The beautiful ancient city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in northern central Laos. Teach English in this idyllic setting, at the meeting of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers, famous for its Buddhist temples and monasteries. In addition to spiritual and traditional beliefs, many males from rural villages commonly travel to cities such as Luang Prabang to seek out food, shelter, education and employment opportunities by joining the temples and becoming Novice Monks. This program seeks to increase students’ access to education which in turn can positively impact their future employment opportunities, socio-economic status and quality of life.
Responsibilities
Having the rare opportunity to work closely with Novice Monks and local lay students, both children and young adults, at various educational institutions in Luang Prabang; learning about Lao culture, history, food, religion and language; visiting local sights or being able to enjoy a weekend break on the banks of the Mekong River. You will work with a wide variety of students, both Novice Monk and Lay students of varying
ages, teaching both practical and conversational English across different levels. You will work on the project Monday to Friday, planning and delivering English lessons. Weekends are yours to explore the surrounding area or simply relax at base with your fellow volunteers. This challenging but rewarding role will provide volunteers with a unique insight into Buddhism and Lao culture, while giving them a chance to make a tangible difference to the lives of their students and the local community. Accommodation is in a centrally located guesthouse with electricity and shared rooms and bathrooms. You will enjoy daily communal meals with your fellow volunteers.
As Laos’s tourism industry has begun to expand and diversify, the demand and need for English education is rapidly increasing. Working directly with the community, you will plan lessons and teach English in a variety of settings with a GVI teaching partner and assist local teachers with their English lessons; fostering an exchange in teaching methods and techniques. GVI Laos collaborates with 2 temple schools to provide English programs for
Novice Monks. In addition, we also provide several English classes for Novice Monks at the local Luang Prabang library. Volunteers will teach Novice Monks at at least one of these locations, while also contributing to the broader project, teaching local lay students, both children and young adults.
For more information, cost and application process visit GVIUSA website.
*Cover Image Courtesy; GVIUSA.