RUSSIAN IN MONGOLIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM: STATE, DYNAMICS, PROBLEMS

Galina A. Dyrkheeva

Chechek S. Tsybenova

Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation

Sarantsatsral Tserenchimed

Enkhbat Dashdondog

National University of Mongolia, Mongolia

Abstract

The article deals with the questions of study and spread of Russian in education system of Mongolia. Special attention is paid to the situation of Russian since 2000. It is revealed that today in conditions of socio-economic transformations in educational sphere of Mongolia there is a strong competition between world languages. English is currently occupying the leading place. Russian occupies a reliable place in this niche, despite the reduction in use and deterioration of teaching in Russian. For young students, focused on receiving Russian education, Russian remains an important instrumental language. Its status is determined by high-quality level of education, relatively inexpensive tuition fees, compliance of received professions to the needs of labor market, and positive business prospects. Preliminary data indicate that Mongolian youth’s motives and attitudes towards Russian are generally positive. The authors conclude that consolidation of the Russian language space in future depends on specialized projects. Relations and projects of two states in economy, trade and investment are particularly important.

Keywords: language situation, language policy, Russian language abroad, education sphere, Russian-Mongolian bilateral relations, Mongolia

For citation: Dyrkheeva G.A., Tsybenova Ch.S., Tserenchimed Sarantsatsral, Dashdondog Enkhbat. Russian in Mongolian education system: state, dynamics, problems. Sociolinguistics, 2021, no. 1(5) [online], pp. 31–48. DOI: 10.37892/2713-2951-2021-1-5-31-48