How to Begin Teaching in Mongolia

Mongolia's nomadic culture is famous

Rugged Mongolia is an adventure destination where travellers can see the traditions of the past

Ah Mongolia! Land of…what exactly? Any idea? This is the beauty of Mongolia, a country so mysterious many people couldn’t find it on a map. It’s a tiny country bordered by Russia and China and it’s one of the least densely populated countries in the world. So while you may not see a lot of people while you are here, what you will see is a lot of vast, open spaces.
In fact, Mongolia is also known as the Land of the Eternal Blue sky: there are more than 250 days of sun in a year. Don’t let the sunshine fool you – the winters are long and cold (temperatures can drop to -40 °C) and the summers short, but at least you won’t suffer from a Vitamin D deficiency.
So what exactly are the attractions in Mongolia? If you can imagine a place where the nomadic lifestyle is still prevalent, where much of the travel is still done on horseback and the weekend sports are archery and wrestling, then you are on the right track. Mongolia is relatively new to tourism and the country is still very much nomadic and this is the attraction. In terms of food, you can expect a lot of mutton and dumplings and if you’re lucky you will experience a traditional boodog – a goat barbecue where a goat is hunted and cooked (whole with no pot) on hot stones just for you. Another traditional option is staying in a yurt (a traditional hut). So if this is your style, then you should think about Mongolia.

Teaching Opportunities

Mongolian is spoken in Mongolia and Kazakh in the west, but there are surprisingly numerous teaching opportunities in Mongolia, though most are in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, which is actually quite city-like. It may not be the prettiest city in the world, but it provides an interesting glimpse into the clash of the traditional and the modern in this different country.
In terms of job opportunities, you could find work in a private school or a language school. The salaries are not very high but neither is the cost of living. Many schools also provide accommodation and flights; some schools might be able to organise you a homestay if you’d really like an authentic experience.

Teaching Requirements

Degree Requirement	Typical Contract Length	Peak Hiring Seasons	Visa Info	Typical Students	Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency	Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

BA/BS required

12 months

May, June

Z visa

Children, professionals

MNT 1 800 000 – MNT 2 200 000 (£620 – £760)

MNT 2 500 000 – MNT 4 000 000 (£860 – £1 375)

Degree Requirement

BA/BS required

Typical Contract Length

12 months

Peak Hiring Seasons

May, June

Visa Info

Z visa

Typical Students

Children, professionals

Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency

MNT 1 800 000 – MNT 2 200 000 (£620 – £760)

Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

MNT 2 500 000 – MNT 4 000 000 (£860 – £1 375)

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