LC Cambodia

I participated in LanguageCorps in July 2013. The program is an amazing experience, worth more than every penny I paid! This course is very rigorous but the staff always make sure to plan fun social activities for the students. I was so busy the entire 4 weeks in Cambodia, but it was a labor of love. We went on amazing weekend trips to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, and I taught at a local international kindergarten and an orphanage as part of my student teaching. They also provide you with a 2 week crash course in the language of the country you chose, which has proven to be incredibly valuable!

I recommend this program to anyone looking to have the trip of a lifetime and get something valuable out of it. However, I do have some warnings (Cambodia is not for the faint of heart!). Most of them are in regards to the hotel we lived in.

-The Marady (the hotel) is on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, which we learned to love by the end but be warned that its a pricey tuk tuk ride if you want to go anywhere fun. The river that runs next to the Marady is lovingly referred to as "sh*t creek". The smell will permeate your windows if you are on that side of the building (we got used to it though)

-The tuk tuk drivers will always try to rip you off, even though they sort of work for the hotel

-The Marady food is quite possibly some of the worst in Cambodia, and you'll end up eating so much of it because of the hotels location (far out there). Also, DO NOT get the free hotel massage. Just don't do it.

-The pool is always murky and the "gym" consists of 2
or 3 very antiquated machines on a moldy rug in the middle of the pool bar.

-The guy who runs the program (and owns the Marady) is a cynical man who comes across as very cheap. Luckily you won't have to deal with him too much, and the rest of the staff is super friendly, knowledgable and awesome.

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I'm so glad I got to have this experience! It's so cool to experience a country like Cambodia first hand with some amazing guidance. I don't think there is another TESOL program quite like it out there.