Mongolia: Adventure Teaching in the Land of the Eternal Blue Sky

Mongolia offers TEFL teachers an extraordinary off-the-beaten-path experience that combines vast open landscapes with growing educational opportunities. This breathtaking country, nestled between Russia and China yet with its own distinct identity, provides teachers with authentic cultural immersion rarely found in more developed TEFL destinations. While not the most lucrative market financially, Mongolia compensates with unique experiences and the chance to make a genuine impact in a developing English education system.

Teaching Landscape

The TEFL market in Mongolia continues to evolve as the country emphasizes English education. Since 2006, English has been taught in all secondary schools beginning in fourth grade, gradually replacing Russian as the second language of choice. This policy shift has created steady demand for qualified instructors across various educational contexts.

Teaching opportunities typically fall into several categories:

• Elite international schools in Ulaanbaatar
• Private language schools
• Business English training
• Universities
• Volunteer positions

Mongolia’s English proficiency remains relatively low, ranking 78th out of 100 countries in the EF English Proficiency Index. This creates both challenges and opportunities for teachers who’ve completed a cheap TEFL course online, as students will have varying levels of ability depending on the teaching context.

Salary and Cost of Living

TEFL teachers in Mongolia typically earn between £630–£1,000 ($875–$1,400) monthly. While these figures may not match those in East Asian powerhouses like South Korea or Japan, Mongolia’s low cost of living ensures teachers can maintain a comfortable lifestyle, particularly with employment packages that include accommodation.

The most lucrative positions are found in international schools, which often provide comprehensive benefits including flight reimbursement and housing. Volunteer positions, while unpaid, frequently include homestay accommodations and meals, eliminating major expenses for teachers seeking cultural immersion over financial gain.

Qualifications and Requirements

To teach English in Mongolia, you’ll typically need:

• A 120-hour TEFL qualification
• A bachelor’s degree (required for all paid positions)
• Teaching experience (required for most positions)

The country welcomes non-native English speakers with proper certification, creating inclusive opportunities for qualified teachers from diverse backgrounds. The academic year begins in September, making summer the prime hiring season.

Educational Context

Mongolia has achieved remarkable educational progress, with literacy rates skyrocketing from less than 1% to nearly 100% within the last century. The education system recently expanded from 10 to 12 years of schooling, and approximately 60% of Mongolians now attend university, creating growing demand for English instruction at higher levels.

Cultural Immersion

Mongolia’s rich cultural heritage provides endless opportunities for exploration. After completing online TEFL course training, imagine galloping across the endless Mongolian steppe on horseback, where nomadic traditions remain alive in felt ger (yurt) camps dotting the horizon, and the vast blue sky stretches uninterrupted to distant mountains—creating moments of profound freedom impossible to experience in more developed destinations.

Teachers who embrace local traditions find Mongolian hospitality extraordinarily warm, particularly outside Ulaanbaatar. Traditional activities like archery, wrestling, and horseback riding offer unique weekend adventures that few other TEFL destinations can match.

Climate and Environmental Considerations

Mongolia experiences extreme temperature variations, with bitterly cold winters offset by around 250 days of sunshine annually. Teachers should prepare accordingly, particularly for winter months when heating in accommodations may not meet Western expectations. When securing housing, asking current teachers about winter comfort levels is highly recommended.

Air pollution presents a significant challenge, particularly in Ulaanbaatar where nearly half the population resides. Coal burning contributes to some of the world’s worst air quality statistics, making Mongolia potentially problematic for teachers with respiratory conditions like asthma.

Finding Work

Several organizations regularly hire TEFL teachers in Mongolia:

• Cultural Homestay International (volunteer)
• ESP (requires IELTS qualification)
• LETU Mongolia
• New Choice (charity offering volunteer positions)
• Raffles International Institute
• Talk Talk English Mongolia

The Final Word

Mongolia represents a unique proposition in the TEFL world—genuine adventure and cultural immersion in exchange for modest financial compensation. For teachers seeking an authentic experience away from well-trodden paths, this land of endless horizons delivers experiences impossible to find in more developed destinations.

Those who’ve invested in a cheap TEFL certification course and seek to make a meaningful impact while experiencing one of the world’s most unique cultures will find Mongolia offers both in abundance. From the bustling streets of Ulaanbaatar to the peaceful solitude of the steppe, the memories gained teaching in Mongolia create an unforgettable chapter in any educator’s international journey.