English in Laos

Abstract English has become the most important foreign language in Laos, as the language is considered a key element of the country’s competitiveness and enables its people to communicate with others in ASEAN and beyond, to gain access to freely available information on the internet, and to integrate into global markets more easily. This chapter discusses the challenges faced in Laos with regard to the English language and what possible future directions might be taken from multiple perspectives. It discusses the status, role, and use of English, and reports on a study of university students’ English language proficiency. Challenges related to the use of English in Laos are discussed with regard to vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and pronunciation, using samples from secondary school to university level.