Laos

Going abroad to LPB in Laos was a great experience and I really enjoyed being able to get to know the people and the culture of southeast Asia.

I would recommend going for at at least a month to get the full experience, and in order to give the people you are interacting with a better chance at getting to know you. Also, I would plan to allot more money than you think you need initially since you will want to travel while there. Also, it is nice to be in Laos not during the heavy tourist season.

Overall it was a fantastic experience and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about the way of life over there. However it is a bit of a culture shock so going into it I would say that you should keep an open mind and be patient. Definitely a worth while experience. Also the program that I did had to do with teaching English and the teaching is very legitimate and important, so if you don't think you would like actually teaching a class I would pick a different program.

I volunteered in Luang Prabang as an english teacher however there were so many problems as a result from the laziness of the organisers that I cannot recommend anyone do this.

To start with, the administrative body had not contacted the coordinator of Luang Prabang to inform them I would be comming and it was only due to a friend being there that they were made aware of my presence.

Prior to arriving I was giving the wrong information of where to stay and ended up at the old guesthouse were room charges were overly priced at 10euro a night which was a waste of program fees.

Briefing from the coordinator was minimal and consisted only of the handing over of an information pack which did not include things like the english abilities of the students, what had been done previously with the students, or where they were up to. There was limited instruction as to how to teach a class or prepare lesson plans and no offer to spectate the coordinator teaching a class to pick up tips. In fact while I was there, the coordinator spent all his time studying for his own exams and never sat in on a class or offered much support. There were never any checks to see what I was teaching or how.

I was not given the option of where or when or who I would like to teach, only given 2 classes a day (3 hours total) with the same class. The class had an age range from 12 to 17 varying levels of english including one with a learning disability. There was no opportunity to teach classes with monks or work in the library, and there was no opportunity to receive Laos lessons.

None of the money I paid for the program was used for the children. No new materials were bought with it, the children didn't all have the same text book and photocopies were not made available.

There was only 1 other volunteer with this organisation but no inter-organisational efforts were made for volunteers to socialise.

All in all, I was very disappointed with the program failing to deliver things it had promised or to live up to my expectations. It might be the cheapest option to volunteer in Luang Prabang but it is not at all worth it. You would be better to arrive and just ask to assist the monks or at the library without going through the organisation.

If you want to assist people learning english, this program doesn't have a system in place that will allow for that to be done and you will not receive any appreciation for it. You will also not get the opportunity to learn about the culture much through interacting with the locals. With no one really looking after the program I would suggest (which I have done to the organisation) that it needs to be shut down

