ພາສາລາວ
31 animated audio stories help visualise the textbook and make learning more enjoyable for students
The new resources include 50 stories from Grade 1 Lao Language and Spoken Lao lessons
The Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR (MoES), with support from the Australian Government through the Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR (BEQUAL) program, has released 50 new animated audio stories to support the teaching and learning of Spoken Lao in Grade 1 classrooms nationwide. With around 40% of Grade 1 children not yet confident speaking Lao when they start school, the Spoken Lao approach helps them acquire the speaking and listening skills they need for learning.
Dr Vongphet Oudomlit, Director General of the Research Institute for Educational Sciences (RIES), said, “MoES and Australia have worked closely together through the BEQUAL program to strengthen Lao language learning for children who begin school speaking a different language at home. Spoken Lao was piloted in several provinces before being expanded nationally in the 2024–2025 school year. The implementation results show that Spoken Lao lessons help children speak more confidently, have better understanding, and take a more active part in learning. The new animated audio stories are another important step in making learning more engaging and effective for students. Today, children and families increasingly rely on audio and images rather than text alone, so transforming these stories into audios and animations makes them even more accessible and attractive.”
Michael Currie said “Australia strongly supports Spoken Lao because it addresses a real equity challenge for children who start school not speaking the language of instruction. When children build strong language skills early, they are better able to engage in learning across all subjects, succeed at school and build a future for themselves and the nation. Australia values its partnership with MoES and is proud to support this important initiative.”
Spoken Lao Story about time that helps students to explain what they do at particular times of the day
Spoken Lao Story about giving and putting to encourage the students to share
The 50 stories are drawn from the Grade 1 Lao Language textbook (19 stories) and the Grade 1 Spoken Lao textbook (31 stories). They cover everyday situations relevant to young learners, including talking about family, asking for help, and participating in class. The animated audio stories were produced by the Department of Information and News in collaboration with curriculum developers from RIES and with technical support from BEQUAL. Real voices of young Lao students and adult volunteers were used to bring the stories to life, along with sound effects such as barking dogs, whistles, crying, and clapping that make the listening experience more lively and engaging for children.
The new resources can be used in classrooms or at home. Teachers can play them during lessons to provide authentic language examples, while students can also listen independently or with their family outside of school. Exposure to different voices and storytelling styles helps young learners build listening skills, remember new vocabulary, and become more confident using Lao language in daily communication.
Dr Vongphet Oudomlit said, “Teaching a new curriculum is always challenging. Since the essence of the Spoken Lao approach is about hearing and speaking Lao language, these animated audio tracks are a perfect addition. They give teachers another practical tool to support students and make lessons more dynamic, enjoyable, and effective. The experience from Grade 1 is now guiding the development of Grade 2, so we can continue expanding the materials and prepare more audio resources to support the next level of learning.”
There are 19 audios stories from in the G1 Lao Language Subject used for Spoken Lao Lessons, to support students’ learning
G1 Story, mother duck and her ducklings to help students learn to communicate about their location
In November 2025, MoES and Australia began developing Spoken Lao materials for Grade 2, building on the success of Grade 1. The new Grade 2 lessons are planned for nationwide use in the 2027–2028 school year. As part of this next phase, more audio resources will also be developed to support the Grade 2 materials and help teachers and students continue building oral language skills.
Michael Currie concluded, “Spoken Lao demonstrates how a strong partnership can deliver real results for inclusive education. It started as a pilot, proved its value in classrooms, and is now reaching children across the country. Australia is proud to work with MoES on this initiative and to continue supporting the next phase of development, including Grade 2. Australia’s support for Spoken Lao reflects its broader commitment to inclusive, quality education for all children in Lao PDR. It also aligns with the shared goal of ensuring that no child is left behind, regardless of language background, location, or family situation. This is about making sure every child has a fair chance to participate, learn, and succeed.”
Link to watch Spoken Lao: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbHsg4ExLpE8
Link to watch Lao Language: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSjkrfqoP2o0