About us

Accredited TESOL Teaching English & Volunteer Programs in Asia What is LC Asia? LC Asia offers comprehensive TEFL / TESOL teaching English programs and training courses, job placement for English teachers and logistical support for talented people interested in taking a gap year, study abroad, teach and travel, teaching abroad, learning to teach English overseas, teaching young

learners, teaching business English in Asia What does LC Asia do? We provide unique training combining TESOL certification, local language and cultural immersion courses, practice teaching students in real classrooms and job placements into paid teaching English roles with select schools across Asia - Empowering our teachers to thrive as professionals abroad. LC Asia's Mission Is to offer participants a rewarding experience living in, working in and learning about new cultures; offering trainees a unique opportunity to learn and apply new skills and challenge them to develop a wider perspective about the diversity of cultures and populations around the world - all within the security of a paid job teaching English, a highly organized system, and a supportive community. LC Asia's Goals Empower our teachers with TEFL training, job placement and support, focusing on the

process so our teachers can focus on the experience of living as professionals abroad Challenge our teachers to learn and apply new skills, while making real contributions to the success and well being of others in the world Help reduce the risk often associated with living and working in a new part of the world, far from home - allowing our teachers to enjoy a secure lifestyle and rewarding travel adventure Work for our teachers, not for the schools which employ them Develop culturally responsible "citizen diplomats," who appreciate cultural diversity, foster mutual respect, and

encourage understanding among culturally diverse people. LC Asia's Team Mr.Rick Barnes (Executive Director) Rick received his Masters Degree in Psychology and Student Personnel Services in 1971, and first came to Southeast Asia in 1972 as a Guidance Counselor for the US government. After five years in Thailand, he returned to the US and began working with refugees from Cambodia and Laos, running programs to teach English Language and Vocational skills, ranging from a Headstart Program for preschoolers to regular adult ESL programs. Rick returned to Thailand in 1979 working with the US Refugee program, initially involved as Deputy Director of the program that screened refugees bound for America. Rick wound up starting English programs in one Thailand camp as a demonstration program that soon became US government sponsored and expanded to all US bound refugees all over Southeast Asia. As the first Director of the Southeast Asia office of the Center for Applied Linguistics, he was in charge of the program that developed curricula, materials and textbooks for use in camps all over Asia. When that program moved to the Philippines, Rick

stayed in Thailand and developed the first major Business English program, sponsored by a branch of the School for International Training. He returned to the US in 1986, working with abandoned and abused children. In the 1990's Rick jumped into a different adventure, running a resort in Mexico, a dive boat and teaching SCUBA courses that included instructor training. In 2002, Rick returned to Southeast Asia, hooked up with old ESL friends, and started instructing TESOL courses. He and his partner Jerry Patton, founded the Southeast Asia LanguageCorps program initially in Thailand and expanding to Vietnam and Cambodia, where the main office is now located. Rick's special focus with LC Asia has been the design of a unique TESOL experience that combines a quality course with local language, cultural experiences and exciting adventure programs from exploring ancient temples, to learning to dive, to feeding a baby Tiger or riding an Elephant. He wants to share the Southeast Asia experience and help others learn to love and appreciate this special part of the world. Mr. Mike Fitzgerald (Director of Program Development) Michael Fitzgerald is a career-oriented English teacher and teacher trainer. Growing up in Canada, Michael graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Carleton University, and his post-graduate qualification in Corporate Communications from Seneca College in 1996. Michael also has his initial teaching certification from the Irish teacher's association, and his post-service teaching diploma from Cambridge

University. Michael has been involved with English language teaching for more than 20 years, and has trained thousands of teachers all over Asia, Europe and Latin America for 14 of those years, including for many Korean universities, United Nations, governments, NGO's, private institutes and many internationally well-known teacher training organizations. Michael has been with LC Asia since January 2014, and helps to develop new educational programs, market programs and liaise with trainees and overseas business partners. When not teaching or developing programs, Michael enjoys working out at the gym, cooking and writing. William Parker,M.A (Director of Teacher Training) Billy Parker has been in education for over 10 years teaching both History and ESL. He earned his BA in History from the University of Kentucky as well as a Masters in teaching and education from Marshall University. After teaching in the US for six years, Billy first came to SE Asia in 2010 where, after earning his TESOL in Thailand, he began working for LanguageCorps as Director of Teacher Training. Since then Billy has made additional stops in Aruba and Morocco. He returned to LanguageCorps this year to resume his position as Director of Teacher Training. Billy teaches many of our classroom sessions as well as conduct classroom observations. He loves to share with students

the crazy and exciting nature of ESL teaching as well as life in SE Asia. Outside of the classroom, you’ll find Billy conducting the city tour component of the program and on the excursions to Angkor Wat or to the beach at Sihanoukville. In his spare time, he’s an avid reader, travel writer, and competes regularly in Phnom Penh’s quiz night competitions. Ms. In Chantrea (Cambodia Program Manager) Trea graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Banking at National University of Management in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2005. A Cambodian national, Trea worked as a team leader for a marketing research company before starting with LC Asia in 2007. Primarily she serves as a liaison between trainees and Cambodia's non-English speakers. She arranges the country visas for all trainees, the weekend excursions, airport pick up and drop off, and helps the trainees with any and all emergencies while in Cambodia. She enjoys studying foreign languages like English, Chinese and Thai. During her free time she likes to drive her scooter with her friends to visit the countryside or her family. Ms. Meizel Millanas Nuera (Philippines Program Manager) Meizel Millanas Nuera

graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in Trinidad Municipal College, Bohol Philippines last 2009. She worked as a teacher and caregiver in Playroom Kids Care Center, Cebu Philippines from 2010 to 2013. Meizel enjoys working with kids and serving as a good role model to her young students. Completing her TESOL Certification with LC Asia in May 2013, Meizel began developing the Filipino Assistance Program. The program will liaise with Filipino schools to train current teachers and perspective teachers in TESOL to either teach in Cambodia or in their home country. Meizel also serves as the lead teacher of our preschool class, which is made up of street kids and

orphans that live near the Hotel in Phnom Penh. Her classroom serves as an example for trainees to observe a classroom run by a high quality TESOL instructor. She also currently assists with the Cambodian hotel staff and front desk. Meizel loves getting to know people, dancing, singing and going on adventures! Mr. Sok Seila (Cambodian Language trainer and IT coordinator) With LC Asia since 2013, Seila serves as one of the Cambodian language and culture trainers, assisting trainees with their Khmer language development. Alternately he works on all IT issues at the Marady Hotel in Phnom Penh and aids trainees with any technical issues (computer, internet, WIFI) they encounter during training. He graduated with a bachelor degree at the Cambodian National University of Management with a specialization in Web design. He is also responsible for maintaining the LC Asia website. Seila enjoys spending time with his family and friends.