Alumni Testimonials

“”Practical” is the word that comes to my mind when I think about ARDA. While many people decided to go to another Lao-English institution to earn a proper college degree, I, instead, pursued my English courses at ARDA. It was a practical and unique English learning experience with English-speaking instructors that I would never find in other places. The classrooms were designed for students to be more collaborative and team-work. I remember we did a lot of various interactions in my English classes, such as partnered conversations, vocabulary building, and writing, and I did learn a lot from those practical experiences. There were numerous topics I had learned about, such as the environment, education, arts and music, science, and social issues. ARDA also offers an extracurricular curriculum that allows students to interact and learn more everyday English through different activities outside of class. For instance, one of my favorite activities at ARDA was watching movies in English. I learned a lot of vocabulary through those activities.

After my time at ARDA, I had the chance to travel around the world, especially Asia, Europe, and America. I found out that practical experience at ARDA helped me to be able to communicate with foreigners more confidently. If I had learned English from Lao-speaking instructors, I would not have been as brave in talking to foreigners, as we all know that the Lao school curriculum only teaches you to jot down and remember for the exam and forget afterwards. Furthermore, I am now about to earn my Bachelor of Science degree and will continue to pursue my PhD in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the University of Maryland, United States of America. From Elementary class at ARDA with very basic English skills, I am now able to study difficult science and medical terms at American universities. This would have been impossible without those basic steps that ARDA has provided me. To current and future students at ARDA, I strongly encourage you to do a lot of practice while you are learning in the classes. It’s okay if you make grammatical errors in your writing or speaking; your instructors will help you correct your errors, and you will learn from them.

If you are looking for a language center, I highly recommend ARDA. You will learn and build up your English skills in different areas – grammar, vocabulary, everyday English, listening, and writing.”

“Study at ARDA helped me well communicate with my foreign friends and foreign staff at work. “

“Study at ARDA help me improve my skill, make me self confident on using English and also open up my mind. I can also make a decision on what I am going to do. Study at ARDA is not just study an English but i have learn about living with others, respectful and i have a strong determination.”

“ARDA had opened a chance for me to study English not only in the class but the course also provided the various activities for helping me to improve the knowledge out of the classroom and having a chance to practice with a native speaker.”

“Studying at ARDA has improved my English a lot, in all kinds of skills: speaking, listening, writing. I could say that studying here is far more qualified than learning at school. Now my English is better I can apply for various international scholarship and pass, receiving opportunities to join in many international exchange programs, and it also helps me with my studying at School, I get a high grade every time I have a test.”

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to ARDA that give me an opportunity to study at the school. During the course I exchanged the knowledge and opinion with classmates as well as learning different culture from teacher who is a native speaker. The course helps me to improve my English skills in many different ways. After I finished 2 semesters in ARDA I feel more confident to use English in daily communication. Moreover, I use the knowledge in my work specially to communicate with international partners. Thanks again ARDA school for giving me chances to upgrade my English language proficiency to another level.”

“Arda was very helpful and knowledgeable throughout my whole term. I was in the centre for 5 terms, this made me know more about English. My English has improved a lot after studying here. Our teacher was very thorough and I have learnt so much from them. I have learnt more than I ever anticipated.”

“I studied at ARDA for 4 years. My first level is Beginner A. This level I couldn’t understand a lot of English, couldn’t write well and didn’t know much about grammar. My English had improved when I was in Elementary B. I could understand better, could make conversation with foreigner and knew more of grammar. My English improved every term. Now I  finished intermediate B. I can speak English fluently.” Everything will not be difficult if you have patience and determination.”

“I live in Xekong Province. I studied English at ARDA for 2 terms. During this time, I learned more than I had before. I learned new words, learned how to write and pronounce correctly, sometimes I had opportunities to communicate with foreigners and they could understand what I was saying. The things that I learned from ARDA are correct and clear.”

“Although I am a housewife, I also sew clothes. I studied at ARDA from Pre-Beginner to Pre-Intermediate. Now I can say some sentences and sometimes I have a chance to teach the children at church.”

“I started learning English at ARDA in 2019. How did ARDA help me to improve my English? I have a problem with listening and speaking. It was a good thing that there was a CD to listen to in class and the students repeated after the teacher.  It helped me a lot. How was my experience at ARDA? I was lucky to experience the good quality education they give to their students. The teachers and staff were so friendly. Once a month ARDA has a student event called Freedom Day. I think this activity is great to get to know your schoolmates.  We played and had a chance to share our ideas and experiences. And the last thing I want to let you know is, this school has never disappointed me. I’m happy to be a part of the ARDA family.”

