So – Whazzit Like to Teach English in Việt Nam?

First of all – teaching English is fun!

Language is expressed in different ways.  As native speakers, we write English, we speak English, we listen to English, and we read English.  Teaching a class can involve any one (or more) of those skills.  I’ve been very lucky in that I have been assigned to teach speaking, writing, and even an American Culture class.  (Yes – it is a requirement for English majors, as is British Culture.) 

Most English majors are girls.  (Before I get nasty comments from feminists, please be aware that one’s marital status determines whether you are a girl or woman in Việt Nam, not one’s age.)  All students have taken English in high school, and have passed very competitive university entrance exams before being admitted to the English department.  But – that does not necessarily mean they can speak or write English.  It means they have studied the grammar and syntax of English, but have not always learned how to speak the language.  That’s where native speaking English teachers come in.  We can help the students pronounce English correctly and teach the many idioms and nuances used in everyday English.  In other words, we teach them how to communicate in English, building on the skills they have already learned in high school.

As always, be sure to click on each picture to see a larger version.

I meet with my first year speaking class twice each week – 2 hours each time.  There are 60 students in the class.  That is not a typo – I have 60 students.  They are chatty and noisy and fun loving. When I first started with this group in the early fall, they were disconcerted by the fact that I often arrived in the classroom before they did.  Normally, the Vietnamese teachers arrive after the students, who stand up when the teacher enters the room.  But, as a typical American, I usually get to class a little early so I can have my material ready.  This class is used to me now, and don’t pay much attention when I enter, other than to politely say “Good afternoon, Teacher.”.

Vietnamese students have attended school in a culture long dominated by Confucian ideals.  That means the teacher is held in very high regard.  The teacher is an expert, and not to be questioned.  While it is nice to be highly respected, it also results in very passive students.  Students are used to being told what to learn, and interaction in the classroom is seldom done.  Usually, a teacher does not ask questions, and most certainly a student would not ask the teacher a question as that might impugn the teacher’s knowledge and cause him/her to loose face.

Because I am a westerner,  the school encourages me to use western teaching methodologies, which usually involve lot of interactivity.  I cannot be interactive in the classroom if the students are passive, so I have to get them up and moving.  Once we had exchanged “beginning of class pleasantries”, I had them count off by twos – then we walked down three flights of steps to the courtyard.  All the “Ones” lined up on the left, and all the “Twos” lined up on the right.  We did some role playing, with the “Ones” pretending to be British tourists looking for a good restaurant, and the “Twos” recommending a place and giving directions on how to get to the restaurant.

That got ‘em moving and talking.  Now they are ready to do some active learning, so I sent them back upstairs in new groups of four.  We had another exercise designed to do two things – to practice English among themselves, and to develop their own learning strategies.  Each group was to come up with some ideas for practicing English out of class.  After working for a few minutes,  a few students stand up and tell the rest of the class of his/her group’s ideas  Of course, I select the member of the group who will stand up and make the report, so that makes all of them work on the project.  This is a noisy time in the classroom (and I sometimes wonder if we are upsetting the surrounding classrooms as there is no air conditioning and the windows are open), but they are practicing normal conversation and increasing their vocabulary.

With 60 students, it is important the students get as much practice as possible.  The small groups are supposed to speak English, though I not so naïve as to believe they don’t lapse into Vietnamese when I’m not standing over them.  In this picture, students are pretending they are calling me on the telephone after they have learned I am sick.   The fun part is when I “talk” to one of them on the “phone”, and say something they do not expect.

Problem solving is an important part of learning.  I seldom give students a direct answer to questions, and often have some sort of puzzle for them to solve. 

And by the way – did I tell you I have the best students in Việt Nam?

Comments

[Triet]

60 students, amazing! I teach at an ESL school, and I've been surprised to find the culture is different. Students are not as respectful, not as obedient, as during regular school. They are not bad, but more lax.

Also, I would have to disagree with you on the students. I have the best!

[Tom Murray]

Teaching is the greatest profession in the world. Every successful person in this world has had a great teacher who motivated them to excel. Your students are lucky to have you.

It's so much fun to see students explore new ways to learn and get excited in the process. This happens to me with seniors in college. Many college students know nothing but lecture. Engaging in active learning techniques can be new to older US students as well.

Enjoy the fun while it lasts.

Tom

[layered]

I would like to be one of the few boys in that class. But I guess that expresses my priorities when I was in school.
-- Mel

[robert]

and you coming back to the states after all this, that has to be hard

robert

[Triet]

To clarify, I am in Vietnam for only a short time (relatively speaking), before I head back to the states, and yes, I do teach in heavily westernized Saigon.

I wish I could spend some more time outside of "the city." I love the students I teach here, but my hearts resides in the north...perhaps I will quit a week early and travel...if I can convince my wife.

My original comment was much longer, so I turned it into a post on my blog.

[Emma]

Woah! 60 students! At my school, the teachers complain if there are over 15 students!!!! It sounds like the culture at the university is quite different to the commercial language centres around Hanoi. Although one similarity is the ratio of female to male students! Where are all the boys??

[Khanh]

It's different teaching 15 ADD/ADHD kids in the US. I'd rather teach 60 Vietnamese students over teaching 15 ADHD American kids!

[Bruce]

In 1970 I was a photographer with the military and stationed in Pleiku. I have a number of photo's of the 20th and 68th ARVN school classes. Do you know anyone from that area who may have an interest?

[James Gordon]

I have been teaching English in Saigon for six years. I take quite a few holidays out of Ho Chi Minh City to clear my lungs, but now I would like to do it more long-term. Is there a need for paid teachers in Hue? It is a magnificent city, with plenty of opportunity to walk around in the fresh air.

James Gordon
Saigon

[Chris Dollmont]

I have an opportunity to spend a few months in Vietnam, and I will have a lot of free time on my hands. I'd like to do some teaching--I have a lot of computer skills, for example, and would love to share that. Any tips or ideas?

Thanks!

Chris

[Stuart Owens]

Hi I am thinking of moving to Vietnam to teach ESL does anyone know the best way to find a job in Saigon. If so can they email me stuart_owens@hotmail.com

[david]

halo,i am 25years and from belgium
i would like to go to saigon next mounth and would like to teach englisch
i dont have any degree nor exsperience,is it possible to find a job over there and if yes,where do i need to look
cheers

I really enjoyed reading this blog since the story reminded me fond memories back at Dai Hoc Tong Hop- a university in Saigon that offers English major. I hope you know which one I am talking about, the one close to The HCM city Television Station. Now I am a dentist living in Toronto, but back in 1990, I was one of those "first year" English-major university students.

I credited my current success to the English skills I learned back then. From speaking, reading, listening, to writing skills all were taught by teachers at the college, many among of whom were English native spreakers. First they helped me get accepted into University of Toronto, and then helped me survived in the next 8 years there. In fact, after I came to Canada in 1993, I applied to University of Toronto. They required me to write an English test as admission requirement. I passed and got accepted.

I struggled bad for the first year since i had to learn everything in a new language. But using the interaction skills of the teachers taught us, as you described here, I was able to navigate through the complex university system here in Canada. They all helped me did well in most courses that i took. I got accepted into Dentistry 1998 and graduated 2001. Many people asked me why I could study university right after i landed, implying that with my limited English knowledge, I told them I learned from the university back in Vietnam with the help of those excellent teachers.

[huyentrang]

i am a vietnamese student. iam very glad to read this blog, but where do you teach now ? do you want to make friend with me ?