Mongolia


 * Past PO Participants write about Mongolia:**
 * J. Nicol (1999)** - [[file:projectoverseas/Nicol Mongolia.pdf|Nicol Mongolia.pdf]]
 * J. Thomas (2004)** - [[file:projectoverseas/J. Thomas, Mongolia 2004.pdf|J. Thomas, Mongolia 2004.pdf]]
 * M. Stadnyk (2007) -** [[file:projectoverseas/M. Stadnyk Mongolia.pdf|M. Stadnyk Mongolia.pdf]]
 * A. Jones (2008) -** [[file:projectoverseas/081119_bulletin.pdf|081119_bulletin.pdf]] (see article on page 6 of Saskatchewan Bulletin)
 * J. Fuchek (2009)** - [[file:projectoverseas/ETFO 2009.pdf|ETFO 2009.pdf]]
 * M. Gallant (2009) - []**
 * D. Arts (2009)** - [[file:projectoverseas/OECTA report 2009.pdf|OECTA report 2009.pdf]]
 * M. Lunney (2010) - [[file:projectoverseas/Lunney Article 2010.pdf|Lunney Article 2010.pdf]]**


 * Tips from L. Kresky (2008), E. Arbuckle (2008) and E. Spence (METT), updates from D. Arts (2009):**
 * **Temperature**: daily temperatures of 25 - 30C, moderate humidity, daily rain showers, cool in the evenings
 * **Money** - ATM's that accept Canadian debit are located at the Post Office and on the 5th floor of the State Department Store, bring __recent__ US cash and/or TC; Canadian TC are also accepted at some banks (but they are harder to find). Do not bring Cdn cash. US cash must be crisp and newer than 2000, a better rate is given with a higher denomination note (eg. better rate with a $50 US note than a $20 US note),
 * **Accommodations -** two apartments were rented for the team, the apartments were comfortable, each was 2 bedroom and equipped with a full bathroom, kitchen facility, livingroom and laundry. One apartment had internet. Apts were approximately a 10 minute walk from each other. Cost: $800 US and $600 US - to be paid in cash upon arrival - bring $100 US bills for this transaction.
 * **Electricity** - may want to bring a converter (Canada uses 110 ... Mongolia uses 220), 1600 watt converter costs approximately $30, check that it will work to recharge batteries for cameras)
 * **Standard of living -** Higher in the city than in the countryside, teacher salary approx $400 Cdn per month, food prices are rising
 * **Taxis** - some are privately operated, have directions written in Mongolian if host is not with you as most cab drivers do not speak English
 * **Entertainment** - loads available & relatively inexpensive, museums, english movies, souvenir shops, many historic sites are spread throughout the city (requires a taxi). Nadaam festival is the first weekend. See notes in the "other" section of this page for more details.
 * **Food -** huge supermarket across from the apartment block, usually ate breakfast at apts, lunch with participants and dinner at a restaurant (The Irish Pub, California, pizza places, Chinese restaurants, hamburger joints, traditional Mongolian restaurants, Korean restaurants), cutlery or chopsticks used, restaurant meals are approximately $6 - $7 Cdn, tipping is not the norm in Mongolia, fresh fruit is expensive
 * **Etiquette -** objects placed on floor indicates that contents are not valued and may disappear, if something is offered - try a bit to please. A great website to visit that tells you all about customs and norms is []
 * **Teaching** - School No. 1 is the name of the teaching site, short walk from the apartments, A/V equipment available: 2 overheads, 1 laptop, 3 stand-alone computers brought in for the project, internet, 2 cassette players, 1 CD player, blackboards in each classroom, 4 portable whiteboards, supplies (paper, chart paper, markers, staplers), photocopier
 * teaching suggestions: games, reading activities, writing activities, speaking activities, songs, word wall (listing teaching strategies), teaching of grammar and idioms, intermediate group - writing paragraphs, novel study; advanced group - emphasis on grammar and writing essays, emphasis on verbal skill building
 * teachers - back to work by 3rd week in August (painting classrooms, cleaning, preparing), time to visit classrooms but children are on vacation during PO time
 * a sample calendar of events for team 2009 - [[file:projectoverseas/Calendar for Mongolia Team.pdf|Calendar for Mongolia Team.pdf]]
 * a sample calendar of events for team 2010 - [[file:projectoverseas/PO_2010_SummerCalendar[1].pdf|PO_2010_SummerCalendar[1].pdf]]
 * **Day 1 Proficiency Test** - (Team 2010) - [[file:projectoverseas/Proficiency_Assessment_4_parts[1].pdf|Proficiency_Assessment_4_parts[1].pdf]]
 * **Lesson Outlines** - (Team 2010) - [[file:projectoverseas/Daily_Agenda_University_College_Group[1].pdf|Daily_Agenda_University_College_Group[1].pdf]], [[file:projectoverseas/Daily Agenda Advanced Group.pdf|Daily Agenda Advanced Group.pdf]], [[file:projectoverseas/Daily_Agenda_High_Intermediate[1].pdf|Daily_Agenda_High_Intermediate[1].pdf]], [[file:projectoverseas/Daily_Agenda_Low_Intermediate[1].pdf|Daily_Agenda_Low_Intermediate[1].pdf]]
 * **Resource Centre -** is available, managed by Saraa - she runs weekly ESL workshops for teachers (listening strategies, speaking strategies, theme approach to teaching, etc); consider inviting Sarah to put on a workshop during PO; centre is well stocked but could use up-to-date ESL materials; great place for teachers to meet and attend workshops, books range from childrens picture books, professional development materials to Mongolian curriculum texts. It is a 45 minute walk from the course venue.
 * **Other:**
 * **Luggage Allowance** - this was a huge issue in 2009. Air Canada allowed 2 bags, each 23 kg. Air China (from Beijing to UB) allowed 2 bags but a __total of 20 kg__. You must follow this allowance not the Air Canada. Payment for overweight baggage was about $11 Cdn per kilo! Air China also allowed for 1 carry-on, they did not weigh this bag.
 * **Visa** - The Mongolian gov't only issues 30 day visas. You must extend your visa once you are in Mongolia. __Bring an extra passport photo for this process__. The fee for the visa in 2009 was $15 US + 5000 tugriks (about $4 Cdn) per person. In 2009, the latest date to remain in the country was Sept 6th .... so plan to be out within 30 days of arrival and the additional cost to remain past PO dates was $46 US)
 * Canadian ambassador now in Mongolia - Canadian embassy was located across the street from School No. 1 but planned to move in the fall of 2009.
 * Mongolian teachers love Canadian keepsakes - photo albums (for co-tutors), hats, pens, pencils, pins, flags .... to be used as small gifts within the classroom or as give-aways on Canada Day
 * First weekend - Opening ceremonies of Nadaam festival plus Nadaam horse races - one of the most amazing experience you will ever have! Make sure your battery is well charged for this event! Get tourist brochures as soon as you arrive and take advantage of all the additional festival events - wrestling, archery, closing ceremonies, cultural events, circus.
 * Orphanage visit is possible (e-mail Sister Lucilla at the Verbist Children's Centre, lmunchi@yahoo.com) or visit Christina Noble Foundation - google the foundation for more information.
 * time on the weekends for travel outside UB; recommend Tereldge Ger Camp one weekend
 * Ger Camp - costs approximately $60 US, do's: accept food and drink with your right hand, eat at least a small piece of dairy products offered, say "nohoi hori" when you come to a ger, ask about their cattle, use a wall as a hanger; Don'ts: wear hats in a ger, lean against a column, whistle inside a ger, stand on the threshold, stand for a long time in a ger.
 * To see a link to A. Jones' (2008) blog, go to the Personal Sharing page.


