Expat in Vietnam | Teachers stories

 A view from up North.

Author: Dominic Fourie.

Where it all started.

I’ve been asked by my friend and owner of this website to give my perspective on living here as an ex-pat, ESL teacher, traveler, and aspiring freelancer to give my insight on my experiences in the Northern parts of Vietnam.

My name is Dominic, 34 originally from South Africa. I started my Vietnamese adventure in 2017, arriving in the largest and most bustling city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City.

I did an intensive TESOL course that equipped me well for all of the challenges I was about to experience teaching Vietnamese students in classrooms, ranging from kindergartens, language centers as well as public schools.

I quickly settled in and made the lesser-known district of Go Vap in HCMC my new home for the next twelve months. Although it’s a district completely unknown to the majority of ex-pats, and could very well be compared to jumping into the deep end of the pool for any newcomer,

I can look back on some very memorable experiences there. Nowhere else in Vietnam have I met as many friendly and welcoming locals that were always eager to meet a foreigner, exchange language, and have a dozen of beers.

Broadening my horizons.

After nearly a year of living in HCMC, I decided that I wanted to explore what the rest of Vietnam has on offer. I landed a full-time job in the picturesque town of Hoi An and I immediately packed my bags.

The moment I arrived in Central Vietnam I could feel the vast contrast to the madness of Saigon. Everything was different and mostly for the best, but unfortunately some for the worst as well. Although the locals were very friendly, it quickly came apparent that in a touristy town like Hoi An, they had absolutely no interest in foreigners that went beyond his wallet.

I lived there for 4 months before eventually moving down 300km South to Quy Nhon city, the absolute jewel of the Vietnamese coastline. Quy Nhon is known for having some of the most pristine beaches in Vietnam.

So what was it like living in Central Vietnam?

So after having spent close to a year living in Hoi An, Da Nang, and Quy Nhon I can honestly say that this part of Vietnam is probably the nearest to my heart.

The food is absolutely fantastic. The landscapes are breathtaking and the local Vietnamese folk are extremely welcoming. Whether it’s beaches or mountains, seafood or BBQs, nightlife or daytime adventures, Central Vietnam has got something for everyone.

Some of the highlights included Da Nang and Hue city, as well as the breathtakingly beautiful and slightly scary Hai Van, pass in between.

Da Nang is still in my opinion the most liveable city in Vietnam, if not perhaps all of Asia. The lifestyle here is what dreams are made of; cheap cost of living, close to nature with beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and beaches, as well as a very vibrant and cosmopolitan nightlife. Last but not least the local cuisine here is also some of the best that Vietnam has on offer.

Unfortunately, the downside is that there are very limited career opportunities for aspiring ESL teachers in the Central region of Vietnam.  The hourly teaching rate here is also considerably lower than in Hanoi and HCMC.

The vast majority of the ex-pats living here are teaching online for international companies, digital nomads, or retirees. At least that was the case up until around May 2021, when the new visa regulations made it impossible to stay here long-term on a tourist visa.

This inevitably resulted in what some would call a mass exodus of foreigners leaving Vietnam.

Venturing further North

I spent the next 8 months of my life teaching English in Vinh city, the birthplace of the famous General Ho Chi Minh.

Vinh city is a coastal city in the Southernmost part of Northern Vietnam. It’s a rather small but very close-knit ex-pat community there, where I’ve made some lasting friendships.

The local Vietnamese community there is a rather eclectic bunch, yet extremely welcoming towards foreigners, however, there is some truth to the saying that people up North are perhaps a bit more stoic and cold compared to their Southern counterparts in and around HCMC.

Arriving in ‘le capitale’

I finally made my way up to Hanoi city at the end of the Tet holiday festival in 2020, having received a very promising job offer in an English language center here. Unfortunately, this was at the same time that Covid-19 started making headlines around the world.

Public schools and private educational institutions remained closed for the next 4 months. By the end of May 2020 everything slowly started opening up again and life returned to some sort of normality.

Unfortunately, this was short-lived as we started going in and out of lockdown again by the start of 2021. Nevertheless, I decided to stick around and make Hanoi my base for at least the next year or two.

North vs South Vietnam

What are the biggest differences between living and teaching in Hanoi vs HCMC?

The average hourly teaching wage in Hanoi is slightly higher than in the South, $20-23 p/h compared to $18 to$20 offered in HCMC. This of course depends on other variables such as experience, qualifications, and teaching technique demonstrated during your demo lesson.

