Nicole Takeda, Executive Director
Nicole at home in Japan.
Nicole Takeda is BEA’s co-founder and executive director who works mostly behind the scenes at BEA. She balances her time between both Cambodia and Japan. While in Cambodia, she develops and revises BEA's curriculum, teaches the job skills and writing workshops, runs the teacher-training program, and carries out research on BEA’s language programs. In Japan, she is responsible for developing teacher-training lessons, fundraising and BEA's social media. Nicole has published extensively on English language education, and the challenges facing education in the public school system and NGO sector in Cambodia.
Nicole completed her undergraduate degree at the American University of Paris (AUP) in International Affairs and Modern History. After moving to Japan, she received her graduate degree from the University of Sheffield in Japanese Language and Society, which focused on the use of Japanese foreign aid in Southeast Asia. She also has a graduate degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of New England. She concentrated her studies on how to localize English language learning to reflect cultural values and the use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) to advanced the socio-economic status of those in developing countries. Nicole has over nineteen years of teaching experience, and also holds teaching certificates from both the School of International Training (SIT) and Cambridge University.
Nicole completed her undergraduate degree at the American University of Paris (AUP) in International Affairs and Modern History. After moving to Japan, she received her graduate degree from the University of Sheffield in Japanese Language and Society, which focused on the use of Japanese foreign aid in Southeast Asia. She also has a graduate degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of New England. She concentrated her studies on how to localize English language learning to reflect cultural values and the use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) to advanced the socio-economic status of those in developing countries. Nicole has over nineteen years of teaching experience, and also holds teaching certificates from both the School of International Training (SIT) and Cambridge University.
Shally Toun, Managing Director
Shally in his classroom at BEA
Shally Toun is BEA’s other co-founder and managing director. He is kept very busy with BEA’s daily operations, which include an endless list of tasks ranging from liaisoning with community leaders and government officials to preparing monthly budget reports to staff meetings. However, most of his time is spent on BEA’s English language program. Despite his busy schedule, he always makes time for BEA’s students, especially when they need advice about personal and family issues, as well as encouragement in their studies. He does this through also running weekly job counseling sessions and monthly self-development workshops for the BEA kids. Shally believes that BEA is not only to help students develop their English language skills, but also to provide them with a supportive environment to help them achieve their goals in life.
Shally has an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Southeast Asia where he specialized in human resource management. Prior to becoming BEA’s mangaging director, Shally has had extensive NGO administration and teaching experience at local organizations in Siem Reap.
Shally has an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Southeast Asia where he specialized in human resource management. Prior to becoming BEA’s mangaging director, Shally has had extensive NGO administration and teaching experience at local organizations in Siem Reap.
Sreynet Voek, Librarian and Research Assistant
Sreynet in BEA's library.
Sreynet is our incredibly hard-working and talented library and research assistant. She's kept busy with processing books for our library, helping students borrow and return books, and making sure books are returned in good condition and on time. She's even gone to students' homes to get overdue books! She first started at BEA as a student in 2010 in the Basic English Language course, and after three years, she's now in the Advanced course. Her strong communication skills and dedication to her studies got her hired on as the school's library at the end of the 2010-11 school year. Because of her ability to work independently and show initiative, Nicole Takeda, BEA's executive director, took her on as her research assistant to help her with compiling data for her research projects and BEA's annual program evaluations. Sreynet graduated high school in 2012 and is now studying management at university. In the future, she would like to work in a management position at BEA.
Message:
"I feel that I'm very lucky to work at BEA because I can help students enjoy reading books. I've gained so much confidence in myself since I started working here. I hope that I can work at BEA forever!"
Message:
"I feel that I'm very lucky to work at BEA because I can help students enjoy reading books. I've gained so much confidence in myself since I started working here. I hope that I can work at BEA forever!"
Sarith Sou, English Language Instructor
Sarith reviewing her lessons plans.
