Introduction
Administered by the Institute of Foreign Languages at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Khmer for Foreigners is a non-degree private course for foreigners who wish to learn to read, write and speak Khmer.
The course consists of four graded levels, which can be taken successfully over one year, or spread out over a longer period. The Khmer for Foreigners course is extremely flexible, as each unit can be taken as a discrete intensive short course. Each level is offered four times a year, for 8-10 weeks. Classes run for 1.5 hours each weekday, with students choosing to attend morning and afternoon classes.
Students who progress through all four courses and are highly proficient in Khmer may choose to continue their Khmer studies by taking classes with local students at RUPP’s Department of Khmer Literature.
Background
A Technical Assistance Group (TAG) in English Language was established by RUPP with the assistance of international volunteers in 1991. The TAG worked to retrain former Vietnamese and Russian language teachers to become teachers of English. In 1993, its role expanded to general staff training and providing preparation courses for those embarking on overseas scholarships. The TAG began teaching first-year students in 1997 and subsequently changed its name to the English Language Support Unit (ELSU). In the same year, the Cambodian Government changed its policy, allowing students to focus on either English or French.
Admission
Before beginning classes in the first year, students take an English-language placement exam to evaluate their level of English proficiency. Classes operate at various levels depending on the student’s knowledge of English.
Assessment
A student’s semester grade consists of a class grade (60%) and a final exam grade (40%). The class grade takes homework, quizzes, compositions and class participation into account. Students who fail a course must retake that course in order to be eligible for the next level. Some remedial courses are offered during the Summer Session. Students must successfully complete six semesters of English in order to receive their Bachelor’s degree.
Resources
Internationally recognized textbooks are used in the basic courses. Graded readers are loaned to students by the ELSU. In a number of elective courses, ELSU teachers have compiled material to form course books.
Staff
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Activities
Date: June 25, 2025
Type: N/A
Uploaded By: N/A
សកម្មភាពតម្រង់ទិសអំពីរបៀបប្រើប្រាស់ធនធានឯកសាររបស់បណ្ណាល័យដល់និស្សិតថ្នាក់ឆ្នាំមូលដ្ឋាន ដេប៉ាតឺម៉ង់វិស្វកម្មជិវសាស្រ្តមកពីមហាវិទ្យាល័យវិស្វកម្មនៃសាកលវិទ្យាល័យភូមិន្ទភ្នំពេញ
Date: June 18, 2025
Type: Event
Uploaded By: Admin
ថ្ងៃដំបូងនៃការចាប់ផ្តើមកម្មវិធី Pre-Incubation ដែលមានរយៈពេល ៦ ខែ ។ ក្រុមទាំង ៤ ដែលបានទទួលជ័យលាភីក្នុងកម្មវិធី BANDOS DIGITAL STARTUP PROGRAM 2021 បានចាប់ផ្តើមចូលធ្វើការនៅក្នុងការិយាល័យ ដែលមានទីតាំងនៅ មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសហប្រតិបត្តិការ កម្ពុជា-កូរ៉េ (CKCC) ដែលរៀបចំដោយក្រុមការងាររបស់ មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលជាតិបណ្តុះធុរកិច្ចថ្មីនៃកម្ពុជា (NICC) ដែលមានការគាំទ្រដោយ ទីភ្នាក់ងារសហប្រតិបត្តិការអន្តរជាតិកូរ៉េ ហៅកាត់ថា (កយការ-KOICA) ។ ក្រុមជ័យលាភីទាំង ៤ បានចាប់ផ្តើមធ្វើការអភិវឌ្ឍទៅលើគំនិតអាជីវកម្មរបស់ពួកគេដើម្បីធ្វើយ៉ាងណាជំរុញផលិតផល និងសេវាកម្មរបស់ពួកគេចូលទៅកាន់ទីផ្សារ ដើម្បីធ្វើការដោះស្រាយបញ្ហា ដែលជាតម្រូវការនៅក្នុងសង្គមនាពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន ។
Date: August 27, 2021
Type: Event
Uploaded By: Admin
On 27 August 2021, KOICA, RUPP and NICC organized an online event on “Governmental Policy for Cambodian Startup”. There was a fruitful event, which was shared by representatives from four different ministries (MEF, MoEYS, MPTC and MISTI). Also, there were open remarks from Vice-Rector Kean Tak and Country Director of KOICA Mr. Rho Hyunjun, as well.
