Deseret International Charities Supports English Teacher Training in Ulaanbaatar

Deseret International Charities, in collaboration with the Ulaanbaatar City Education Department, the City Governor’s Office, and the Brigham Young University English Language Center, sponsored an English Teacher Conference on Monday, May 4, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Bayanzurkh building.

More than 50 teachers, selected by the City Education Department, attended the training led by Dr. Grant Eckstein, a professor of TESOL and linguistics at Brigham Young University.

Participants represented schools from across Ulaanbaatar and taught a wide range of grade levels. Despite their varied backgrounds, they shared a common goal: to gain new ideas and strategies to improve English language instruction for their students.

Oyunchimet, a first-year 12th-grade teacher, said, “My first year has been very challenging. I knew I could learn new ideas and interesting activities here, and I am very impressed.”

Dr. Eckstein’s training focused on effective approaches to teaching reading and writing. He emphasized that lessons should go beyond simply asking students to begin reading a text. Drawing on Schema Theory, or the importance of background knowledge, he explained how activating students’ prior knowledge can significantly improve comprehension. He also introduced strategies for guiding students before, during, and after reading, along with practical ideas for teaching various writing genres.

“Our number one job is to help students feel joy,” Dr. Eckstein said. “When they feel joy, they will want to read, they will want to write, and they will become strong language learners.”

Mesiah May Lopez, who teaches grades 3 through 9, shared her enthusiasm following the training. “I wrote down so many ideas,” she said. “I’m excited to take them back to my classroom and improve my teaching.”

Following the two-hour session, participants enjoyed a buffet dinner, providing an opportunity to connect with one another, share insights, and reinforce what they had learned as they prepare to finish the school year.