Jul
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Meet Lae Keoluangta
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Lae Keoluangta wasted no time between graduating from the National University of Laos’ Faculty of Education with a Bachelor of Arts in English Pedagogy in 2008 and joining Lanith. And, while many may wonder what ties his degree to tourism, Lae is quick to respond. He simply wants to teach and train.
“Tourism is not very big in Laos yet, but it is very important for the country, and I want to teach the younger generation,” Lae explained. “Lanith gives me the opportunity to use my education from university to explore tourism and then apply it to the vision of advancing service quality in Laos.”
As part of his adventure into tourism education and training, Lae took part in Lanith’s three-month hands-on training in Luxembourg, before joining his fellow core team members in attending Singapore’s Temasek Polytechnic and earning a two-year Hospitality and Tourism Business Diploma.
Lae said his experience in Singapore was a real eye opener. “There is a big difference between life abroad and the reality here,” he said, adding that the toughest hurdle he faced was managing his time and adjusting to the school’s schedule.
He said the teaching method used by the professors in Singapore is very different than that used in Laos, and it is an approach Lanith wants to apply in its programs.
“The educators in Singapore gave us the freedom to learn by ourselves, and only corrected us when we got off track,” Lae said. “They give students more freedom to explore, and they stress self-study so students can learn to think for themselves and not just follow a lecture.”
Lae said he and the other core team members are trying to employ this method in Laos. He noted that though the style is new Laos and not what students are used to, so far those in the Passport to Success skills training program are embracing it.
“They like this new method,” Lae observed. “They are more actively participating, even those with experience. They like to get new ideas and build on their experiences. They also like the practical side of the modules as they can apply it to their work and it also empowers them to take on more responsibilities.”
Lae emphasized, “Practice makes perfect. Learning is not just theory but practical knowledge they can use.”
Lae has been teaching Passport to Success hygiene and safety modules in Luang Prabang, Pakse, and Khammouane as well as to food service staff at Phu Bia Mining’s Vientiane Province site.
He said the Passport to Success is a good way to build on the skills that hospitality workers already have.
“We aim to build their capacity, as much of what we cover builds on what they are already doing,” Lae said. “It also presents new ideas they may not have seen before. If the Passport to Success can improve people’s capacity, we can improve the quality of service in Laos.”
He is also creating modules for food and beverage production, and earlier in 2012 he was one of four Lanith core team members to enter a Charter Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) certification program and become accredited to work as a CIEH trainer in the food safety field.
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Trekking to highlands, sleeping in trees
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20/11/2012 08:37:42
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In the process of developing tourism industry
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20/11/2012 08:33:24
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New appearance of ethnic wellbeing crucial
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20/11/2012 08:29:27
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Gaint Cham temple of Po Nagar
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20/11/2012 08:26:06
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Welcome HCM - Spanish cultural week
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20/11/2012 08:16:30
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Vietnamese devotional objects in Thai Binh province has been restored
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20/11/2012 08:13:00
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VIB funds Vietnam Airlines for new Airbus A321 aircrafts
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20/11/2012 08:10:00
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