Since the internet is full of (often unsubstantiated) claims, hearsay and rumours on volunteering I would like to add some facts from my eight-weeks experience with Global Vision International (GVI) at Luang Prabang, Laos, from middle of April to middle of June 2014. During that time I taught English at Xayadeth college (http://www.xayadethcollege.com/) for 6 weeks and at Mekong English Center (MEC, http://www.mec-laos.org/) for two weeks, as well as some mathematics to interested Buddhist novices for 3  weeks, organized by GVI during the summer vacation. Just to explain my background: I got retired at age 65 from life as a research physicist in elementary particle physics (you know, protons, neutrons, pions, quarks etc.). After travelling through South America for half a year in 2011/12 I wanted to revisit Asia. So I decided to spend 4 months in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos and in order to make it a bit more meaningful I thought I would do some English teaching. I signed up with GVI at Luang Prabang, Laos for 8 weeks - on recommendation from a friend who had done the same in 2011. Now, research physics is not exactly highschool English teaching but it also get's you into contact with education problems - on a different
level of course. And after retirement I had actually participated in the Swiss highschool system by helping weaker
students in math classes (on a similar level as the math course I did for Buddhist novices at Luang Prabang). So I do have some idea of teaching and of education standards in the 'west'. 
Reading the following you should be aware that what I describe are my specific experiences, it is about my interaction with colleagues, students and fellow travellers and as such may not reflect the general picture, but only my personal 'snapshot' of life as a GVI volunteer at Luang Prabang. 
Of course the day of a volunteer teacher is mostly governed by teaching/educational issues, even if I only had 4 h per day (2 classes, but the same level) and at most one hour for preparation.
Teaching is really a fascinating and fun experience, once one has accepted the fundamental facts that (a) the level of knowledge is quite low, compared to 'western' schools, that (b) students have not learned how to go about 'learning' and that (c) the quality of the different schools and local teachers ranges from bad to good. Also, the general level of knowledge and education in Lao society as a whole is lower, mostly because there had not been much of an education system before 1975, nor any other substitute institutions. Once you can accommodate with these boundary conditions teaching in Laos will be great fun.
The introduction about teaching that we received from GVI was good, there was sufficient teaching material and always somebody from GVI staff to discuss with. At Xayadeth I was teaching students who were on average about 23 years old, had passed the normal Lao secondary highschool (including several years of English) and were now working at hotels, restaurants, as accountants etc. or studying law or chemistry aside from 'our' two hours of English per day. There was one Buddhist monk among the 25 students. They were in the third and last year of the three-year English course at Xayadeth (9 h weekly), which is a private college and charges them about 200 USD per year - while the two GVI teachers per class work for free. This immediatedly raises the question of where the money goes to, since for all six classes (two classes per year) there were at least 6 volunteers but only two or three Lao teachers (who would earn something like 200 USD a month). Teaching was done by two GVI teachers per class, none of whom spoke any Lao and the GVI teachers change every 4 weeks on average. In my experience this teaching model is very inefficient and produces students who understand the rough meaning of what you say, but not the details and specifics. Obviously, it is easy to convey the general meaning of 'wonderful' - but how to differentiate between all existing synonyms without knowing the exact wording in Lao? Or how to explain the meaning of 'exciting' without reverting to a dictionary? At the end of the third term we volunteers personally devised, conducted and graded the final exam, the level of which was probably corresponding to the level of 15-year highschool students in the west. Even so, the outcome was very disappointing, the results ranging between 10% and 90% of the full score, with an average around 50%. Nevertheless, each and every student received his diploma (to be fair, this is not a specific Xayadeth problem, but happens in many schools in third-world countries, e.g. in South America). Since the latter is well-known, it also explains the lack of motivation and discipline of many students: only about half of all arrive and that normally 15 minutes late, go out for phone calls, there is no homework and everybody is promoted from one class to the next, irrespective of their performance. One of the main problems is that people don't have role models to see what it really means to study a language or math: that it's not enough to get exposed to new English words or quadratic equations, but one has to exercise and practise until you 'know them in your sleep' - which is hard work and needs investing 'sweat and tears'. But there is very few education role models in traditionally 'carefree' Laos. And - like we all recall from our own experience - even if we are highly motivated for learning something, there is always times when we tend to be a bit lazy. This is where some mild disciplinary structure can assist the student: attendance check at the beginning of class, no phones, homework and promotion criteria. Selected promotion into next class is one of the key factors: I had third year students ranging from those who could not compose one longer sentence to those who could actually express themselves rather well - the reason being that the weak students normally are also those who do not attend class. It is all too human that you do not like to work too hard if the diploma at the end is for free. You see, I really got quite intriqued by the general question of how one acquires knowledge and education in general, what are the necessary requirements to do so and I had many interesting discussions on that topic right at Luang Prabang.
You might expect that the director of this college - who lives on the premises - would publicly address his teachers, give you some background information about the school and the whole education system or even express some appreciation for your volunteering. But nothing like that, which I found rather disappointing. 
Now, the great news is, that there is other schools - like MEC (a two-year private school with students of about 17 to 18 years of age who attend normal secondary school), which are modelled much closer to western examples: attendance checks at the beginning of class, no phones, homework and periodic assessments, which are used as  the base for granting scholarships and for being promoted to next class. The results are very encouraging and teaching is definitely more fun and gratifying for you as a teacher. And I did it after six weeks at Xayadeth college and the frustrating experience of the exam! Also, the MEC teaching model is much more efficient: there is a 'normal' Lao English teacher who ensures the continuity over the whole year and volunteers who assist and support the Lao teacher. MEC have produced their own course-book (which uses Lao examples and not American or English), which is even computerized and actually used with a projector in every classroom. Fees are about the same as at Xayadeth college (one has to realize that nothing, not even primary school in Laos is free). There were about 5 girls and 5 Buddhist novices in the class of 20 students.
Students - at any school - are lovely, friendly and good fun (once you understand the above) and we were invited to their football matches and petanque drinking bouts. Same with the GVI colleagues with whom I had an excellent time.