 * Tips from Seema (Mongolian Course Director 2009) .... when asked "What should the Canadian teachers focus on?", this was her response:**
 * Oral development should be a priority for all groups!!! Plan as many oral development excercises as possible with the teachers.
 * Daily - games, songs (bring lyrics), idioms, tongue twisters, building vocabulary
 * Daily - activities to teach listening, reading, writing
 * Classroom management and multi-level classes
 * Teaching strategies
 * Use series of textbooks “Learning English is Fun”. (available at the CTF offices)

Dave's ESL Cafe - [] English Raven - [] TESOL Teaching Techniques - [] Songs and Other exercises - [|http://www.musicalenglishlessons.org/grammar-overview.htm#nouns]
 * Great ESL Sites:**
 * ESL Websites - For Learners -** [[file:projectoverseas/Websites_for_English_Language_Learners3[1].pdf|**Websites_for_English_Language_Learners3[1].pdf**]] (P. Munroe, Mongolia 2011)
 * ESL Websites - For Teachers -** [[file:projectoverseas/Websites_for_Teachers_of_English_Language_Learners2[1].pdf|**Websites_for_Teachers_of_English_Language_Learners2[1].pdf**]] (P. Munroe, Mongolia 2011)
 * ESL Websites - For Parents - [[file:projectoverseas/Websites_for_Parents_of_English_Language_Learners[1].pdf|Websites_for_Parents_of_English_Language_Learners[1].pdf]]** (P. Munroe, Mongolia 2011)

Pictures - Interesting pictures from Team 2010 -
 * Videos -** Found an interesting video on u-tube, showing schools, rural life, etc. []

Edited Version of the 2009 report - The full report is available from your team leader, through CTF.
 * Team Reports:**