Sarith is BEA's newest member to the teaching staff. In August 2012, she went through a one-month intensive teacher-trianing program with Nicole Takeda, BEA's executive director, and then three months of on-the-job training with Shally Toun, BEA's managing director and head teacher. For the 2013-14 school year, she has a full-time teaching course load, which includes the Basic and Pre-Intermediate English Language courses. Sarith started as a pre-intermediate student when BEA first opened its doors in 2010, and then worked her way up to BEA's Advanced course, which she completed with first class honors at the end of the 2012-13 school year. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she's also in charge of our student filing system and assisting in BEA's social awareness workshops. Sarith is extremely dedicated teacher with impressive time-management skills. Before she starts work at BEA in the early afternoon, she attends her grade 11 high school classes! In the future, she would like to study English literature at university.
Sarith's Message:
"I'm glad that I can work at BEA because I've developed so much as an individual, especially my self-confidence. I hope that I can continue working at BEA once I enter university."
Sarith's Message:
"I'm glad that I can work at BEA because I've developed so much as an individual, especially my self-confidence. I hope that I can continue working at BEA once I enter university."
Chieu Hem, School Assistant and Substitute Teacher
Chieu ready for BEA's registration.
When Chieu first started her studies at BEA in the Basic English language course in 2010, she was a complete beginner. In a matter of months, she become a competent and creative communicator. Her talent for language learning is so unusual that BEA's executive director, Nicole Takeda, has been running a case study on her foreign language acquisition for the past three years! Because of her motivation and her generosity in helping other BEA students with their studies, we just had to hire her on as part of the BEA team. Chieu then became BEA's school's assistant for the 2012-13 school year, and has been kept busy with endless administrative duties. Chieu graduated high school in 2013, and hopes to find a sponsor so that she can study tourism at university in the future.
Chieu's Message:
"I'm really happy that I've been able to study at BEA. I've learned so much about the world and gained a lot of confidence. Working at BEA is a great experience to help me with my future goals!"
Chieu's Message:
"I'm really happy that I've been able to study at BEA. I've learned so much about the world and gained a lot of confidence. Working at BEA is a great experience to help me with my future goals!"
Dany Pem, Library Assistant and School Artist
Dany decorating BEA's classrooms.
Dany was hired at the start of the 2013-14 school year as our part-time librarian assistant and school artist. She started as a student in the Pre-Intermediate language course when we first opened in 2010, and quickly became one of our top students with exceptional creative writing skills. As a student, she decorated our classrooms and painted the outside of the BEA entrance with beautifully designed elephants, geckos and bumblebees. Because of our expansion this year, we're very grateful to have someone as talented and dedicated as her on our team. Dany graduated high school in March 2013, and is now looking for a sponsor to continue her studies in education administration at university. She would like to be a part of improving the quality of education in the Cambodian public school system.
Dany's Message:
"Once I finished the Advanced language course, I didn't want to leave BEA. I'm so happy that I can come to BEA everyday now, and do something I love - working with books!"
Dany's Message:
"Once I finished the Advanced language course, I didn't want to leave BEA. I'm so happy that I can come to BEA everyday now, and do something I love - working with books!"
Sopheak Peng, Security Guard
Sopheak standing guard.
Sopheak is always the first person students meet before they even step foot through the front doors. He is our devoted security guard who keeps us safe and all the students' bicycles under close watch during their lessons. Each and every day, he's kept incredibly busy with parking students' bicycles and motorbikes before their lessons, and then getting them out of BEA's crowded parking lot after lessons are over. He often has only 15 minutes to get over 100 students in about out of the parking lot during the 10-minute break between classes. He's also been a great help when it comes to our building maintenance whether it's helping with carpentry, electrical wiring or plumbing. Sopheak graduated high school in August 2013, and he would like to continue his English language studies at university in the future."
Sopheak's Message:
"Through working at BEA, I can help the students and myself improve our English. I feel lucky that I get to talk with all the teachers, students and guests every day."
Sopheak's Message:
"Through working at BEA, I can help the students and myself improve our English. I feel lucky that I get to talk with all the teachers, students and guests every day."
