ELIC began working in Mongolia in 1990. Over the years, ELIC has developed and utilized several different English programs. However, because English has become the official second language in Mongolia, our core work now is retraining Mongolian secondary-school English teachers in order to improve the quality of instruction and increase the number of well-equipped English teachers. The EXCEL program was born in the early 1990s and is focused on refining teaching methodology for this strategic group of people. Many Mongolians have an exceptional facility for language, so working with them, and seeing tangible results, can be very gratifying.
Since ELIC has been working in Mongolia, a number of local groups have sprung up. These significant bodies have provided an opportunity for ELIC's teachers to assist with personal growth and life mentoring in a land where folk religion and animism are an ingrained part of everyday life. As Mongolian leadership pushes for globalization and increased national prosperity, this is a very critical time to reach out to Mongols.
Though the population of Mongolia is small (nearly 3 million), its strategic location between Russia and China is significant. And the need for English teachers is great; the Mongolian people are hungry to learn and grow.
Jean Jones, ELIC teacher in Mongolia, 2004-2008
"For many people in Mongolia, struggling to survive is simply a part of life. There is little hope as they strive day by day to do enough good deeds, turn enough prayer wheels, keep enough traditions and appease enough spirits to ensure good luck for the future. Being able to exemplify a life of hope, as I lived there day in and day out and shared my life with my students and friends, was both challenging and rewarding. I'm forever grateful to have had that opportunity."