About Alann
Alann in Tourlveang with her grandmother and neigbours
Born in 1984, Lann Len has always been known as Alann by her close friends. One of ten brothers and sisters, her family are rice farmers in the in the village of Tourlveang in the Siem Reap province of Cambodia.
From a young age, Alann was always interested in school and learning new languages. She would practice English with the local monk at the temple in the district and practice writing English words on the walls in their family home.
When she was old enough for secondary school (junior high), Alann went to live with a family who had a home located closer to the school in the city. Years ago, her father had lent some gold to the family so they could buy a lathe for their business. The purchase of the lathe had helped them to become very successful and to express their gratitude for the loan, they agreed to let Alann live with them while she attended junior high and then high school. "I would help his wife in washing, cleaning, cooking and cutting wood for fire wood," says Alann. "I went to school during the day and every weekend I went home to help my parents with farming the rice."
At secondary school, three hours each week were devoted to learning English or French. Alann chose to learn French because her father's medications often came with French instructions. She would also continue to practice speaking English with the daughter of the family she lived with. The two of them would ride the 30 km journey to Angkor Wat to meet with tourists and practice their English. "I would say, 'Let's go find Barang (foreigner) to speak with," recalls Alann. She still remembers the first English words she learned from an American tourist — flip flops.
Alann has a gift for languages and her English improved quickly. She switched from French to English classes at high school and used all of her meal budget to put into extra language lessons. She became well known for her English skills and was rewarded with free extra classes. She was still expected to help out back home on the farm and often Alann would ride her bike 15 kms into the city for her extra English classes, then ride home the next morning to help out in the fields. "I was so proud. I want to practice," she recalls. "Everyone said I was crazy because I always wanted to learn so much."
When the governor of Siem Reap announced he was awarding full university scholarships to five lucky young people in the province, Alann recognized an opportunity. The scholarships were intended for students from the countryside willing to learn and whose parents could not afford schooling. Passing by the village of Tourlveang one day, the governor found Alann waiting for him. She asked him to bestow one of the scholarships on her, not knowing that four had already been spoken for and only one remained. The governor promised to consider it. Returning to his home later that week, the governor stopped again in Alann's village to inquire about this forthright and industrious young woman. The governor learned from Alann's family and neighbours that she was a top student who only ever wanted to go to school and was indeed, "crazy for learning." Alann was awarded the final scholarship.
Using the proceeds from a plot of land intended for her dowry, Alann's family managed to pull together enough money for room and board and she enrolled in university. Says Alann, "I was very lucky to get the scholarship to go to university. When I got there, my English still couldn't be used properly yet, so I did an intensive study for many hours a day at the cheap language school to get some certificates. I used all my breakfast budget to pay for the classes. Every morning, I ate leftover food from the landlord who I lived with. Most days it was just rice and soy sauce. When I got my certificates, I applied for a job—first as a receptionist then as a tour guide so I could practice more and more."
Today, because of her ability to speak English so well, Alann is a certified tour guide in demand throughout Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Her initiative and determination to improve herself has benefitted her family, helping to send her brother to university.
Alann recognizes the extra effort she's made and that she was fortunate to go to university. She doesn't want it to be this difficult for others from her region. "Most other students from the countryside can't do this because they think they need to eat and also they need flavour. They can't swallow old rice every morning just with soy source. So many of them in the next generation graduate with weak English and can't find a good paying job."
Alann's dream to build a school in her village that will offer classes in English to the surrounding area is born from her experiences, seeing firsthand how education can change one's prospects. She knows that making English available at a young age will make it easier for others at school and help to obtain good paying jobs in the tourism industry. With these jobs, they can earn money to take more language classes or go to university.
Please consider supporting Alann's Dream and become part of a movement to help improve the quality of life in Cambodia for a new generation.
From a young age, Alann was always interested in school and learning new languages. She would practice English with the local monk at the temple in the district and practice writing English words on the walls in their family home.
When she was old enough for secondary school (junior high), Alann went to live with a family who had a home located closer to the school in the city. Years ago, her father had lent some gold to the family so they could buy a lathe for their business. The purchase of the lathe had helped them to become very successful and to express their gratitude for the loan, they agreed to let Alann live with them while she attended junior high and then high school. "I would help his wife in washing, cleaning, cooking and cutting wood for fire wood," says Alann. "I went to school during the day and every weekend I went home to help my parents with farming the rice."
At secondary school, three hours each week were devoted to learning English or French. Alann chose to learn French because her father's medications often came with French instructions. She would also continue to practice speaking English with the daughter of the family she lived with. The two of them would ride the 30 km journey to Angkor Wat to meet with tourists and practice their English. "I would say, 'Let's go find Barang (foreigner) to speak with," recalls Alann. She still remembers the first English words she learned from an American tourist — flip flops.
Alann has a gift for languages and her English improved quickly. She switched from French to English classes at high school and used all of her meal budget to put into extra language lessons. She became well known for her English skills and was rewarded with free extra classes. She was still expected to help out back home on the farm and often Alann would ride her bike 15 kms into the city for her extra English classes, then ride home the next morning to help out in the fields. "I was so proud. I want to practice," she recalls. "Everyone said I was crazy because I always wanted to learn so much."
When the governor of Siem Reap announced he was awarding full university scholarships to five lucky young people in the province, Alann recognized an opportunity. The scholarships were intended for students from the countryside willing to learn and whose parents could not afford schooling. Passing by the village of Tourlveang one day, the governor found Alann waiting for him. She asked him to bestow one of the scholarships on her, not knowing that four had already been spoken for and only one remained. The governor promised to consider it. Returning to his home later that week, the governor stopped again in Alann's village to inquire about this forthright and industrious young woman. The governor learned from Alann's family and neighbours that she was a top student who only ever wanted to go to school and was indeed, "crazy for learning." Alann was awarded the final scholarship.
Using the proceeds from a plot of land intended for her dowry, Alann's family managed to pull together enough money for room and board and she enrolled in university. Says Alann, "I was very lucky to get the scholarship to go to university. When I got there, my English still couldn't be used properly yet, so I did an intensive study for many hours a day at the cheap language school to get some certificates. I used all my breakfast budget to pay for the classes. Every morning, I ate leftover food from the landlord who I lived with. Most days it was just rice and soy sauce. When I got my certificates, I applied for a job—first as a receptionist then as a tour guide so I could practice more and more."
Today, because of her ability to speak English so well, Alann is a certified tour guide in demand throughout Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Her initiative and determination to improve herself has benefitted her family, helping to send her brother to university.
Alann recognizes the extra effort she's made and that she was fortunate to go to university. She doesn't want it to be this difficult for others from her region. "Most other students from the countryside can't do this because they think they need to eat and also they need flavour. They can't swallow old rice every morning just with soy source. So many of them in the next generation graduate with weak English and can't find a good paying job."
Alann's dream to build a school in her village that will offer classes in English to the surrounding area is born from her experiences, seeing firsthand how education can change one's prospects. She knows that making English available at a young age will make it easier for others at school and help to obtain good paying jobs in the tourism industry. With these jobs, they can earn money to take more language classes or go to university.
Please consider supporting Alann's Dream and become part of a movement to help improve the quality of life in Cambodia for a new generation.