Recently we conducted an English proficiency test for all our English learners – both the Little Hearts children and the students in our Community Kids English Program. The assessment was carried out by our new English teacher, Panha Ly, and included both written and speaking components, allowing us to better understand the students’ current English abilities and place them in the skill level that best supports their learning.
In the oral component – surely the most intimidating one for our young linguists – the students were asked several questions about themselves. The Little Hearts kids were given more complex questions like “What is the most popular sport in Cambodia?” and “What kind of clothes do you usually wear?”, whereas the community kids, who are less advanced in their English learning, got away with simpler queries like “How old are you?” and “Where do you study English?”
Most of the Little Hearts children performed well in both the written and speaking sections, demonstrating steady progress in their English development. The test confirmed that almost everyone is in the correct skill level group. (As a reminder, the Little Hearts kids are divided into two groups according to ability. They receive two hours of English language instruction every afternoon here at home.)
For the Community Kids English Program, which includes 65 children from neighboring villages, the test results showed that 61% should continue at the elementary Phonics level, where they first learn the relationship between letters of the Latin alphabet and their corresponding sounds, while the remaining 39% will move to the A0 beginner level, where they can build a strong foundation in basic English. These results give us valuable insight and will help us design lessons that respond to the real needs of the students.
In addition, Teacher Panha will work closely with Little Hearts’ eight university students to identify areas for improvement in their own language skills. The university kids will continue their learning journey using a new coursebook, Skillful, which emphasizes critical thinking, communication skills, and a student-centered learning approach. They will also take on leadership roles by serving as instructors to the community kids: on a rotating basis, they will assume teaching responsibilities for the A0 group.
Thus, the afternoon teaching schedule will look like this:
2–4 pm: English class for Little Hearts children by Teacher Panha
4–5 pm: English class for community kids (Phonics level, first batch) by Teacher Panha
5–6 pm: English class for community kids (Phonics level, second batch) by Teacher Panha
English class for community kids (A0 level) by university students
As part of the plan, Teacher Panha will provide seminars and workshops to help our university students with classroom management and teaching methodology.
Finally, the university students will act as mentors for all community kids via a new initiative called “English Speaking Before Class”, where they will create a supportive environment in which all students can practice speaking English together before regular classes begin.
At Little Hearts, we believe that education is a powerful tool for transformation. Every step we take is aimed at giving these young learners better opportunities in life. We are truly excited about the journey ahead, and if you share our vision and would like to support our work, we would be honored and grateful to welcome your involvement in helping these children grow and succeed.