“Hello, I’m from America. I am studying Lao language at ARDA. I love studying here because all the teachers are kind and teach very well. The teachers and staff make me feel that I am a part of the ARDA family. I recommend ARDA as the best place for learning the Lao language.”

“I’ve been studying at ARDA for almost five years. I have actually finished Intermediate already but I came back to study Pre-Intermediate again because why not?! I love the community; I even first met my best friends here and got closer to them on Freedom Day. For me, ARDA is the first school that made me truly enjoy studying English. Although I’ve studied Pre-Intermediate already, I am still enjoying the class. I have fun talking in English. At ARDA I can laugh at and learn from my mistakes.”

“I work at TerraClear. Well, I studied English at ARDA for 4 years, from 2009-2012. I love ARDA. The teachers are kind and friendly. ARDA has changed my life a lot. Before I came to ARDA I was a village girl. I could only speak a few words in English. I was shy and didn’t have self-confidence. After I graduated from the Intermediate class at ARDA, I got my dream job. I became a project assistant and translator. I will never forget ARDA.”

“I studied at ARDA for 4 years. My first level is Beginner A. This level I couldn’t understand a lot of English, couldn’t write well and didn’t know much about grammar. My English had improved when I was in Elementary B. I could understand better, could make conversation with foreigner and knew more of grammar. My English improved every term. Now I  finished intermediate B. I can speak English fluently.” Everything will not be difficult if you have patience and determination.”

“At ARDA I studied many things about basic vocational skills such as: cooking Lao and foreign food, baking, making coffee, cleaning, sewing, taking care of children and learning tribal language of many cultures etc. I discovered the value of my life and what my future goal is for because I myself was born in a family that rarely show love with words, praising, comforting, and that caused to have confidence, trusting, showing love, faithfulness, gentleness, forgiving and asking for forgiveness from a sincere heart was very challenging for myself. But through the teacher and friends that were at ARDA helped those things that were lacking I grew until what I am now, and now I am the manager at a café and work with an organization that helps train young people to be bold to show and practice vocational knowledge as a team leader and a good family in the future.”

“At first, I felt tired in the school: there were so many rules – would I be able to pass? I wanted to go back home, can’t study and felt ashamed. But I was there for some time and began to feel that I liked the studies, the friends and teachers who taught and gave new experiences that are useful to apply, to work and in daily life etc. which when I was a student, seems I was not sure if I could use them. At first, I still did not quite understand the rules, honesty, endurance and correctness. As I studied at ARDA, I received many lessons mainly:

1. Lessons to repair electricity in the house
2. Repairs and buildings
3. Learn English
4. Playing team sports
5. Wisdom in working, honesty and others.”

“When I arrived at the vocational centre, I was very excited because I was able to further my studies as I had dreamed. The educational system of this vocational centre is different from the common schools that I used to relate to such as: the teaching was really intentional, learning and testing has a quality that absolutely no cheating and deceiving was allowed. The teachers also took great care to relay knowledge to the students with the best of their abilities. Because I myself was a country boy with no experience living in the city, therefore, I pushed myself the most during these 2 years that I studied in this vocational training centre, whether learning electrical subjects or English, working to pay for the term fees and others in order to achieve the goal that I set myself, to be worthy of leaving my home to come to the capital  to study. Apart from studying and working, there was opportunity to learn many other things like playing football or table tennis.

This vocational training centre may be a small centre, but but it is a centre that is ready to support those lacking opportunities who have dreams and difficult to learn a vocation, or difficult to get a job to change living a life to move forward. But don’t forget if you want to change anything, and that change can happen is because you put your hands to make it happen. Nothing will change easily.”

“I applied to study at ARDA a the end of 2007 and graduated in 2009. During that two years of studies, with courses studied, there were electricity, personal development, English and other subjects, whether they be theory or practical. As for myself, I was very impressed with ARDA Skills centre. For I learnt new things, met with sincere friends, and very kind teachers who were empathetic with all the students, without partiality, considered as teachers with experience. I received many kinds of experiences from this vocational school. From that time on, I have used the knowledge and experiences that I learnt in my work with many organizations. And now I have my own business.”

“I came to learn at the ARDA vocational development centre in 2007-2008 I learnt many things I had never known before such as: correct method of cleaning; how to wash a baby; how to cook; English language and baking. I learnt First Aid or CPR. And to help those who experience various events. I learnt method of putting out a fire. I learnt off site regularly such as going to hotels or real life training at the homes of foreigners. I learnt how to manage finances and do small business. Just like I learnt management and finance for a short time in one place. Some lessons still help me in teaching my children. That is a good lesson and very important. It really helps me very much.”