Program and Event

Teaching Teachers: U.S. Embassy Sponsors Lao TESOL

Opening ceremony attended by (from left) Mr. Denley Pike, Director of Vientiane College, Ambassador Ravic R. Huso, H.E. Mr. Lytou Bouapao, Vice Minister of Education and Associate Professor Dr. Phetsamone Khounsavath, Vice President of NUOL.

Over 200 teachers from both private and public schools all over country and 15 presenters from both local and foreign countries attended the conference.

A grant from the U.S. Embassy, in collaboration with Vientiane College and the Regional Language Office at U.S. Embassy Bangkok, enabled the National University of Laos to host the 6th Annual Lao Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference for 200 teachers from every province in Laos. This is the largest and most important annual training program for Lao teachers of English. Conference participants listened to presentations by 15 guest speakers from the United States, Thailand, India and Laos on the theme “Practical Methods for Active Learning.”

On January 28-29, teachers from primary schools to graduate programs, public schools and private colleges, gathered at the Dong Dok campus of the National University to attend this event, hosted for the first time by the University’s Faculty of Letters. At the opening ceremony, Ambassador Ravic R. Huso welcomed the teachers and highlighted the importance of ongoing training. He said he hoped the teachers would bring new ideas and teaching techniques into the classrooms, and encouraged the teachers make the most of this opportunity. Vice Minister of Education Lytou Bouapao noted that TESOL had become an important forum and development opportunity for Lao teachers of English, and thanked the Embassy and Vientiane College for their support.

The conference is very intensive and provides a rare opportunity for both teachers from secondary schools in Vientiane and rural Lao teachers to receive instruction in teaching techniques directly from regional specialists and native speakers of English. It also enabled teachers who themselves speak English as a second language to master teaching techniques not usually practiced in Lao schools, including content-based instruction and group exercises appropriate for secondary school students.

The U.S. Embassy has sponsored Lao TESOL every year since 2002, covering the travel and conference costs for Lao teachers and local presenters from Vientiane capital and every province in Laos.