Happy Hour ESU Mongolia: How English Was Introduced in an East Asian Country

Sponsored by the ESU Mongolia and Central Pennsylvania Branches

The English-Speaking Union is a worldwide nonprofit education-based organization spanning the globe with international branches in 66 countries from Albania to Yemen.

All ESUs worldwide are connected through the ESU International Council. The President of the ESU International Council is Professor Bolormaa also known as Bella from Mongolia. This ESU Happy Hour is honored to welcome Bella to present the history of how the English language was first introduced into the East Asian country of Mongolia and its impact on the country. While the official language is Mongolian, English is taught as a second language in schools and is spoken by a growing percentage of the population. Bella will also tell us the fascinating story of when and how the ESU Mongolia Branch was launched.

We invite you to be a part of this special ESU Happy Hour to learn about ESU’s connections and influence worldwide with a focus on the ESU Mongolia Branch. ESU members and Friends of ESU from international branches around the globe will be joining this Happy Hour.

This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Mongolia and Central Pennsylvania Branches. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free to attend, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

About Prof. Bolormaa “Bella”

Bella was the first ESU National winner of the 1^st Public Speaking Competition in Mongolia and four-time National & International Debate Champion. She is an acclaimed coach, mentor, professor of economics, and founder of Dayan Academy, and Nest Center for Journalism Innovation & Development in Mongolia. Bella has a broad range of expertise across finance, banking, aviation, and telecommunications industries. She is the President of the ESU International Council, and the Chairperson of the ESU Mongolia Branch. She has a PhD and MA in Economics from the University of Minnesota and an MBA and BBA in finance from the National University of Mongolia.

Happy HourCocktail:
The most popular and iconic alcoholic beverage in Mongolia is not a Western-style cocktail, but Airag (or Kumis), a lightly alcoholic, tangy, fermented mare’s milk drink, symbolizing hospitality and deeply embedded in nomadic culture, especially during summer festivals like Naadam. While other drinks like vodka and milk tea (Suutei Tsai) are common, Airag is the quintessential national drink.
Ingredients: 
Mare’s milk, fermented with natural yeasts and bacteria, sometimes mixed with previous year’s ferment.
Flavor: Sour, tangy, with a yogurt-like taste.
Alcohol Content: Low, typically 2-3%.
Cultural Significance: A symbol of hospitality, unity, and refreshment, consumed in large quantities during summer. 

How it’s Made (Traditional Method):
Fresh mare’s milk is collected and poured into a leather sack (khökhüür) or wooden barrel.
The mixture ferments over time, often stirred with a wooden paddle (buluur).
It’s ready for consumption during the summer months (mid-June to mid-September).