Unfortunately, the continued lockdowns are wreaking havoc on the whole ESL industry and private institutions are certainly feeling it in their pockets. This could lead to lower salaries in the near future.

The economical effects of the pandemic is therefore also lowering the demand for learning English. In these uncertain times where a lot of local families are struggling to put food on the table, learning a 2nd language is not going to feature very high on the priority list.

If there is one thing I’ve learned in my 4 years in Vietnam is that the principle of supply and demand, is applied with a different sense of logic here. As is the case with most other things here. What would make absolutely no sense to a foreigner, would seem to make logical sense to a local and vice versa! We call it Vinalogic…

To get back on topic though, regarding the differences between Hanoi and Saigon. The most notable difference to me would be the weather.

Personally, I prefer the 4 seasons of the North compared to the 2 in the South. Autumn and Spring is an ideal time to go and explore the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam. There are plenty of hiking and adventure trails as little as 30 mins away from Hanoi.

Hanoi is also slightly less chaotic than HCMC, with a little bit less traffic and noise. However, make no mistake…it is still chaotic and noisy as it is after all Vietnam!

A lot of foreigners would argue that the local population in Hanoi is less friendly than in HCMC and to a certain extent, there is a bit of truth to that. You are less likely to get approached randomly on the street or at a street-side beer stall, by a local who wants to take a selfie and down a couple of beers with a foreigner.

Hanoians are completely unfazed by foreigners for the most part….and I kind of like that. In contrast to that, in HCMC I used to get approached so often that at times it started to become slightly annoying. The novelty of the ‘celebrity’ status that a foreigner is given at times, soon wears off.

Final thoughts.

In conclusion though, what are my thoughts on teaching ESL in Vietnam and would I recommend it to anyone back home? Personally, I’ve found teaching in Vietnam extremely fulfilling, yet at the same time extremely frustrating and challenging due to the business culture and management style of the Vietnamese school administrators. The Covid-19 pandemic also added its own challenges to the mix.

Like most other foreign teachers here, I didn’t come to SEA with the intention of making a lifelong career out of teaching ESL. Be that as it may, I can honestly say that I was always committed to giving it my all, and I never half-arsed a single lesson.

Teaching English in Vietnam gave me the opportunity to explore one of the most beautiful and unique countries in the world, meet the most fascinating people, taste the most exotic cuisine….last, but most importantly it allowed me the opportunity to reflect on my own identity and life path. It made me realize what is truly important to me and what makes me inspired and motivated as a person.

In hindsight, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every single day over the last four years turned out to be an adventure on its own. I’ve had some good days, I’ve had some bad days…but I’ve never had a single boring day in Vietnam.

Author: Dominic Fourie.

Dominic also added a lot of photos which I will be adding to my website soon.

Join the Hanoi Massive Community on Facebook to find out more.

For further information about Teaching in Vietnam please visit my site. www.vietnamesl.com 

 

Vietnamese Caf’e | strong as Superman

This is a picture of Caf’e sua da. Iced coffee with condensed milk and a kick that will wake you up instantly.

Vietnamese Coffee.

Vietnamese coffee is arguably some of the best in the world. And it has saved me time and time again in the classroom.

But let’s talk about Vietnamese coffee and the culture of coffee in Vietnam first.

If you think the major chains are producing good coffee you have a fantastic experience waiting for you.

Vietnamese coffee is strong. It is mainly made with Robusta and sometimes Arabica beans. It has a very high caffeine level with 200-300 grams per serve being normal. It will have you up and running in no time.

This coffee is as strong as Superman and can be bitter to those unaccustomed to the taste. Most Vietnamese put sugar in their coffee. Milk does not go in coffee in Vietnam. Condensed milk is the “go-to’ if you want white coffee. It also makes it sweeter.

There are three main types of coffee you can buy in the coffee shops. Caf’e Den ( Black Coffee), Caf’e Sua Da (Coffee with condensed milk and ice), and Caf’e Da ( Black coffee with ice). Try them all in one sitting and you won’t need your motorbike to get home. You can fly home.

Coffee shops in Vietnam are like the bars of the USA or Australia. You will never be far from a coffee shop in Vietnam. From the smallest village to the biggest city. Coffee shops, from the luxurious to street coffee stalls, are everywhere to be found.

The Southern Highlands.

Most of the Coffee plantations are located in the highlands of Vietnam. Places like Dalat and Pleiku.

