Global Vision International 2011 Report Series No.

001

GVI Laos
Teaching English to Buddhist Monks and in other local community settings in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Quarterly Report 111 January March 2011

GVI Laos, Luang Prabang Programme Report 111 Produced by Tricia Feeney - Manager And Jake Sullivan John Seccull Adrienne Elks Carla Rossimel Caitlin Doherty Lara Schlereth Anne Marie Robertson Alicia Ben Hamou Lili Kinsman Rachel Louttit Blanka Nemeth Cheryl Witchell Nancy Gregory Christina Herman Meredith Lawson Beatrice Schweri Raffaella TaylorSeymour John Young Henry Macaulay Melanie Fowler Kirsten Fowler Donna Larkin Mathieu Ponte Mehdi Farshbaf Patricia Wilson Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Helen Duckworth Mark Baker Dean astley William bleads Cordula Gehwolf Claire Dalton Patricia Bennett Ken Shooter Meg Williams Audrey Nicholson Alfred Lanz Emma Dewar Pia Wiechert Daria Serrano Alison Betts Line eidsvag Aslak Talleraas Steve Gartland Judith Weber Greg Brady Fausto Silvia Marzi Marchesi Marc Giglioli Brooke Thompson Matthew Henry Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer

GVI Laos Email: laos@gviworld.com Web page: http://www.gvi.co.uk and http://www.gviusa.com

Executive Summary
The first quarter phase, Jan Mar 2011 of the GVI Laos Expedition has now been completed. The project has maintained working relationships with local schools/centres through providing volunteers teaching English for Monks, Novices, post-secondary students, government workers, secondary students, adults and children. The project has continued to work towards goals of sustainable development, whilst working with local partners.

The following teaching took place during Phase 111: 3 months (1 term) of teaching English to Novices and Monks at the Buddhist Secondary School 5 days/wk. 1 term of teaching English to post secondary students studying a 3 year Diploma of English course at Xayadeth College 5 days/wk. 1 term of teaching English to primary school aged Novices at Wat Mano 2 mornings/wk. 1 term of assisting Lao teachers with the teaching of English to Government workers 5 days/wk. 1 term of partnering Lao teachers at Sikeud School where classes range from children to young adults 5 days/wk 3 months of teaching Novices at a local temple 5 eveningswk. Commencement in April teaching with Lao teachers at Vocational/Technical School 4 days/wk.

GVI Luang Prabang, Laos. Jan-Mar 2011

Table of Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. i Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ ii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... iiii 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 4 2. Teaching English to Buddhist Novice Monks and in other local community settings. The Buddhist Secondary School 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Activities and Achievements ........................................................................................ 6 2.4 Review...... 7 The Buddhist Primary School ............................................................................................. 7 2.5 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 7 2.6 Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 7 2.7 Activities and Acheivements ........................................................................................ 8 2.8 Review...8 Teaching English in other local community settings. ......................................................... 8 2.9 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 9 2.10 Objectives ................................................................................................................... 9 2.11Activities and Acheivements ....................................................................................... 9 2.12 Review.....9 3. Other Events.................................................................................................................. 10 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 10 3.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................... 10 3.3 Activities and Acheivements ...................................................................................... 10 3.4 Review ........................................................................................................................ 10 8. Final Words...................................................................................................................11

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List of Tables
Table 1.1. Names of teaching sites for GVI volunteers and lengths of time working at teaching sites.

Table 1.2.

Number of students (Novices and Monks) at Buddhist Secondary School.

Table 1.3.

Total hours taught for English classes at Buddhist Monk School.

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1. Introduction
GVI began the Teaching English to Buddhist Monks and in other local community settings Project under the current management in April 2009 in Luang Prabang Laos. The original sites were the secondary school for Novices and Monks at Wat Sipphoutabaht and 1 English centre Mekong English Centre (MEC). Since 2009 we have increased our participation to working in 7 different schools/centres.

Schools/Centres/Colleges currently participating in GVI Laos Project. The Buddhist Secondary School Wat

Length of Time at each site since June 2009 2 years

Sipphoutabaht The Primary Novice Monk School Wat Mano Evening classes at local temple - Wat Pasa Viet Xayadeth College Mekong English Centre (MEC) Sikeud School Vocational and Technical School
time working at teaching sites.

1.5 years 6 months

1.5 years 2 years 1.5 years 1 month

Table1.1 Names of teaching sites for GVI volunteers and lengths of

Luang Prabang is a picturesque large town in the North of Laos. It has been UNESCO protected for 15 years and much of the integrity of the religious and cultural importance of the area has been maintained. Luang Prabang is going through rapid development and expansion. The Tourism Industry continues to be very important financially to the town and region but there is also a noticeable growth in many other sectors technology, construction, agriculture, local business.

