Lao PDR Sabaidee!

(This highlight was written for  and uploaded to the Department of State's English Language Program's Community of Practice Web platform)   For a second-year class of English Teaching majors at Champasack University, English Language Fellow Julie Dean co-taught the final 10 weeks of a 16-week course titled Introduction to Teaching Methods , alongside her counterpart, Ms. Somchith Vongphachanh. The course followed the university’s curriculum and textbook, which was written in both Lao and English. Having the materials in two languages helped beginner-level English students better grasp the pedagogical concepts. Key topics included teacher talk time vs. student talk time, when and how to use Lao in the English classroom, using games to enhance learning and increase student participation, and how to give simple, clear instructions in English. Lessons emphasized understanding these ideas through acitive engagement and  practice in class. This was particularly important as mos...

(This highlight was written for  and uploaded to the Department of State's English Language Program's Community of Practice Web platform)   The Certificate Ceremony on June 30th Talo gets a well-earned certificate  Instructors from each of the six faculties at Champasack University were invited to participate in an intermediate-level English class designed to develop communicative competence, with a focus on speaking and listening. The course was developed and taught by English Language Fellow Julie Dean, who was asked to create a curriculum grounded in communicative language teaching methods and tailored to the needs of university instructors. Faculty members from departments such as Engineering, Law and Public Administration, Economics and Management, Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Sciences, and Education frequently attend international conferences in the region, where English is often the primary language used for presentations, discussions, and conference materials...