Logo of Big Brother Mouse, publishing books in Laos
 

Help young people improve their English skills

Lao students and novice monks practice English with a visitor in Luang Prabang, Laos.Many people in Laos, especially young people, are eager to learn English. But few of them have teachers who are fluent in English. And in the past, the bilingual books available were often dull and used English that was at best inaccurate, and sometimes incomprehensible.

AThe bilingual books from Big Brother Mouse, ranging from traditional folk stories to Wonders of the World have provided these students with much better reading options than they had before. English conversation practice, at our Luang Prabang shop near Wat Nong, gives them another opportunity to practice.

We invite English-speaking visitors to come by at 9:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m., 7 days a week, to practice English conversation with young people. This is a chance for you to ask questions about Lao culture, and for them to ask about your country.

There's no need to reserve anything, just drop by. Please come at 9:00 a.m. for the morning session. For the evening, we start at 5:00 p.m. but many students have school or jobs that end at 5:00 and arrive between 5:30 and 6:00, so if you during that period, it usually works out well. If you need to leave before the session ends, that's okay. We have books, maps, and other materials to help you.

Where: Big Brother Mouse, Wat Nong, Luang Prabang Map
When:Twice every day, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., and, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
What to bring:There's no need to bring anything, but printed pictures of your family or country are always interesting. We ask you not to use electronic devices during practice.

Our primary focus is on our school, and on producing and distributing books in Lao, for people in Laos. This program operates on a drop-in basis. We do not have a staff to answer email about this or other opportunities to teach English in Laos.

Tips for effective practice: Most visitors speak too fast, use too many difficult words, or don't speak clearly. Students will be polite, but they won't get much out of it.

Please speak very slowly at first. Ask questions that invite a full sentence for an answer, not just yes-or-no questions. You'll have the greatest impact if the student is talking more than you are.

Remember, even if you speak more slowly than necessary, the student will benefit. She may notice a grammatical point, or a new word, that she would have missed if you spoke faster. If you speak too fast, students will get frustrated, and they won't benefit.

See it on Youtube! A young Lao man tells about our English sessions with an 8-minute video on Youtube