Language/Lao/Vocabulary/Education
Hi Lao learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on vocabulary related to education. It is important to learn these words if you want to read and understand documents related to education or study in Lao schools. We will also provide cultural information related to education in Laos. Don't hesitate to ask native speakers any questions you may have!
Education in Laos
Education in Laos is divided into four levels: preschool, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education. Preschool education for children aged 3 to 5 years old is not yet compulsory in Laos. However, the Ministry of Education and Sports is encouraging parents to enroll their children in preschool to increase their readiness for primary school.
Primary education is compulsory and free for six years for children aged 6 to 11. The curriculum includes Lao language, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, and religious studies. Teachers use the Lao language to teach all subjects, except for foreign language classes.
Lower secondary education is another three years long and is for students aged 12 to 14. Students learn more advanced versions of the primary subjects and have the opportunity to study subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, geography, and history.
Upper secondary education is three years long and is divided into two streams: general education and technical and vocational education. In general education, students focus on academic subjects and prepare for higher education. In technical and vocational education, students prepare for careers by learning applied technical skills.
After graduating from upper secondary education, students can enroll in universities or colleges both inside and outside the country.
Vocabulary
Here are some important words related to education:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ໂຄງຮຽນ | khong hian | school |
| ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ | ma-ha-wittayala-haen | high school |
| ມະຫາສະກຸນທິກິນ | ma-ha-sakun-ti-kin | university |
| ສົມສອນປະການສຶກສາ | som-sawn pak-sa | examination |
| ວົງກອນສຶກສາ | wong-kon seuk-sa | student |
| ບັນດານາງ | bannalan | teacher |
| ໂຄງປະການ | Khong-paka-nun | education |
To help you learn better, here's a dialogue between two students:
- Student 1: ຂ້ອຍຈະເປັນນັກຮຽນແລ້ວ (khoy jaeng pen hunhian leu) (I will be a student soon)
- Student 2: ໂຄງຮຽນຂອງຂ້ອຍກະລຸນາ? (khong hian khoun khoy ka leun na?) (Which school will you attend?)
- Student 1: ຂ້ອຍໄດ້ນຳເຂົ້າໃນໂຮງຮຽນຈັກກົງ (khoy dai nam khao khoun hunhian jak khong-jong song khong) (I will enroll in the eighth-grade secondary school)
Additional Vocabulary
Here are a few cultural words that are often used in the context of education in Laos:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ສິດທິພາບ | sit thi pha | report card |
| ພາສາລາວ | pha-sa-lao | Lao language |
| ແຜນຮັບ | paen hub | homework |
| ໝາຍເຫດ | mai-et | note |
Summary
In this lesson, we learned important words related to education, such as school (khong hian), high school (ma-ha-wittayala-haen), university (ma-ha-sakun-ti-kin), examination (som-sawn pak-sa), student (wong-kon seuk-sa), and teacher (bannalan). We also learned some cultural words that are often used in the context of education in Laos, such as report card (sit thi pha), Lao language (pha-sa-lao), homework (paen hub), and note (mai-et). Remember that education is compulsory and free for six years for children aged 6 to 11. Lower secondary education is another three years long and is for students aged 12 to 14, while upper secondary education is three years long and is divided into general education or technical and vocational education.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources
- Education in Laos
- Lao alphabet
- Lao language
- Mahosot Hospital (foreign language education in Laos)
- Laos
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