Date: June 11, 2025
Type: Training
Uploaded By: Admin
On 9 August 2021, at RUPP there was a site visit of NICC building (next to CKCC). The visited members: KOICA Deputy-director, Construction Company, and RUPP team. NICC building construction will be started soon
Events
Academic Staff
It is recognized that all language programs at university level require native speaker participation. The university has therefore strived for a balance between native English speaking and Cambodian teachers.
International Staff:
Several organizations provide volunteers to the English Language Support Unit: Maryknoll (USA), Christian & Missionary Alliance (Canada), Volunteer Service Abroad (New Zealand), United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (USA), the United States Information Service (USA), OMF (UK) and Princeton in Asia. These volunteers typically teach within ELSU on a temporary basis.
Permanent Staff:
(The number in brackets indicates the year the staff member began teaching at RUPP)
Mr.Sok Samnang (1986): B.A. (Vietnamese Linguistics and Literature), Ho Chi Minh University (Vietnam), 1991; Certificate (English for Specific Purposes), Deakin University (Australia), 2001; currently pursuing M.A. (TESOL), Pannasastra University (Cambodia), 2007.
Mr.Chan Saraphong (1991): Diploma (Russian Language), RUPP, 1990; B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 1998; M.A. (ELT), Assumption University (Thailand), 2003.
Ms.Oeur Sisotha (1991): M.A. (Education), Foreign Languages Institute (Ukraine), 1991.
Ms.Pan Somaly (1993): M.A. (Philology), Russian University of People’s Friendship (Russia), 1992; M.A. (ESL), Gonzaga University (USA), 2003.
Ms.Sou Boramy (1994): M.A. (Education in Russian Language and Literature), Moscow State Pedagogical University (Russia), 1993; Certificate (Language Testing), SEAMEO Regional Language Center (Singapore), 1999; Certificate (Train the Trainers in Course Curriculum Design), Singapore Training Center (Phnom Penh), 2004; M.A. (ELT), Assumption University (Thailand), 2003; participated (Teacher Exchange Program in Curriculum Design), Victory University of Wellington (New Zealand), 2005; a speaker (The Annual 28th ThailandTESOL Conference), (Thailand); a featured speaker (6th CamTESOL Conference), Phnom Penh (Cambodia); Certificate (International Teaching English as a Foreign Language), University of Washington (USA), 2010.
Ms.Tao Nary (2000): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2000; M.A. (TESOL), University of Technology, Sydney (Australia), 2006; Certificate (English Language and Literature—General), City University of New York (USA), 2003; currently pursuing Ph.D. (Assessment), Melbourne University (Australia).
Ms.Bounchan Sumana (2001): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2001; Certificate (English Language and Literature—General), City University of New York (USA), 2003; M.Sc. (Higher Education Administration (Student Affairs)), Texas A & M University (USA), 2007, currently pursuing Ph.D. (Education), University of Newcastle (Australia).
Mr.Dek Sovannthea (2001): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2001; B.Sc. (Computer Science and Engineering), RUPP, 2003; M.A. (Teaching with Technology), Santa Clara University (USA), 2006.
Ms.Nguon Ramna (2005): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006; currently pursuing Med. (Administration), RUPP,(Cambodia).
Ms.Kim Dinath (2006): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006; Diploma (Applied Linguistics) SEAMEO Regional Language Center (Singapore), 2008; currently pursuing M.Ed. (Administration), RUPP, (Cambodia).
Ms.Prak T. Vatey (2007): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006; M.Ed. (Administration), University of Origen, (USA), 2010.
Ms.Haing Sivpheng (2007): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006; currently pursuing M.Ed. (Administration), RUPP, (Cambodia).
Mr.Chuon Kheang (2007): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2005; currently pursuing M.Ed. (Administration), RUPP, (Cambodia).
Mr.Khat Korop (2007): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006; currently pursuing M.A. (TESOL), RUPP, (Cambodia).
Mr.Thann Meng Leap (2007): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006.
Mr.Toch Pheakdey (2006): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006; currently pursuing M.Ed. (Administration), RUPP, (Cambodia).
Mr.Nhoung Sovoan (2006): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006.
Mr.Lim Lady (2008): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006.
Mr.Song Sokun (2008): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2006.
Mr. Heng Pidor (2008): B.Ed. (TEFL), RUPP, 2000; currently pursuing M.Ed. (Administration), RUPP (Cambodia).