By providing quality English lessons and support for local teachers of English, GVI volunteers provide the local community with skills that they can utilize to take control of their own development.

To date the project has facilitated 172 volunteers to work with our partners since June 2009. This quarter Jan-Mar 2011 has facilitated 49 volunteers.

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2. Teaching English to Buddhist Novice Monks and in other local community settings. The Buddhist Secondary School.
2.1 Introduction GVI began teaching English classes at the Buddhist Secondary School for Novices and Monks in July 2009. Since the commencement of working there, 2 full academic years have been completed. The student population has continued to grow and was at 900 in the academic year 2010-2011. The class sizes are large with sometimes up to 50 students or more in a class.

The Buddhist Secondary School is the main school in the north of Laos for Novices and Monks to receive their secondary education. Many of the students come from the other Northern Provinces of Laos and have joined the temple in order to receive a full secondary education which they would be unlikely to achieve if they had stayed in their local villages. They are predominantly from disadvantaged farming families. The students ages range from 12 21 years. There are 7 years of Secondary Schooling (the 7th year was implemented in 2010). The GVI volunteers partner with the Lao English Teaching Staff to teach English across all 7 levels. As there are only 2 Lao Teachers of English to teach over 900 students, they are stretched beyond capacity to meet the teaching demands and value the contribution of the volunteers.

The academic year commences in July and ends in March. There are 3 months holidays from April June. The Buddhist School is quite unique Every class over the last 2 years has been taught by the GVI Project Manager Tricia Feeney, a volunteer and a Lao teacher or Lao Teaching Assistant. The protocol in working with Novices and Monks is strict and GVI has ensured that the correct practices have been followed. The relationship with the GVI Project Manager, Tricia Feeney and the Administration of the Buddhist School has continued to grow positively. It is the first time in the history of the school to have a female teacher working with the Monks and Novices. Close monitoring of the volunteers behaviour and of our teaching standards whilst working in the Buddhist School environment, has been very important for the continued

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involvement of volunteers at the school. It is entirely at the schools discretion to have volunteers working there or not. 2.2 Objectives The objectives of GVI volunteers teaching English classes at the Buddhist School are: 1) To provide quality English language lessons for the Secondary School Monks and Novices which provide them with knowledge and skills to support their personal and professional development opportunities later in life. 2) To support the Lao teachers of English in teaching to such high numbers of students in the classroom many classes are over 50 students. 2.3 Activities and Achievements - Classroom-based Teaching Volunteers have worked with every class at the Buddhist Secondary School a total of 19 classes/wk,a total of 28.5hrs/wk. Following the schools assessment system, a monthly exam is set to which, the volunteers mark all the English exam papers 90 tests/mth.
Year Level & Classes Yr 1.1 Yr 1.2 Yr 1.3 Yr 2.1 Yr 2.2 Yr 2.3 Yr 3.1 Yr 3.2 Yr 3.3 Number of Students 52 51 51 49 48 48 45 46 46 Year Level & Classes Yr 4.1 Yr 4.2 Yr 4.3 Yr 5.1 Yr 5.2 Yr 5.3 Yr 6.1 Yr 6.2 Yr 7.1 Yr 7.2
Total no of classes = 19

Number of Students 54 55 55 46 46 47 48 48 35 35
Total no. of students = 905

Table 1.2 Number of students (Novices and Monks) at Buddhist Secondary School.

In the 111 phase, 342 hours of classes were taught at the Buddhist Secondary School totaling 1,026 hours for past academic year of July 2010 March 2011 with a sum total of 2052 hours of GVI involvement since we began teaching at Wat Sipphoutabaht in 2009.

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Year

Hours taught

Jun 09 Mar 10 Jun 10 Mar 11

Total

1026 1026
2052

Table 1-3. Total hours taught for English classes at Buddhist Monk School.

2.4 Review The 111 phase was at the conclusion of the 2nd academic year that GVI staff and volunteers have been working at the Buddhist School. There was definitely more of an accepting attitude by the Administration and Teachers of the school in having myself (as a woman) and male and female volunteers working there. The objectives set for the 111 phase were met. GVI staff and volunteers contributed to 1 more successful term of

English classes for the school. Feedback from students attending the classes reported that they felt the classes were valuable and they learned a lot. Feedback from members of the teaching staff have been favourable with the teachers themselves asking for English lessons from GVI staff and volunteers in the future.

The Buddhist Primary School. 2.5 Introduction

GVI began teaching English classes at the Buddhist Primary School for Novices in September 2009. Since the commencement of working there, 2 full academic years have been completed. The school has 2 classes years 4 and 5 the last 2 years of primary education with a total number of 27 students. GVI staff and volunteers teach 3 hours/wk over 2 mornings at the primary school.

