Building Vocabulary One Word at a Time

We started BridgeChannel in 2019 because we noticed something. Adults trying to learn English in Vientiane kept hitting the same wall—vocabulary. Not grammar rules or pronunciation drills, but actually remembering and using new words.

How We Got Here

Back in 2018, I was teaching small English groups out of a borrowed classroom. Students would memorize word lists for tests, then forget everything by the next month. It felt like pouring water into a bucket with holes.

So we tried something different. Instead of massive vocabulary dumps, we broke learning into small, connected sets. Words that actually showed up together in real conversations. We tracked what students remembered after three months, then six months. The difference was remarkable.

By mid-2019, we had our first structured program. Twelve students went through it. Eight of them were still using those vocabulary sets two years later—not because they kept reviewing, but because the words stuck the first time around.

That's when BridgeChannel became official. We moved into our current space on Rue Bartholonie in 2020, right before everything shut down. Spent those months rebuilding our approach for mixed online and in-person learning. Turned out to be useful.

Modern vocabulary learning environment at BridgeChannel

What Makes Our Approach Work

Context Clusters

We teach words in natural groups—the way they appear in actual conversations. When you learn "negotiate," you also get "compromise," "agreement," and "terms" in the same week. Your brain builds connections instead of isolated facts.

Spaced Repetition

Words come back when you're about to forget them. Not random review—calculated timing based on research about memory. We track which words need reinforcement and when, so practice time isn't wasted on vocabulary you already know.

Real Usage Practice

Every new word gets used in three different contexts during your first week. Not fill-in-the-blank exercises—actual conversations, written responses, and listening activities where meaning matters. You can't hide behind multiple choice questions here.

Your Journey Through Our Program

Students practicing vocabulary in context-based activities Interactive vocabulary learning sessions at BridgeChannel
1

Foundation Building

First eight weeks focus on 400 high-frequency words you'll use constantly. We assess your current vocabulary, identify gaps, and create your personal learning path. Classes meet twice weekly, with daily practice activities that take about 20 minutes.

2

Context Expansion

Weeks nine through sixteen add 600 words organized by topic areas relevant to your goals—business, academic, or social communication. You start producing longer responses and participating in structured discussions where vocabulary accuracy matters.

3

Advanced Application

Final twelve weeks introduce 800 sophisticated words and phrases. You're writing short essays, giving presentations, and handling complex conversations. By week 28, you've actively used over 1,800 words multiple times in various contexts.

4

Independent Mastery

After completing the core program, you have lifetime access to our review system. Most students continue practicing 15 minutes daily. We track retention rates—students maintain over 80% of learned vocabulary after twelve months with minimal ongoing practice.

Who Runs BridgeChannel

Kevan Lindström, Curriculum Director at BridgeChannel

Kevan Lindström

Curriculum Director

Kevan designed our vocabulary framework after teaching English in Southeast Asia for eleven years. He spent 2017-2018 researching spaced repetition methods at Chiang Mai University. Before that, he worked in Stockholm developing language apps that never quite solved the retention problem. That's what brought him to Vientiane—figuring out what actually works for busy adults.

Rune Thorsson, Program Coordinator at BridgeChannel

Rune Thorsson

Program Coordinator

Rune handles everything that keeps programs running smoothly. He's been with us since 2021, managing schedules, tracking student progress, and solving the hundred small problems that come up each week. Previously worked in Oslo coordinating educational programs for working professionals. He speaks four languages, learned three of them as an adult, so he gets the frustration of forgetting words you swear you studied yesterday.

Our Next Program Starts September 2025

We're accepting applications through July for our autumn cohort. Classes are limited to 15 students per group, and we typically fill spots by early August. If you're tired of memorizing vocabulary that disappears in two weeks, come see what structured retention actually looks like.

Get Program Details