Teaching English in Luang Prabang Laos

I had a wonderful experience with GVI in Laos. I first went to Luang Prabang in 2012 as a tourist and I promised myself to go back one day. In 2017 when investigating where to teach in the world, Luang Prabang popped up on my screen, I was thrilled to go back. I had never taught English and I never spent eight weeks half way around the world. When I landed in Luang Prabang and was met by GVI’s staff and four other starting volunteers all worries were put to rest and knew I had made the right decision. There are anywhere from 12 to 20 volunteers at any given time. Some come for two weeks, others stay six months. Volunteers come from all over the world and are all age groups. The GVI staff are incredibly dedicated to their work and their enthusiasm is contagious. In the first week you’ll attend morning classes teaching you how to teach. They have a wonderful resource library and are very organized in the lesson planning. Every morning you will meet with your GVI mentor who will help you plan the day’s lesson, but it’s up to you to decide how to teach, what games you might play and to bring the needed resources to class. It’s a lot of fun to think of new ways to keep the students engaged. I taught two classes a day (along with another wonderful volunteer). The morning class was for novice monks, young boys that come from the neighboring Wats in order to learn and practice their English. My afternoon class were local girls and boys who are in school during the day and come to GVI for English classes. The kids are incredible, so happy to be learning and appreciative of your time. Most of the volunteers stay in the GVI guest house but there are options to stay in more private accommodations nearby. You’re given meals at a restaurant around the corner from a large set menu, but there are so many restaurants and the costs are very inexpensive, you’re also free to eat elsewhere. The volunteers have weekends off and there is loads of things to do in and around Luang Prabang. There are waterfalls and hiking in the mountains, art or cooking classes, visiting elephant sanctuaries, exploring the many Wats or just hanging out in the funky bars and restaurants. Luang Prabang is a hidden gem of a town on the Mekong River nestled in the mountains. I hope to make it back one day, I miss it and think of my time there often.