Teaching, Training, Transforming: A Volunteer’s Impact on English Learning in Cambodia
This story highlights the impact of individuals who give their time and expertise to advance education in Cambodia. We met Jenny Miller in 2023, and while she volunteers independently, her collaboration with the Cambodian Village Fund reflects the kind of partnership that deepens our work and strengthens our programs. We are grateful for her support and the generous donation of classroom materials to our CVF English Language Program.
Jenny Miller has taught phonics and pronunciation to thousands of first graders in her native Canada. In recent years, she has devoted her time and energy to traveling to Cambodia, where she supports much-needed English language education. Her annual workshops have become inspiring and highly anticipated learning opportunities for Cambodian English teachers. These educators are teaching the next generation one of the most essential skills of our time: the English language – opening doors to knowledge, employment opportunities and communication with the wider world.
One of the key challenges Jenny addresses is that many English sounds simply do not exist in the Khmer language. Without targeted phonics and pronunciation instruction, these sounds are difficult to hear, distinguish, and reproduce. Jenny’s method focuses on phonics and sound patterns. Over the course of her teaching career she developed the Roots and Sprouts learning program – a blended phonics and sight-word approach to teaching reading and writing. Jenny has adapted her Roots and Sprouts program to meet the unique challenges of Cambodian students learning English.
We met Jenny and her husband Garth during one of our visits to Battambang and quickly realized that we were investing in the same area – Education. Jenny is a bundle of optimism, energy, commitment, and unwavering perseverance. Teaching is both her calling and her passion. She began her career at just 18, and now, in her early 70s, her enthusiasm remains as contagious as ever.
Jenny kindly offered five places for the teachers of our English Language Program in her series of workshops. Our Teacher SreyNoch said of the workshop: “It helps me to pronounce the 26 letters of the English alphabet and words correctly. The most interesting parts are the magnetic boards, the storyboards and the leveled books.”
The free workshops are held at the COERR Language Center. Attendees include teachers from COERR as well as others from the surrounding area. Since all of our college scholarship students attend classes at COERR to improve their English skills, they benefit indirectly from the impact of Jenny’s work.
“I feel deeply appreciated and highly motivated. The importance of the work and the immediate rewards of seeing teachers grow in confidence and skill keep me coming back.” Jenny says.
In 2024 Jenny visited the Bill and Nancy Primary School in Prey Touch village to learn more about our long running English Language Program which serves more than 450 students in Grades 3 through 12. There are six teachers, several of whom have attended Jenny’s workshops twice and enjoyed the practical approach and valuable content. Teacher Vichet said: “I really like the way she teaches – her pronunciation, classroom and time management. I can pronounce a word clearly and sound out the alphabet. I really appreciate that I had a chance to join the workshop.”
This year, in support of our work, Jenny generously donated essential teaching materials from her Roots andSprouts program to our classrooms. The gift includes magnetic boards and letters, teacher manuals, student booklets, leveled reading books, and other resources – valued at nearly $3,000. It is a truly cherished act of kindness.
We are grateful for Jenny and Garth and the support they extend to our mission.
“I am really excited about these resources and what they’ll bring to the program. It will be a great way to improve speaking and reading outcomes in the ELP, a big capacity building goal. ” Zion, our program director, said.
Jenny is an important volunteer contributor who shapes the future of young people in Cambodia. Partnerships like this, and educators like Jenny, bring knowledge and inspiration to Cambodia’s classrooms. They help build confidence, clarity, and opportunities – one sound at a time.
Are you passionate about education or have skills you’d like to share? We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help support teachers and students for our afterschool enrichment programs. If you have questions about Jenny’s workshops, our English and science program, or how you can contribute in other ways, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us to explore opportunities that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Cambodians.
For more information about Jenny Miller’s unique Roots and Sprouts programs go to https://www.readingroots.ca
We kindly thank Saret Sayon, photographer at SBUBB, for volunteering to take photos during Jenny’s workshop at COERR.