Many people in Laos, especially young people, are eager to learn English. But few of them have teachers who are fluent in English. And in the past, the bilingual books available were often dull and used English that was at best inaccurate, and sometimes incomprehensible.

Already, the bilingual books from Big Brother Mouse, ranging from traditional folk stories to Wondersof the World have provided these students with much better reading options than they had before. English conversation practice, at our Luang Prabang shop near Wat Nong, gives them another opportunity to practice.

We invite English-speaking visitors to come by at 9:00 am, Monday to Saturday, to practice English conversation with young people. This is a chance for you to ask questions about Lao culture, and for them to ask about your country.

There's no need to reserve anything, just drop by. Please try to come at 9:00 a.m., to avoid the disruption of people coming in and out. If you need to leave before 11:00, that's okay. We have books, maps, and other materials to help you.

Where: Big Brother Mouse, Wat Nong, Luang Prabang Map
When: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 am.
What to bring:There's no need to bring anything, but pictures of your family or country are always interesting. Especially if there's snow in the picture!
Please drop by; there is no need to call or email.

Tips for effective practice: Most visitors speak too fast, use too many difficult words, or don't speak clearly. Students will be polite, but they won't get much out of it.

Please speak very slowly at first. Ask questions that invite a full sentence for an answer, not just yes-or-no questions. Your goal should be for the student to be talking as much as you are.

Remember, even if you speak more slowly than necessary, the student will benefit. She may notice a grammatical point, or a new word, that she would have missed if you spoke faster. If you speak too fast, students will get frustrated, and they won't benefit.