Over 20 government officials attended a seminar on presentation skills on environmental concerns to build their confidence in using English to make presentations and proposals in international arenas.

In a five-day seminar, which ended last Friday, the participants learned about drafting professional texts on biography and abstracts, network practices, impromptu speeches, and the parts of a presentation for proposals.

The topic of environment is one out of six completed topics in the English Language Support Project Professional Communication Skills for Leaders programme. This course has given good lessons and skills for to be applied by leading Lao officials in relevant sectors in their workplaces.    

This seminar was supported by the US Embassy in Laos under the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI): English Language Support Project Professional Communication Skills for Leaders. The event was lectured by a fellow of the English Language Fellow Programme, Mari Bodensteiner.

“I am very happy to have the opportunity to join this course that has given me useful knowledge and a good understanding of professional PowerPoint presentations on the topic of environment. I will take the lessons and knowledge I have gained to use at my workplace, especially to teach students in the future,” said Ms Lamngeune Souliyavong, a staff from the Science and Environment Faculty under the National University of Laos.

“This is my first time to learn about this environmental topic; it has helped me understand more about communication skills and it meets my needs because I often want to work in environment projects. I think it is certainly useful and has provided for what many Lao staff in some organisations still lack,” said Ms Lamngeune.

“After the training course, I really understood the procedures and techniques on how to make a proper presentation and present proposals at international workshops,” said Ms Chansamai Phommachan, an officer from the Assessment Department of Ministry of Planning and Investment.

“I also practice international English such as speaking on the international stage, knowing more about networking, and Using PowerPoint. Besides, I have also made new friends from different sectors,” she said.

The LMI Education Pillar activities increase access to educational and training opportunities.  English language training programs facilitate the learning of technical English among experts working in the LMI pillar fields.  These activities also promote networking opportunities among regional experts and alumni of sub-regional programs and U.S-LMI exchanges.

The Lower Mekong Initiative is a regional effort to foster integrated sub-regional cooperation and capacity building among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.  Under the LMI Education Pillar, the United States is supporting LMI partner countries through bilateral and regional programs that improve English language capacity, increase technical and teacher training, and foster greater regional cooperation.  This pillar is co-chaired by Thailand and the United States.

The LMI Education Pillar is designed to build educational ties and cooperation across the LMI sub-region. This includes improving sharing of best practices within LMI partner countries in a variety of strategic and technical areas, increasing technical English skills among relevant LMI participants, and enhancing communication between policy makers and scientists across all pillars.

This pillar seeks to increase English language and technical English capacity; promote technical training and networking opportunities among experts, including through the use of existing LMI regional training centers and institutes; broaden opportunities for sub-regional exchanges of experts and as well as with the United States; support ASEAN integration in the education field by focusing on policy areas which will foster that process, such as equivalency and accreditation at the tertiary level; and encourage regional cooperation on educational reform.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by Manythone Keolangsy

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