VALUABLE EXPERIENCE ALL ROUND

April 26th, 2006

A recommendation from his English teacher brought Vira Douangphouxay to Tollbar BEC – and the French assistant from Lyon likes England so much that he intends to make his career in this country.

Vira arrived at Tollbar at the end of September, having earlier spent a year at Portsmouth as part of his university course.

“I was advised that the standards were high at Tollbar and I am really enjoying it here,” he said. “I have finished at university in France but I need this year’s experience before I can become a teacher.”

“I would like to teach French in England. I have heard there is a shortage of French teachers here. I like the south of the country but I also like this area.”

Vira, who is living in Cleethorpes, works with Year 12 and 13 French students individually at Tollbar, extending the areas they are already studying. He also teaches Years 7 to 11 at Hereford School and Year 3s at William Barcroft School in Cleethorpes.

“With the junior pupils, I give them taster lesson with French experiences and languages,” he explained. “We play games and there is interactive teaching.”

He is also pursuing his own studies, taking lessons with Tollbar staff to improve his German and his English.