TEFL Position in Laos

Date posted:2015-04-06 | Writer: Lone Buffalo | Email: [email protected]

Lone Buffalo is a Western managed non-profit organisation operating a free English development centre in Phonsavan, Northern Laos. We have vacancies for a junior teacher and an experienced senior teacher for the 2015/16 term. These are TEFL volunteer posts that come with a small stipend to cover living costs. We would expect a commitment from August 2015 to May 2016. These are not routine posts – it’s an opportunity to join a small, focused organization that really makes a difference to young peoples' lives in a developing country. You will find the work challenging and frustrating - but ultimately fulfilling.

Applicants should be available to start in August 2015 to ensure a timely transition of working practices and student education. You will need to be self-motivated and self-disciplined as you will be the face of Lone Buffalo on the ground and responsible for school administration as well as being an important part of decision-making processes. You will also be responsible for training and monitoring our Lao teachers and teaching English to local businesses as part of our social enterprise program, in addition to our community classes. Classroom hours are around 20 per week.

Currently, Lone Buffalo teaches five levels of English classes in the afternoon/evenings after State school (max class size 25 students). Our students are Lao and ethnic H’mong and their ages range from 12 to 30, although most are around 15 – 18 years old. You would be teaching Elementary to Intermediate level students using the New Cutting Edge and Solutions systems, in addition to your own innovative and stimulating lesson ideas. Our policy is to provide employment for local teachers to teach beginner level classes, to bring students up to western taught Elementary level. The senior teacher would be expected to host community teacher training workshops.

We are much more than an English Development Centre! Central to our ethos is linking English study with sport and creative skills. We operate a small gym and have structured football coaching sessions for both male and female students at weekends. We have students qualified as coaches. We encourage creativity in the classroom and thinking outside the box. Lone Buffalo has managed computer courses for our students. We have developed a culture of film making among our young people through professionally taught workshops. We recently had a short student produced film about Unexploded Ordnance in Laos screened at the Vientiane Film Festival. We host regular movie afternoons. We arrange external visits to local places of interest and invite inspiring members of the community to talk to our students. We manage our students' post-school needs, helping them to find employment and providing support for those moving to the capital to attend university.

An allowance (up to $600 pcm) will be available for the senior role and basic accommodation is provided at the school. However it’s more of a vocational position, look at it as a paid volunteer job, working for a respected organisation making a real difference in the community and giving students better opportunities in life through English study, sport and creative programs.

We also have a vacancy for a junior volunteer teacher. This role would suit a recently qualified TEFL graduate, although classroom experience would be necessary. This is a great opportunity for someone starting their career in teaching; you will have a reasonable amount of independence and the opportunity to bring your own creative ideas to the classroom. This position will also become available in August, at the beginning of the new school year. Guesthouse accommodation for this position and a small allowance (up to $250) is provided, depending on circumstances.

Interested ? Want to find out more? 

Email us at the address given on the job heading and we will send you a volunteer handbook and application form.