There is no set curriculum to follow, so GVI staff and volunteers design and implement a curriculum as the terms progress. Eventually, we will have our own program to follow built up over our teaching time. 2.6 Objectives The objectives of GVI volunteers teaching English at the Buddhist Primary School are:

1) To provide quality English language lessons for the Primary School Novices which is line with the provision of English in Government schools.

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2) To provide quality English language lessons for the Primary School Novices using technology as an aid to learning. 3) To design a primary level curriculum based on sequential, meaningful learning. This is being done as we go along with our teaching. 2.7 Activities and Achievements Consistent, sequential teaching of English has occurred over the past quarter. The curriculum is being designed along the way and GVI is building up its resources in materials and text books to support teaching and learning. A computer station was set up in the Primary School for Novices in a joint project with GVI and Mylibrary a local library in Luang Prabang. Mylibrary provided the computers and GVI provided the security. The Novices learn English through the aid of technology during the English lessons, 3 hrs/wk.

2.8 Review The objectives stated for the 111 phase were met. There is a respectful, professional relationship with Mylibrary which supports the work being done by GVI staff and volunteers at the Buddhist Primary Novice School. There is a welcoming and acceptance of GVI staff and volunteers by the Lao teaching staff of the school.

Teaching English in other local community settings.

2.9 Introduction This was the seventh phase since the commencement of the project for volunteers teaching English in other local community settings in Luang Prabang. GVI has been able to provide GVI staff and volunteers to assist local teachers at 5 different sites. Providing English speaking volunteers in these Engish centres, these volunteers can be of assistance to both teachers and students. Volunteers can assist Lao English teachers with teaching the classes, offering correct pronunciation and grammar to serve as a model for the students. Both teachers and students have the opportunity to gain knowledge and confidence in speaking and understanding the English language.

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2.10 Objectives The objectives of GVIs Teaching English in other local community settings are: 1) To provide support to Lao Teachers in all the classes and across all the centres that GVI is working with. 2) To work in partnership with Lao teachers in providing quality English language lessons to the students which provide them with knowledge and skills to support their personal and professional development opportunities either later in life or at the present time. 3) Provide local Lao English teachers with professional development opportunities to gain added English skills and pick up new teaching techniques and activities by working with volunteer native speaking English teachers. 2.11 Activities and Achievements This was the seventh phase for the volunteer teaching program in local community settings. GVI has been able to provide teachers for 5 different English centres.

Through this phase alone volunteers provided 222 hours of teaching support per week for students in the Luang Prabang community.

English Centre

Hours Taught/wk
50 92 4 16 60

Sikeud School Xayadeth College Wat Pasa Viet Sithane School Mekong English Centre
Total hrs/wk

222

Table 1.3. Total hours teaching in local community settings.

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2.12 Review The first objective set for the 111 phase was met as GVI provided volunteers for the 5 local community sites for a period of 3 months across all the classes.

The second objective will be an on-going objective being measured in small achievements. Our current approach is to ask the teachers for advanced notice in the upcoming lessons. We currently work with 1 Lao teacher who provides a monthly plan in advance. The third objctive will also be an on-going objective measured in small achievements. Lao teachers generally have a lecture style teaching approach with little time given in the classroom for actually speaking English during the lessons as most teaching is done in Lao. The volunteers are encouraged during their lesson planning time to design student focussed activities to maximise learning.

3. Other Events
3.1 Introduction In each phase a variety of additional activities occur that allow volunteers to partake in community events and celebrations. 3.2 Objectives The objectives of additional events are to: 1) Offer added assistance to the local communities as requested. 2) Provide GVI volunteers with the opportunity to learn about and experience Lao culture and customs in a unique setting. 3.3 Activities and Achievements The following events took place in the 111 phase:

Refurbishment and re-dedication of village wat to the local community.

GVI was asked by a teaching partner, Xayadeth College, to support through making a donation to a temple that was in need of repair. GVI contributed $600 to this

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refurbishment. A first visit was made by GVI staff, volunteers and Xayadeth staff to inspect the building for the repairs needed. After the work was completed, a traditional Lao blessing ceremony was conducted by the Abbot of the temple and elders in the village to give thanks to GVI and to bless the temple.

3.4 Review
All objectives set for the 111 phase were met. Volunteers experienced an authentic

traditional Lao blessing ceremony and contributed towards providing further assistance for the wider Luang Prabang community.

8. Final Words
The first phase of 2011 saw 49 volunteers contribute to the aims and objectives of the Laos project. Overall, this phase was successful in meeting its objectives through the overall enthusiasm and dedication to the work by the volunteers and GVI staff and the acceptance and support by the schools to for the benefit of their students

Thank you to everyone that made this phase a success. GVI Laos looks forward to another successful phase for 211.

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