I spent 9 months teaching the wonderful children and teenagers in Pleiku. Pleiku is an interesting city with a lot of Russian architecture. They helped Vietnam rebuild after the war. It is a very quiet city where most shops and businesses are closed by 9 pm.

If you come to Vietnam, I would recommend getting out of the major cities and exploring some of the less-traveled areas.

We went on a field trip in Pleiku and I could smell the coffee as we drove past the plantations.It was total sensory overload. Even on a bus with 50 sweaty students and teachers, I could still smell the amazing aromas.

What did the teachers drink for lunch, beer? Damn. Pleiku and Dalat are a lot hillier than the coastal cities. They are also cooler with fresh breezes that invigorate the soul. A perfect environment for growing and harvesting excellent coffee beans.

Coffee and the Classroom.

Coffee may be the second favorite drink of ESL Teachers in Vietnam. But it is the one allowed in the classroom. Coffee in the classroom is enjoyed by both the Teachers and the students.

OMG, I first thought when I entered a classroom and the kids, 8 and 9-year-olds, were knocking back coffee and Red Bull.

Just what you need when you have had a big night and the students are bouncing off the walls. “What are you drinking”, It’s ok teacher, it’s not beer.

How to make a Vietnamese Coffee.

I am going to talk about making a Caf’e sua da. Because with everything else you just leave out some ingredients.

You will need,

Course ground coffee. Trung Nguyen is a popular and trustworthy brand found in most supermarkets and shops.

A Phin. A small metal drip filter system. It takes a few minutes to prepare, so be patient. The phin comes in 4 parts. A larger circular “tray” fits over your glass. Then the main “bowl” where you put a teaspoon or two ( I like it strong) in the bottom of the bowl. Slowly pour a little boiling water over this. Then add the 2nd circular “tray” that comes with a handle, on top of this. Add more coffee, 2 more teaspoons, to the 2nd tray.  Yahoo. Then put the lid on the top. And wait.

Condensed milk. Yes condensed not the normal milk. Vietnamese coffee is bitter. let’s sweeten it up.

Ice. Or Da in Vietnamese. It is hot here. let us get our hit and stay cool at the same time.

Boiling water. Come on, you know how to do that.

Preparation.

Get a long tall glass, I like it fancy. Fill up with about 10 mills of condensed milk. Different regions of Vietnam use different amounts. I was in Tra Vinh, in the South, and they use a lot.

Next, boil the water.  While the water is boiling, or do it before, ( I am not the coffee police) put your coarse ground coffee in the Phin. Hang in there, I told you where.

Pour the boiling water on the top. The Phin should be on top of the glass with the condensed milk. If not, you got some cleaning to do.

Now, wait……   Wake up, it’s ready.

Now, add the ice. Not big chunky bits. beat it down a bit. Most Vietnamese have a small cloth bag they can break up their ice in. Civilization.

Enjoy.

For caf’e den, no ice or condensed milk. For Caf’e Sua Den, no condensed milk.

Now you are an expert. Practice, refine to your taste, wear a Vietnamese hat, and freak out your neighbors.


If you want to try this at home, you will need these. To find out more about Vietnam visit my site.

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

Covid in Vietnam

Craziness is in the air.

My crazy moment was when I was riding down the street to the ATM and saw a dog wearing a mask.

People are spooked and so are the animals apparently.

The new Delta variant have people worried. The Government of Vietnam have bought in the decree, directive 16. This practices social distancing. And I say “practice” for a reason. People are becoming complacent and masks are being worn at chin level. You can muzzle the dog, but not the people.

Caught without a mask, the Canh Sat (Police) will fine you 3 million dong which is about $130 US. A huge amount for a lot of Vietnamese.

There is food on the shelves of supermarkets now. We went crazy and bought enough for 3 months. Hold on, that’s how long it has gone on.

Crazy number 3. Our fridge stopped working. How do you eat 2 months of food. You don’t, you give it away.

The 2nd of August 2021.

I have been here 15 years and thought nothing can shock me anymore. How wrong was I. By 8am there were another reported 3,000 new cases of Covid around the country.

To the end of July 29th there were reported 128,413 cases with 31,780 people recovering and officially reported 863 deaths. The World health organization have reported 157,507 cases with 1,306 deaths. WHO.

From a vibrant bustling city, Ho Chi Minh has turned into a ghost town. The normal bustling coffee shops, bars and restaurants are all closed and many expats have gone home and the locals are suffering.

We have been in lockdown mode for 3 months and everyone is hurting. No work, no money, no honey.

