Exciting teaching vacancies at Lone Buffalo, in Northern Laos – November/December 2016

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

We have vacancies for an experienced senior teacher and a Junior Teacher for the current term (September 16 – June 17). We require a commitment until at least June 17, but preferably to the end of 2017. 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 November 16. Our current teaching team will finish in December 2016. 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 a lot of the school administration as well as being an important part of decision-making processes. In addition to our community classes you will be responsible for training and monitoring our team of five Lao teachers and teaching English to local businesses (part of our social enterprise program). Classroom hours are between 15 and 20 per week, but with preparation and administrative duties it is a full time role.

Currently, Lone Buffalo teaches five levels of free 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 teacher training program provides employment and training for local teachers to manage beginner (Level 1 & 2) classes, bringing students up to western taught Elementary level (Level 3). Our students are both ethnic Lao and H’mong and their ages range from 12 to 25, although most are between 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 both boy and girl 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 have had short student produced films screened at the Vientiane Film Festival and Cinemasports events 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 $650 pcm) will be available for the senior role. 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 our 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 reasonable 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. A small allowance (up to $300 pcm) is available, depending on circumstances.

Accomodation is provided for both positions in a pleasant rented house in a quiet community equidistant from our centre and the town, a 15 minute bicycle ride away.

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 will need to cut and paste) -

www.facebook.com/lonebuffalo

Lone Buffalo Vimeo Channel
https://vimeo.com/channels/560896

Lone Buffalo End of Term Report 2014 - 15
https://www.dropbox.com/s/69ifvpp6qj2jvf6/Lone%20Buffalo%202014-15%20Term %20Report%20.pdf?dl=0

Lone Buffalo/FIFA Futbol Mundial Feature
http://www.fifa.com/development/videos/y=2015/m=1/video=learning-and-spor t-meet-in-laos-2503774.html