Financial issues:
My financial input to GVI amounted to 40 USD per day - if you stay less than 8 weeks it's even more. Out of this 10 USD are used for accomodation, 6 USD you get handed out as a 'food allowance' to buy your own food (which is definitely quite below subsistence level since the cheapest meal in a cheap restaurant is 1.9 USD, a beer 1.2 USD and a fruit shake 1 USD), about 10 USD go into scholarships, local charity contributions, contributions to transport costs for students etc. and the rest of about 14 USD never arrives in Laos. Accomodation was at 'Coldriver' guesthouse for all GVI volunteers in single rooms with attached bathroom and fan. It should be stated, that you could get a room with aircon and free coffee/tea/bananas for the same money somewhere else in Luang Prabang.

Safety/health issues:
Is high on the GVI priority list and taken very serious, probably for a good reason, since the majority of volunteers is around 20 years old. There is no swimming in rivers, no motorbiking and no fraternizing with Lao citizens.

And Luang Prabang is a wonderful place to spend 8 weeks, where you meet all kinds of people - I would not like to miss that time. And wherever you explore in town, in the monasteries, in the public library, in coffee shops or in 'Big brother mouse' you will often be addressed by young people, mostly Buddhist novices eager to learn English. English teaching really is in high demand and appreciation, you just have to find/choose your way of doing it. There is quite a lot of volunteer organisations, on the web and outside and it pays off to look around before you get hooked by some exciting-looking poster advertising teaching for Buddhist monks and novices.

I chose to volunteer with GVI because a close friend with mine had gone to Fiji with GVI and recommended the company. I knew I wanted to volunteer abroad, but there are so many options to choose from and it’s hard to know which company to trust with both your safety and your money. I would highly recommend GVI to anyone looking to volunteer abroad -- my experience in Laos was absolutely incredible. I made so many wonderful friends from all over the world who I never would have met if it weren’t for this program.

The classes I taught in ranged from about 8 to 25 years old, and their English abilities ranged from beginners (learning the English alphabet) to quite advanced (learning about pollution and the environment in English). I grew very attached to my students and it was really exciting and rewarding to see them improve each week that I was there. During the weekdays we would spend the mornings lesson planning for the various classes we were in charge of teaching, and then we would go off (either on foot on by tuk tuk) to the various temples or colleges we were teaching in. Each class was taught either by two volunteers or by a volunteer and a Lao teacher. I personally was always partnered up with another volunteer, and there were always staff members around if you had any questions during lesson planning.

On the weekends we explored the city, visiting the caves, waterfalls, and nearby villages. It is quite inexpensive to take a tuk tuk anywhere you need to go (especially if you have a large group to split the cost) so I was able to visit everywhere I wanted to see, and return to some of my favourites. The waterfalls were especially spectacular -- they are crystal blue and surrounded by jungle. The smaller set of waterfalls has a large swimming area, and elephant rides that you can take through the water. The weekends were definitely more “touristy” than the weekdays, where I was immersed in the Lao culture. It was extremely apparent how appreciative the local people are of tourists and volunteers who respect the local culture and dress appropriately (no bikinis, short shorts, or tank tops). Overall I had the time of my life on this volunteer trip, and I can’t wait to go again.

I volunteered with GVI in Luaung Prabang in Laos in December 2012 -January 2013, teaching English to Buddhist novice monks at a temple, and to other students at a private school. I volunteered for only 2 weeks, and at the end my only regret was that I couldn't stay longer!
The town was beautiful, the Laos people I met and other volunteers were all great. The staff were amazing, there for you every step of the way, and always made you feel welcomed and valued.
The volunteering itself was really structured, which made it a lot less daunting and also meant you felt like you were actually helping, not just blundering your way through. It was challenging, but so very rewarding. I was capable of so much more than I expected, which was only due to the support I received from the staff and other volunteers.
Overall I could not recommend this experience highly enough!

