Mr. Noy
Mr. Noy was a subsistence farmer in a rural village and had no basic education when he decided to study English at E4E. After half a year he applied for a job as a receptionist at a guesthouse in Luang Prabang. He now runs the reception area on his own. Without English he would have had to continue his life with his family, grinding out a bare existence in his village. He now has a future that will enable him to raise his children with an education.
Mr. Neng Lee
He came to us without any money and without even basic knowledge of the English language, but
desperate to learn it. We allowed him to attend classes with the understanding that he would pay for
them once he was able to obtain a job. He showed his appreciation by bringing bananas or oranges.
One day, he appeared with a live chicken that we called "Matilda". We could not bring ourselves to
put her into the cooking pot...
After 1 1/2 years we recommended him to an expat living in Luang Prabang who was looking for an English speaking Lao as a teacher for her cooking school. He trained at the
restaurant and now runs the teaching with his friend. He is highly thought of by the tourists
he has to interact with in English every day - and the expat pays him 70 US Dollars a month - "and
he's worth every cent!" she proudly tells everybody. (Keep in mind that Lao doctors earn 40.)
Miss Lae
Miss Lae had studied English at the teacher training college in Luang Prabang for three years and she was not able to sustain a basic conversation in English. The majority of English teachers in Laos try very hard but are handicapped by their understanding of the English language, poor textbooks and teaching skills. Students that have no access to fluent English speakers often find it difficult to apply the English they learn. After studying for nine months at E4E Miss Lae became a freelance English speaking tour guide, who is constantly in demand.
Mr. Bounlieng
Mr. Bounlieng is a Hmong in his early 30s which is considered very young to be the head of his department. But he's the only one who can speak good English and therefore can communicate with foreign advisors and the only one who can use the computer and receive and send the necessary emails to foreign NGOs. When the department increased his salary, the family moved from a bamboo hut to a modern house with running water and electricity. We're very proud of him - and the work we did together.
Mr. Lolaeng
When students reach a higher level of English we often include methods of creative writing and thinking into our teachings. All the students have responded well to this method - but one in particular, Mr. Lolaeng, once given the opportunity always brought the most fantastic stories into the classroom - full of irony and full of wit. We have laughed so much about his crazy imaginative stories. He soon discovered he wanted to be an author of short stories and fairy tales - and he writes them in English! "Well done, Lolaeng."
Mr. Sivanh
Mr. Sivanh did a full program: He studied English and Computer and German language (the latter two are no longer taught at the centre).
He was at the school all the time - and if you had a little free time he most certainly would ask
you his never ending questions.
This was possible because he received a sponsorship of US$ 30 which was the monthly fee for three courses. Mr. Sivanh wanted to be a
tour guide, as "a German speaking tour guide can make 40 bucks a day!" That's a fortune in Luang Prabang
- and Mr. Sivanh was heading for it.
Students at E4E.