Exciting Teaching Vacancies in Laos

Lone Buffalo is a Western managed non profit community project operating a free English development centre in Phonsavan, Northern Laos.

We have an immediate vacancies for an experienced senior teacher and a Junior Teacher for the current term (September – June 16). We require a commitment until January 16, with an option of extending until June 16. 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, at times, frustrating - but ultimately fulfilling!

Applicants should be available to start in September 15. 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 between 15 and 20 per week.

Currently, Lone Buffalo teaches five levels of English classes in the afternoon/evenings after State school (max class size 25 students). You would be teaching Elementary to Intermediate level students using the Global teaching system, in addition to your own innovative and stimulating lesson ideas. Our successful policy is to provide employment and training for local teachers to manage beginner level classes, bringing students up to western taught Elementary level. Our students are both Lao and ethnic H’mong and their ages range from 12 to 25, although most are around 15 – 18 years old.

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 through enhancement projects. 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 screened at the Vientiane Film Festival and are participating in Stanford Universities Map Your World project. We host regular movie nights. 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 projects.

We also have a vacancy for a junior volunteer teacher. This role would suit someone fairly new to teaching, 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. Guesthouse accommodation for this position and a small allowance (up to $250) is provided, depending on circumstances.

Interested ? Want to find out more?

Email office@lonebuffalo.org and we will send you a volunteer handbook and application form. Please indicate in the subject line whether you are replying for the Senior teacher role or Junior position.

We are a UK registered charity (1156249).

Useful links (you may need to cut and past link to a new browser) -

http://www.facebook.com/lonebuffalo

https://vimeo.com/11478 1362

Lone Buffalo half term Report 2015

https://http://www.dropbox.com/s/u9r9xemy8hyjxod/Lone%20Buffalo %20half%20term%20Report%202015%20DB.pdf?dl=0

http://www.fifa.com/abo utfifa/video/video=2503774/index.html