Mr Claus - Founder of the centre.
German born (1965) Mr. "Galau", as the Lao articulate it, is not a certified ESL Teacher.
"I studied Drama at the University of Frankfurt/Main and I've worked my way through five different German theatres as an actor.
Thus was I determined to do with the rest of my life, when I left my distraught parents in "Meschede in Westphalen" -
the very backwater settlement in Central Germany where I was born and bred.
What I got was a smooth middle class stage career with ups and downs, even highlights - never fruitless and never scratching
the edge of fame. Good enough to go on until the end of my days - or to "exit the scene" after 15 years - and never to regret it.
"The theatre won't let you go - ever!" head of 'das Theatererlangen' Frau Dhein had solemnly said when I made it for a sabbatical
year to Laos: "Not you! You are an actor..." And there's nothing much to be added to this:
"I am an actor..."
And then Mr. Khamngeun (another man with an unpronounceable name), head of the Provincial Luang Prabang Traffic Police, had decided it would be rather useful for him to know his share of English - and I had an assignment! He and his staff became my first students - and many others followed. "Mr. Galau" on the backseat of a motorbike with a uniformed driver was a well-established image in those days: "Did they arrest him?"- "No, they didn't arrest him - he teaches them English..." - "He does what???" - "He teaches them English!" - "I can't believe it!"
"Your bribes are education..." my friend and Laos veteran Ruth had laughingly said. "No one's ever done that before..."
"Is this somewhat similar to an English language class?" I asked highly respected librarian Carol Kresge, who I had beseeched
to attend the "Claus Haumer-teaches-English"-Show in Mr. Khamngeuns's dining room.
"What else should it be?" she said.
"But is it right that I do it?"
"No one else does it..."
"Well then ...", I came to think, "No one else does it..."
Ajahn (Teacher)
And then UNDP set up an 8 month English Language course for Luang Prabang government officials. Three guys had applied for the job - two of them were qualified ESL teachers! - and UNDP had decided it would be me. Only God knows what drove them... "A natural born teacher!" Ruth said - and: "Why don't you do what you do the best? Why don't you stay in Laos and start your own English school?" Ooops... to have the idea was one thing! But to obtain a licence for a private language school in a country like Laos was another kettle of fish - and in particular for a 'falang', as the Lao call foreigners: The authorities would do their best to quench the idea before the take-off... I couldn't have been more in the wrong: an English Language School run by "Mr. Claus" was the very thing they really wanted: Against all odds I got my licence in the record time of three months! It might have helped that the officials in charge were busily studying English at the building site, which would soon become the MANO ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE...
But why Laos? Why Luang Prabang?
When I went on my first meditation retreat in the "new world", Venerable Pra Ajahn Plien spoke to me the rather mysterious words: "You were born in the wrong place!- You just came home! But there's a reason you were born in the wrong place: you've gained some benefits over there in good old Europe. It's high time someone gave something back to the people here..." Well, I don't know if there's anything about it: The Pra Ajahn is by far more enlightened than others I've met - and so I put up with the task he had charged me with... A couple of years later I couldn't have put it any better!- It feels right in a way:
"I just came home..."
So said Mr Claus, over a decade ago, when still actively involved at the centre. Since then however he has been focused on a more spiritual journey as a Buddhist monk and now lives a secluded life in the North-eastern jungle of Thailand. He remains a part of E4E however in the form of his teaching method which we still use successfully today, and in the knowledge that we can still call upon him for consultation.
Mr Marcel
To me, coming to ENGLISH FOR EVERYONE was a dream come true. Ever since I first visited the region in 2001, I always had the ambition to be an English teacher in South-east Asia. Travelling around in the area, I learned about the great need for teachers, and in particular English language teachers. With this in mind I returned to my native country Holland and enrolled in an English teaching course in order to obtain a Bachelor's degree.
During my years on the course I kept track of the many opportunities for teachers in South-east Asia. When one day I spotted a vacancy for an English teacher in Laos, and of all places, in Luang Prabang, which I remembered so well for its beauty and friendly people when passing through on my previous travels, I took a second to decide to apply for it.
I was more than surprised to receive a positive reply to my application, and after a few months of contact with Mr Claus via e-mail, I decided on a bit of adventure, packed my bag and took off on a one-way trip to Laos.
Now, at E4E, I can elaborate on my sentiments about my move to Luang Prabang, but as this site is about the school and not me, let me just compile it in a suggestion that works wonders for me:
Follow Your Heart...
Mr Max
Hello! My name is Vansay (Max) Somboun. I am the director of E4E.
For me, being where I am today, it has been quite a long journey since the first days I have known and been part of E4E.
Like many of E4E staff, I come from a farmer family in a small village, about 7 kilometres outside Luang Prabang town. I came to town in 2007 and worked to save up some money to study.
In 2008, I was able to attend English Classes at E4E; at that time it was known as the "Mano English Language Centre". I studied there until I completed both Beginner and Intermediate Levels.
In 2010, E4E changed its location and name to the "Mekong English Centre" and that was when I started working at E4E as a trainee teacher. After 6 months I completed the teacher training Course and started running my own classes.
In 2011, I started teaching Intermediate level in addition to the Beginner classes. After years of teaching and having new experiences and really putting my heart in my job, enjoying what I am doing, helping people learn and meeting new, different people, I am happy to be where I am today.
In 2013, I got the opportunity to help to train new trainee teachers and continue to support them and assist with the day to day running of E4E, and providing volunteering information to our friends and people who come to volunteer at E4E. Before the end of the year 2017, the name "Mekong English Centre" was changed to "English for Everyone" (E4E) and moved to a new building and this was also the time I was introduced as the director. I feel very lucky and even more connected.
In 2018, E4E has begun its new life through solid team-work and the shared goal of helping people learn English for a better future.
To be continued...
Ms Neng
My name is Miss Neng THOR. I'm Hmong and I live in Laos. My family lives in a small village in the countryside.
I came to Luang Prabang in 2009 and I have been working at E4E since 2010.
Now I am an English teacher at E4E. I am very happy to teach and help students and it also helps to improve my own English.
Mr Poryea
Ms Sea
