Supporting English Education in Cambodia: My Time at The Green Lion School

Name: Oscar Munson

Your academic school: Cardiff Business School

Where did you go? Cambodia – The Green Lion School

What type of placement did you complete? Volunteering

What motivated you to take up a Global Opportunity?
I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, experience a different culture and do something meaningful. I was particularly excited by the opportunity to teach English and make a positive difference while gaining experience that would help me grow personally.

What were your top 3 highlights from your time abroad?

• On the last day I got the children to sit at the front of the class and have a one on one conversation with me in English and seeing the difference in confidence from the start to the end with them being able to hold eye contact the whole time
• Learning about Cambodia’s history with a monk in a cave
• Watching sunrise at Ankor Watt.

What was your biggest challenge? How did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was the language barrier with it being hard to explain tasks to the pupils.

How has your placement been beneficial to your studies at Cardiff University or your future career?
The experience developed my confidence, communication and leadership skills. Teaching also improved my ability to explain ideas clearly and adapt to different people, which are skills I can carry forward into my studies and future career.

What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you left?
I wish I had known how quickly I would settle in. I was nervous before leaving, but I quickly became comfortable and wished I had worried less.

What would you say to a student that was unsure about spending a period abroad?
Go for it! It is completely normal to feel nervous, but you will gain so much from stepping outside your comfort zone. You will meet new people, experience a different culture and come back with more confidence than you expected.

What are 3 things to do in your host destination? 

• Visit Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples.
• Explore the Kulen Mountains and waterfalls.
• Visit Battambang and learn about Cambodia’s history at the Killing Caves.

Share your top tips for thriving in your programme destination
Be open-minded and willing to try new things. Take every opportunity to speak to local people and experience the culture.

Please sum up your experience abroad in one sentence
My time in Cambodia pushed me outside my comfort zone, developed my confidence as a teacher and gave me memories and cultural experiences that I will never forget.