A lot of English Teachers have gone home and those that remain are picking up work where they can. .On line teaching, remote tech jobs and selling their stuff. Cheap motorbikes abound. Prices go down when money’s not around..

Curfew is a word associated with control. Here curfew is not just a word. All citizens of Ho Chi Minh City must be behind doors by 6pm. 6pm to 6am. Let’s see what happens in 9 months time. The Covid generation.

Shopping with Covid.

Go to the shops, show a docket. A Vietnamese lady was knocking on my gate. Gates, locks and spiked fences keep those burglars away. She shoved a piece of paper in my face. And in my basic Vietnamese I understood she said. “need it to go shopping” So we have set days we can go to the shops to buy food. Great if you don’t have a fridge.

 

Most Vietnamese still shop at the traditional markets. But these have been closed by the Government and you can only shop at Supermarkets or the local green stores called Bach Hoa Xanh.

If your local shop is open, they have given a special gift to the local authorities. $$$. There is a twenty million dong fine if they are caught trading without being NICE. Welcome to Vietnam. A quick rule of thumb for monetary conversions is halve it and take off a bit more and some zero’s. About $900 US.

You will get used to it after your first taxi ride. Beautiful people who love money.

Gas (petrol) has amazingly come down in price. But no one can go out or travel far . Just about everything else has gone up. Meat, vegetables , rice, all the prices have gone up.

Can I teach?

Yes you can, but it will be on line. The “scuttlebutt”, gossip, call it what you will, is that schools will re-open in September. I have been here a long time and I am waiting to find out the same answer.

Crazy number 001.. When I first came to Vietnam I was teaching in an English center. Lots of great students, long hours and ok money. I was tired so my friend organized a “Xe-Om” for me. A “Xe-Om” is a motorbike taxi. So here I am, really tired and saw someone who waved. Kool, I thought. I am going home. I jumped on the back of the motorbike and said, Di Di. Go Go.

He turned around and gave me a sheepish grin. Very nice but bemused. Then one of my students came out and said, why are you on my dads’ motorcycle. I looked around and saw my “Xe-Om” driver laughing and gesticulating uncontrollably. OMG.

Rumors.

Teaching in Vietnam will be back to normal in September. Rumors. The government will have the Corona virus under control by September. Rumors..

What I do think is that any teacher who comes to Vietnam will be required to have the Covid vaccine.

Some websites are talking about free food and gifts for all. My family and the people in my street are still waiting. What is said and what happens are two different things. 1.5 million Dong for each family. I must be blind.

I do not want to debate if it has been tested enough or whatever theories there are. But I am pretty sure if you want to walk into a classroom you will need to show that you have been vaccinated.

A Message.

Vietnam is a strange and wonderful country. The people here are the same as everyone. Beautiful, ambitious, challenging and sometimes obnoxious. We all bleed the same color. We all come from the same world. One day we will all realize that.

This is the time for those who can to help. Help your family, help your friends.

We are all living in crazy times.

Wrap it up.

After I started my website, www.vietnamesl.com, I never thought I would be writing about Covid-19 or directive 16 or the Delta version. I just wanted to help teachers. Now I want to help my neighbors as well.

Vietnam has suffered a lot in the past and here is a small record of what happened and their new History.

 

Any or all links on this site maybe affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

Any and all comments will be answered.

English Teaching in Vietnam

Vietnam has a lively vibrant culture.

Where and why?

Finding a destination that meets your social and work needs requires research and a lot of thought, but this can be difficult when there are so many ESL teaching jobs around. With the world literally at your feet, you need to make a decision.

The decision process can be challenging, so let me help you narrow down your options by giving you a few reasons why teaching English in Vietnam might be the right idea for you.

Why teach English in Vietnam?

There are a lot of reasons why people move to Vietnam. From teaching English to learning about a new culture and traveling. and enjoying all the amazing things Vietnam has to offer. And there is the monetary side as well. T

The salary of an English teacher in Vietnam is pretty good.

So, let’s go, here are the top 8 reasons why I think teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City is a good idea.

The cost of living.

  Vietnam is extremely affordable. It is a great location for an ESL teacher.

Rental properties can range from 5,000,000 dong to 30,000,000 million dong and more if you want the best. .That is $220 US to $1,320 US per month.

Food also is very cheap, with a bowl of Pho going for 50,000 dong. About $2.20 US.

And yes, you can get pizza and steaks and Mexican food and much more. The major cities have a cosmopolitan feel these days.

