. Mongolia is unable to cover more of the costs of the program, as some other countries are able to do. But volunteers can know that they are contributing educational support to a country that could not otherwise afford it.

Q: Can I make my own travel arrangements?

A: Yes, you can opt to purchase your own ticket to Mongolia if you wish to travel independently of the group. However, you are responsible for making sure you arrive in Ulaanbaatar in time for the start of orientation. WorldTeach will reimburse you the amount that we paid for our group tickets (not the amount you paid for your ticket).

Q: What other groups are teaching in Mongolia?

A: Currently there are only three other major volunteer groups in Mongolia, to the best of our knowledge. They are the Peace Corps, which has been there for 15 years, the British organization Voluntary Service Overseas Mongolia (VSO), and English Language Institute, Mongolia (ELI).

Q: Can I come home during the year?

A: Yes, however keep in mind that it is both expensive and time-consuming to travel to/from Mongolia. You are responsible for teaching full time for the duration of each school term. If you choose to travel home during the year this should be during school vacations only and will be at your own expense. WorldTeach provides one round-trip ticket for each volunteer that completes his or her teaching service. Volunteers who decide to leave the program early without teaching the full year will receive their return ticket, since it was paid for through the volunteer participation fees. But you should not apply to the program if you are not quite certain that you intend to complete the full program. Leaving early really leaves the schools in a terrible position, without a teacher for the classes you have taught. And it’s bad for the reputation of WorldTeach. So be sure you are committed to finishing the program before you go, and if you come home to the food and friends and family you have missed, be sure you have a firm commitment to return to your Mongolian school and stick to it! You’ll be glad in the end!

Q: Can my parents or friends visit me during the year?
A: Yes. Visits from family and friends can help them relate to your experience and provide you with an important connection with home. Try to schedule visits during vacation or weekend time so that you will be able to spend time with your family/friend. WorldTeach has a helpful brochure with tips for those planning to visit volunteers during their service. Call our office to request a copy.

Q: Can I talk to a volunteer who has been to Mongolia?

A: No, unfortunately, because our first program will begin in August 2008. You will be the pioneers of the WorldTeach Mongolia program! Hopefully after you complete your service, you will be available to talk with future volunteers. We do think that this is an important step in your decision whether or not to participate, but it isn’t possible for first year programs.

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