Teacher showing how to stretch words to hear each sound clearly

(KPL) To further strengthen early grade literacy in primary schools, the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR (MoES) and Australia, through the BEQUAL program, have launched two new Teacher Development Videos. These latest videos support grade one teachers with applying one of the innovative approaches in the revised Lao Language Teacher guide known as the “Seven Steps” to learning Lao language. The videos were produced by the Research Institute of Educational Sciences (RIES) and are fully aligned with resources developed by the Department of Teacher Education (DTE) to support teachers’ continuing professional development.

The revised Grade 1 Lao Language Teacher Guide was rolled out in the 2024-25 school year and introduces a more active, inclusive, and student-friendly approach to early grade literacy development. At the heart of this approach are the “Seven Steps”, a series of fun, physical, and engaging activities that help young learners develop their understanding of sounds, syllables, letters, and words. The steps are gradually introduced and integrated across grade one lessons, recognising that learning is an iterative process. This sequence of activities provides students with ongoing opportunities to practice and develop fundamental literacy skills throughout the year.

Children having fun jumping to identify words in a sentence

Although teachers participated in a one-day orientation in August 2024, feedback from monitoring activities indicated that additional support could further enhance their confidence and effectiveness in applying the “Seven Steps” during daily lessons. In response, MoES, with support from Australia, developed a complementary Teacher Support Pack (TSP) and these two new instructional videos. The videos are designed primarily as a self-learning tool for grade one teachers and their pedagogical support teams. They are aligned with the relevant TSP and complement its visual representations and guidance but can also be used independently.

Mr Outhit Thipmany, Deputy Director General, RIES, said “Learning how to apply a new teaching method can be challenging, especially with limited training time. These videos offer teachers clear, practical guidance on how to apply the new Lao Language Seven Steps method in the classroom. By seeing real examples, teachers can build their confidence and better support their students' learning.”

Teacher showing how to break words into syllables.

Ms Vanessa Hegarty, First Secretary, Australian Embassy, added “Australia and the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR are committed to supporting teachers with practical tools like these videos. Especially in remote areas, it’s essential that teachers feel equipped and encouraged to try new methods. When teachers are supported, they stay motivated. This is vital given the current teacher shortage situation.”

Both videos bring the “Seven Steps” to life, demonstrating how they can be implemented in the classroom and helping teachers understand both the purpose and methods of each step. The first video breaks down the seven steps one by one, with clear explanations, real classroom demonstrations, and useful tips from pedagogical advisors on how to handle common challenges. Each step is presented using the same sentence to build a cohesive understanding of how these activities connect throughout the lesson. The video also shows how to give feedback and support struggling students in a positive and encouraging way.

The video production team ready to kick off day 1 of filming

The second video brings it all together with two full examples demonstrating how to apply the new method in practice. Teachers will see examples of how the Seven Steps can be used naturally during two examples grade one Lao Language lessons to introduce new vocabulary. The steps are shown as part of a complete, fluid teaching sequence, giving teachers a realistic and practical model they can later adapt to any of their lessons in any subject.

Mr Outhit reflected “Teaching in Lao PDR often means working in remote areas and facing challenges like students who don’t speak Lao when they start school and multigrade settings. Since 2019, with Australia’s support, RIES has created a range of videos that offer practical guidance and examples to help teachers overcome these issues. I hope these resources will be widely used to improve teaching quality and make learning easier for students. We’ve also included Sign Language dubbing to ensure more teachers can access them.”

To reach as many teachers and educators as possible, both videos are available through multiple channels: Lao ESTV – Education and Sports TV Channel on Lao Satellite 8, Khang Panya Lao, ວິດີໂອສໍາລັບການພັດທະນາຄູ Teacher Development Videos YouTube channel, and on tablets used by pedagogical support staff working with teachers.

Ms Vanessa Hegarty concluded “With the release of these new videos, MoES and Australia continue their shared commitment to improving early grade literacy in Lao PDR. The Seven Steps approach equips teachers with practical tools to create an inclusive, active, and engaging learning environment where all students can begin their literacy journey with confidence and joy.”

TDV 27:

https://youtu.be/9rFv63AjXpQ?si=uvaRgUik47XEjkS2

TDV 28:

https://youtu.be/J1xFBbtNMGc?si=zzIgCc0-yq3iyulI

KPL