From Student to Teacher
By Lim Chhengheang, ACE Teacher

I have been a part of ACE for over a decade. Time changes everything, as the saying goes. In 2009, I walked into ACE as a student; today, I walk in as a teacher.

2009 was the year that I took my first steps on a life-changing academic journey. By 2014, I had graduated from both the Young Learners’ (YL) Program and English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP). In the space of five years, my English had improved tremendously, from the four macro skills to developing critical thinking and communication skills. Quality teaching at an international standard is the central feature of the learning trajectory of ACE students, and has been a primary goal of the school throughout its almost 30 years of English language training provision in Cambodia. ACE teachers are passionate and encouraging, the learning environment is comfortable, and resources are available for every student. These are the reasons that my English abilities have steadily improved since 2009.

Young Learners' Program Graduation
In addition, ACE also offers extracurricular activities and competitions to foster independent learning among its students. These include the Book Club and the ACE Public Speaking & Debate Club. Personally, I used to hate reading when I was young because I found it boring. But when I was in the YL Program and joined the Book Club, I started to find joy in turning each page of a book. Reading has given me an immense interest in learning English. I was about to graduate from the YL Program and begin the General English Program (GEP) when I signed up for the YL Speech Contest. Despite not being the winner, I was able to learn much more about putting my language into use.

Young Learners' Program Graduation, Louise FitzGerald (right)

As I progressed in the GEP, all the knowledge I had absorbed exponentially aided my learning. I could think in English and was able to speak without hesitation. My GEP Level 12 teacher, Nicholas Millward, was an inspiration for my English language acquisition. I made mistakes in class countless times, even during my IELTS test preparation, but he was there to guide, encourage and give me chances to improve.

By the time I entered the EAP, my listening, reading, writing and speaking skills were quite fluent. Nonetheless, ACE kept introducing new challenges to improve students’ abilities. In EAP classes, I studied literature and learned to infer what different writers try to convey, as well as the hidden meanings of different texts. Doing this honed my critical thinking and literacy skills to a great extent. There were also note-taking lessons and debates in class that kept students on their toes.

To get where I am today, the GIL Centre was my second home. I spent most of my free time reading the magazines available in the GIL Centre and practicing with its IELTS materials. Most importantly, my teachers were my main sources of motivation. Their passion and encouragement pushed me to be who I am today.

Nicholas Millward and Lim Chhengheang

Being a teacher here is strange, in a good way. Most of my teachers are now my colleagues. Nick has become my immediate supervisor and Campus Manager, which means he is still teaching me after all these years. Despite these changes, the looks in my former teachers’ eyes show that they still think of me as their hyperactive student.

It is with them that I feel at home at ACE.