Chumkriel Language School - More Info

Why was CLS started ?

"When I was a child living in a remote area I had no chance to get a good education especially in foreign languages. So when I became a teacher in Kampot town I wanted to improve my knowledge but I found it very difficult because most good documents were in English. Also my director asked me to teach English which I found very complicated. When I started studying management at the local Faculty I didn't catch the lessons easily because my English was so poor and many of the text books and study materials are in English. So I start to think how can I help the children in remote areas of Cambodia improve their opportunities. My experience that good knowledge of English is very important to allow me to continue my own education and development, coupled with my knowledge of the circumstances around the Chumkriel area convinced me that there is a need for good quality English classes for the children in this area."

--- Nget Sokonthy, Founder and Director, Chumkriel Language School

To understand why CLS is different from most schools teaching English in Cambodia it is important to understand: Where Khmer usually study English, how CLS differs, and what services CLS offer that traditionally aren't offered in other institutions.

How do Khmer children usually learn English ?

English Language is taught in 3 main types of institution in Cambodia.

State school. Wages in state school are very low and motivation is often very low for teachers to look after there students well. No qualification is required to teach, and English and teaching skills are often poor. Teachers often have a second job or make money from there students in return for good grades or extra tuition.
Private English classes. Here teacher quality is typically better as the teacher must look after their students well or they get no income. Better teachers get more students. These classes are typically after school in teachers homes.
Private schools are typically groups of private classes held in the same building. Unless they charge very high fees they cannot offer any services to really look after the students well.

Why is CLS different ?

At CLS we believe that what is required is a private school with very low fees, but many extra services provided through charitable donations. CLS is also keen to maximize the involvement of native English speakers in the school. Because CLS is not part of the state school system it has much less bureaucracy and can respond to needs much quicker, and with more innovation. The student fees (1.5-2 dollars per month) usually supports the core costs of electric, classroom rental, and basic teacher’s income. We keep these fees to ensure the school can survive if it has periods where support is lacking.

What can CLS provide that is typically not provided in other institutions.

CLS focus on getting the best teachers and running the school as a school (not just a set of separate classes), We go beyond the norm to really support the student, and give quality teachers a support framework where they can really make use of their skills. Example services we provide that cannot be seen in most schools are:

The poorest students receive truly free extra English tuition through our scholarship class
We give students access to native English speakers
We provide extra support to the poorest students in their education
We track the progress of individual students

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