AMBASSADOR GALT: Good afternoon everyone. It’s wonderful to see you all again.
I recall well our initial fortuitous meeting in Washington; it’s great to welcome you to Mongolia.
Congratulations to all of you on your selection as Fulbright English Teaching Assistants and on your choice of Mongolia as your country of assignment.
The Fulbright ETA program began in Mongolia in 2011, and has been bringing four to seven Americans to Mongolian universities and colleges annually ever since.
The work you will do here as ETAs is important.
Increasing English language education at the secondary and tertiary levels is one of Mongolia’s top goals for the future.
Your work teaching English will open up opportunities for young Mongolians seeking brighter futures in fields ranging from international business and politics to IT and engineering.
Along with your classroom instruction, you will also be educating young Mongolians about the United States and learning about local culture.
Through your day-to-day conversations, your trips to the supermarket, your participation in holiday parties – both American and Mongolian – you will serve as a bridge between our cultures and countries.
There will also be opportunities for community service work in partnership with NGOs, Peace Corps Volunteers, and through cooperation with other Embassy-run English teaching programs.
I encourage you to seek out these opportunities and to make the most of your time here.
I would like to thank your host institutions and your co-teaching colleagues for participating in this program and for their commitment to ensuring your success.
Congratulations again and I wish you all the best in your upcoming year.
