September 2013 Monthly Achievement Report

Graduation Ceremony of Xayadeth Students

In September the graduation ceremony for the Year 3, 2012-2013 students was held. This special event held in the Performance Centre of the Luang Prabang Museum is a significant day for the Xayadeth students. After studying for 3 years part-time and upon successful completion of assessments, the graduating students received a Diploma of English.

In a study on factors that cause low English language learning in Lao students, published in the International Journal of English Language Education, vol. 1, No. 1 written by Thongma Souriyavongsa, Sam Rany, Mohamad Jafre Zainol Abidin, Leong Lai Mei, key indicators identified by students and teachers were:

1.       The majority of students stated that the English teachers are not well-trained; for instance, they use Lao language when teaching, so they cannot perform well to attract the interest of the student.

2.       Students lack of English foundation background.

3.       Students lack of confidence to use English because they are afraid of mistakes and feel shy.

4.       The curriculum is inappropriate for helping students to improve their English proficiency.

5.       English language is difficult to learn due to students not being well-motivated, encouraged and taught learning strategies. Furthermore, students do not practice speaking English with English native speakers, and the class environment is crowded and noisy and is not fulfilled with teaching pedagogy.

GVI’s practices that address these points are:

1.       All GVI volunteers are taken through an introductory TEFL training during their first week. Daily lesson planning support and mentoring is provided by trained and experienced teaching staff.  English lessons are obviously given in English with a minimum amount of Lao being used.

2.       GVI volunteers are encouraged to actively observe students’ learning, assess regularly and address gaps in students’ knowledge.

3.       GVI volunteers are taught in their training sessions to consider teaching techniques that encourage:

-               maximum participation and challenge  for all students in all language areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening;

-               student centred vs teacher centred;

-               consider different learning styles - Visual, Aural, Kinaesthetic

-               Vary the interaction -  Individual, Pairs, Groups

4.       GVI has an extensive range of resources and text books to support the set curriculum of Xayadeth College.

5.       Students are taught by native or fluent English speaking international volunteers.  Through this exposure, the students become familiar with different accents, expressions, western teaching styles.

 

GVI congratulates the graduating students of 2013. We hope that these students’ lives are enhanced by the teaching they received from GVI volunteers.

September 2013 Monthly Achievement Report