Curriculum and Course Descriptions
Based on the results of the placement test they sit upon enrolment at RUPP, students are placed in one of the basic courses, English 001,101, 201/203 or 301/303. To fulfil the six-semester foreign language requirement, students placed in 001 will study ENG 001 through ENG 202. Students placed in 101 will study ENG 101 through ENG 302/304. Students placed in 201/203 will study ENG 201/203 through 302/304, plus two elective courses. Students placed in 301/303 will study that course, ENG 302, and four elective courses.
Basic Courses
ENG 101-102 (Elementary Level)
These courses are designed for students who enter the program with a minimal background in English. They study the elementary level of an integrated textbook series. Students who successfully complete ENG 102 are eligible to study ENG 201.
ENG 201-202/203-204 (Pre-Intermediate Level)
These courses are designed for students who enter the program with a minimal background in English. They study the elementary level of an integrated tIn these courses, students continue with the same integrated textbook series as in ENG 101-102 but at a pre-intermediate level. Graded readers are also used. Students who successfully complete ENG 202/204 are eligible to study ENG 301/303.extbook series. Students who successfully complete ENG 102 are eligible to study ENG 201.
ENG 301-302/303--304 (Intermediate Level)
These are the last of the Basic Courses. In these two courses, students continue with the integrated textbook series. In addition, students are also introduced to academic reading and writing. Graded readers form an essential part of the curriculum.
Elective Courses
ENG 401-410 (upper-intermediate)
Students who place in ENG 201/203 or ENG 301/303 upon entering the University must subsequently take elective courses for the remainder of their degree. Elective courses are each one semester long. The elective courses presently offered are Academic Reading and Word List, English for Employment, Essay Writing, TOEFL Preparation, Methodology of English Teaching, Speaking Skills, South East Asia Studies, and Research Skills. Essay Writing is a prerequisite for Research Skills.
ENG401 Academic Reading
This course improves students’ reading skills, allowing them to read and analyze texts in their major area of study. The course textbook is Reading for a Reason. In addition, students intensively study academic word lists to help them understand the vocabulary of academic texts. These lists consist of the 570 most frequently used words in academic texts. The final exam consists of a reading text (50%) and a test of vocabulary from the lists (50%).
ENG402 English for Employment
This course develops students’ English language proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking by exploring situations and contexts related to business and the job market. Students practice their language skills by role play in a wide range of specific and general professional situations, such as participating in a job interview, preparing a CV or resume, filling out application forms, talking on the telephone, and writing formal and informal letters. In addition, students learn to plan ahead, and prepare for such situations.
Summer School Programs
To further increase students’ English proficiency, the ELSU offers enrichment courses for all RUPP students and students from other universities around Phnom Penh, and remedial courses for those who have failed or need to make up a semester of their language requirement at RUPP. Both enrichment and remedial courses are usually offered in July, during the university’s summer break.
Signing Up for Courses
Students may enroll in up to THREE enrichment courses of their choice. During registration month, students should go to the English Language Support Unit office (Room 113A, RUPP Campus I) and fill out a registration form with the assistance of a Summer School staff member. Course fees are due upon registration. The cost of remedial courses is 20,000R and the cost of enrichment courses is 25,000R, except TOEFL preparation courses, which cost 40,000R.
Remedial Courses
Whilst the remedial program is part of ELSU’s normal Summer School schedule, it is not a certificate course. Students who have failed their English courses during the academic year must sign up for these courses to gain the credits they need to progress in their degree. Remedial classes meet Monday to Friday for three hours every morning, equaling the number of hours of a regular semester. As the courses run for only one month, a minimum 80% attendance rate is required.
Enrichment Courses
The ELSU office offers various enrichment courses that cover the five major language skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Grammar. Students are encouraged to sign up for enrichment courses that interest them and are within their ability level. Summer School staff will be available during registration month to assist students in the process of choosing classes.
ELSU’s system of assigning course codes can assist students in selecting the appropriate class. For example, courses with numbers of 12a-12b are geared for those who have completed elementary courses (102 English) at RUPP. 22-29-level courses are geared for those having completed high elementary and low pre-intermediate courses (102 or 202 English) at RUPP. 32-39-level courses are for those who have completed higher pre-intermediate or intermediate level (204 or 302). 41-43-level courses are for those who have finished the intermediate level course (304), or elective courses. As a general rule, the higher the course number, the higher the level of proficiency required to complete that course. Enrichment courses meet Monday to Friday, morning or afternoon, for one hour and twenty minutes. A minimum 80% attendance rate is required in all Enrichment courses.