I had wanted to volunteer for a long time when I came across the GVI teaching project in Laos. I had heard many stories about volunteering overseas and I was hesitant to commit as I wasn't sure what to expect, and as a student I only had one chance to spend the money and go for it. If only I had known just how amazing this trip would be I would have gone years ago! If you are interested in travel through South East Asia I would strongly encourage you to consider teaching in Laos. Even if you can only commit to 2 weeks the impact it will have on you will be life changing. Even if you doubt your teaching abilities or your confidence in English the staff will have you running your own lessons in no time.The town itself is quite developed so I'd recommend this to people who like some level of comfort. You stay in a guesthouse which is more akin in my opinion to a 2 or 3 star hotel. When I went we had our own rooms with en-suites overlooking the river, the family are so welcoming and friendly and will treat you like one of their own if you do the same. This is a fantastic experience that I would highly recommend to anyone considering a trip to Asia. The GVI staff are fantastic and I promise you will learn more about Laos on this project than you will simply by traveling (as great as that is!). I really enjoyed my time in Luang Prabang, and whilst the first week was a bit hard adjusting to a new place, the people you meet, both locals and fellow volunteers make it all that much easier. You get to work and be productive, yet at the same time you will have enough free time to explore this beautiful part of the world. By the end, you will not want to leave. The people in Laos are the most friendly, welcoming, funny people I've come across in my travels, and the insight you get working as a teacher in this country will stay with you throughout all your future adventures. Don't hesitate, book it today, you won't be sorry!

The decision to participate in GVI Laos’ teaching program was simply one of the best things I have ever done. The GVI staff I worked with were incredibly dedicated, professional and friendly. I was wonderfully surprised with the level of organisation and support offered by the staff who I felt did their upmost to ensure that we were able to contribute and participate as fully as possible; giving us the support needed to build confidence and skills while allowing us to develop a level of independence that left me confident to teach a class unassisted by the end of the second week.
The two classes I was involved with gave me the opportunity to interact with Lao locals from a range of backgrounds, skill levels and settings. I was lucky enough to teach in a picturesque monastery school situated a little way out of town a surrounded by forest where I taught introductory classes to Novice monks aged from around 6-15.
The entire experience was amazingly rewarding. All the students I had the pleasure of interacting with were hardworking, dedicated and so appreciative of the work we were doing. Although I was only on the program for a month and had no previous teaching experience, I felt that I was able to play a real part in improving the life opportunities of the students I worked with.
I would encourage anyone wanting to make a positive impact while travelling or wanting to experience a culture beyond the tourist experience to seriously consider undertaking the GVI Laos teaching program. My only regret is that I did not stay longer.

I spent four weeks on GVI's Teaching English to Buddhist Novices program in Luang Prabang, Laos. I thought the program was good value for money considering the cost covers accommodation, food allowance and training. Really though, the experience I gained on the program was priceless. I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to volunteer as a teacher or just travel with a greater depth of cultural understanding and community involvement. The staff were great and the training we received before and during teaching was really thorough. The students are wonderful and conscientious. Not all of the classes are novice monks, some teaching is at the local college and this is great to show the different class environments and types of students to be found in Laos. There was plenty of time for sight seeing as well with most tourist check list items within an hour or so of town.
The city is magical, the students are beautiful people and the program allows volunteers to really connect with the community. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

I instantly fell in love with the beautiful and peaceful town of Luang Prabang. The scenery is breath-taking and my camera was snapping every three steps.

But through teaching English to the local children and Novice Monks, I had the chance to really get to know the Lao People. They are the reason I enjoyed my trip so much. They are the kindest, most generous and simply the most beautiful people I have ever had the chance to meet. I formed close bonds with the Novice Monks I taught, bonds that will last a lifetime and surely drag me back. I simply cannot express the emotions I feel when I talk about Laos. My only words are ‘amazing’ and ‘outstanding’ which don’t even begin to explain this magical part of the world.

The support provided through the GVI staff was exceptional. I entered the program with no teaching experience, but through a clear structure and process, I was comfortable enough to teach a class, even once on my own. It was also great to travel with a group. We were lucky enough to have a great group who all got along wonderfully. It was exciting getting to know each person and we all had similar tastes and interests.

I will surely do another GVI program and I highly recommend the Luang Prabang experience.