Intensive English Program

2011 was an exciting year for the LOA GATE students with the introduction of their new English Intensive Program. Students at all seven schools attend a one hour class each day, studying English with their dedicated teachers either before or after their local school session.

Many of our students have shown amazing dedication to learning this new skill, attending class every day despite the challenges of travel, weather, flooding and family situations. Girls have challenged their families to understand the importance of learning English, and have managed to change family chores and work schedules to attend class. Some of our students have invited their sisters to class, sharing their text books and studying together at home.

Over the year our students have been considering where their scholarships will take them in the future. With the introduction of English language skills, their ideas and dreams have evolved from thinking they would work with their parents at local stalls, in the rice paddies or simply at home, to considering options of further education. At least three of our girls are set on becoming English teachers, and their progress this year has been so outstanding, that it is unlikely anything will get in their way!

The girls play memory games, word bingo and matching games, they take turn peer teaching and working in groups and pairs and they have the use of a collection of modern, colourful resources at their fingertips. They have learnt how to use dictionaries to help them with reading, translating and writing, and are working through their textbooks with their teachers.

Many of our students started these English lessons not only unable to read or write any English, but with almost no reading or writing skills in Khmai, their own language. Through studying English, they have also developed their Khmai skills, and are coping better in their local school classes.