Munkhtuya Amgalan has been working in the field of education for 24 years as an English teacher at secondary school and as a specialist at the local education department. Currently she serves as a director and English teacher at “Erdem bileg delger,” an organization dedicated to building the capacity of English teachers’ teaching methodology and expanding knowledge and skills for working with children. They organize workshops for educators, teachers and school workers on teacher development, teaching methodology, curriculum design and assessment, child development and protection, and English courses for children. In 2016, Munkhtuya attended the first English teaching mentorship program sponsored and organized by the U.S. Embassy to Mongolia and in 2023 she was a facilitator in the English teaching mentorship VIII.  Her recent research focuses on Social Emotional Learning and how to incorporate it in the classroom.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Building Rural English Teachers' Capacity to Incorporate Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom 

This project is designed to build the capacity of rural English teachers by incorporating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) knowledge, skills, strategies and tips into the classroom. SEL provides a pathway to balance building 21^st century skills for children with mental health issues. In addition to academics, students learn how to manage emotions, create positive relationships, care for others and make good choices. The project will include an in-person training, after which participants also will have online training to share practices and school visits to have a model lesson and lesson observation. A conference will be convened to reflect and share best SEL tips and practices.

In August, Munkhutya held a two-day training on "Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the English Classroom," attended by 23 secondary school teachers from Dundgovi Province. Subsequent online meetings began in September, enabling teachers to exchange experiences and effectively apply SEL strategies in their classrooms, increasing student engagement and motivation, and benefiting thousands of students through the teachers' innovative, handmade materials. The training featured nine interactive sessions and over 60 strategies encompassing drama, music, art, and mindfulness, utilizing active teaching methods such as hands-on activities and collaborative discussions.

 “Teachers can make a difference. If teachers use SEL strategies and tips in the classroom, it will bring more positive changes in understanding of teacher-student [and] student-student relationship, showing empathy for others, understand[ing of] weaknesses, strengths, [and] positive communication environments. If teachers implement it, they can create a schoolwide SEL program, culture [and] norms. It will be a big support for mental health.” - Munkhtuya Amgalan

IVLP Exchange Experience

Munkhtuya participated in the IVLP Project American Language and Multicultural Diversity, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center, in partnership with Charleston Council for International Visitors, Global Ties Iowa, Global Ties Miami, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, Inc., WorldBoston and WorldOregon.

Munkhtuya’s exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award project: “Visiting West Liberty elementary school in Iowa, seeing how teachers created [a] positive environment such as school rules everywhere, SEL objectives on the board, sticky notes with encouragements on students' lockers, color balls for building personal skills, and attending SEL sessions at the International TESOL convention in Portland brought me [an] ‘'Aha’' moment, inspired me to study SEL deeper and gave me a motivation to implement it back to my home country.”

U.S. Communities Visited

Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Iowa City, IA; Boston, MA; Springfield, MA; Portland, OR; Charleston, SC; Dallas, TX

Country: Mongolia

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