Buying a motorbike is cheap and you can get a good motorcycle for 25,000,000 dong. $1,100 US. Beer is 15,000 dong for a Tiger beer. Less than 70 cents US per can.8-).

There are a lot of Teaching jobs.

 Asia is typically associated with a wealth of job opportunities for ESL teachers. This makes it a very popular choice. Vietnam is regularly recruiting English language teachers for a variety of positions. A lot of ESL jobs in Vietnam are in language schools, where you could be teaching a range of students. For example, many adults will attend classes to learn English in private English schools. .

Travel. 

And naturally, travel opportunities will play a big role in your decision process.

Bordering China and Cambodia and Laos, Vietnam is perfectly situated within Southeast Asia and is just a short flight away from many of these must-see destinations. The continent opens up to you. What might have been viewed as a holiday of a lifetime will be accessible to you in a fraction of the time and more importantly, at a fraction of the cost.


Live like a Local. 

As an English teacher in Vietnam, you get to experience one of Asia’s largest, fastest growing countries. And not as a tourist living in hotels, traveling on tour buses, or bunking with backpackers in hostels.  You will live like a local. Live in a typical Vietnamese neighborhood, shop in local markets, and break bread or slurp Pho with colleagues, neighbors, and friends at corner noodle stands and coffee shops.

Pick up some Vietnamese language skills, enjoy the cuisine, and enjoy travel opportunities that friends back home can only dream about. And I won’t even mention the big nights out.

The Food and Coffee.

Vietnam, where one can eat a banh Mi ( a world class sandwich) while drinking an amazing cup of coffee ( Caf’e Sua Da). You can find these on almost any street corner.. Combining traditional Chinese and Southeast Asian techniques and flavors with an extraordinary array of seafood and produce,

Vietnam is an eater’s heaven. From hearty noodle soups, to fresh salads and mouth watering grilled fare, Vietnamese cuisine is balanced, fresh, healthy, and most of all tasty. 

2,000 Miles of  spectacular Coastline.

Living in Vietnam means you are never far from the coast. Vietnam has more than 2,000 miles of coastline, including  beautiful tropical beaches, traditional fishing villages, dynamic port cities, and ancient imperial capitals.

The highlight is  Ha Long Bay. Known as the “Descending Bay of Dragons,”.   Or in Vietnamese. “Vinh Rong Xuon”

This stunning seascape of some 2,000 limestone islands and islets off the coast of North Vietnam makes it one of the most spectacular sights to be experienced anywhere. The basis of many ancient myths and legends,

Ha Long Bay has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is best explored by a Junk. A Vietnamese boat. This is a great way to discover  local attractions, including traditional floating fishing villages and underground grottos and caves.

Life along the Mekong River  pretty sweet too. Like the Nile, the Amazon, or any of the great rivers of the world, the Mekong both gives and defines life for those who live along the banks. A journey through the Mekong Delta reveals a dazzling world of colorful floating markets, traditional stilted villages, magnificent beauty, and thousands of years of history and culture embodied in ancient pagodas, temples, and palaces.

Change someone’s life.

Teaching in Vietnam not only provides the means to live and become immersed in this fascinating country, but also provides the opportunity of a lifetime. You can make a huge impact on the lives of others. To millions of Vietnamese, learning English can open doors to educational and professional opportunities.

This will enhance their living standards while helping build a better future for their families. It is an amazing feeling to help English language students learn a language that will help them in the future. And it is fun at the same time. Teaching in Vietnam could be YOUR road to a meaningful and fulfilled life abroad.

Get International Work Experience for Your Resume 

In our  globalised economy  international work experience and a proven ability to work with people from different cultures are skills that are highly sought after by employers.

As an English teacher in Vietnam you will gain professional experience in one of the world’s fastest growing economic regions. Vietnam serves as an amazing platform no matter what professional or academic tasks are undertaken.

There are plenty of transferable skills to a multitude of career paths after teaching abroad. Or, you might end up deciding to make an entire career out of being an ESL Teacher. 8_)).

What Now?

Decide where to go. Figuring out where to teach in Vietnam isn’t easy. The fantastic hypnotic Mekong delta? Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, Bustling Hanoi, Serene Sapa? Choose somewhere that’s right for you. A quiet town or bustling city.

  • Get TESOL or TEFL certified. It will give you absolutely everything you need to prepare for the classroom (well, except for an ability to think on your feet!). Teacher Training.
  • Adults, kids, private schools, public schools? Spend time considering the type of teaching environment you’d most like to be involved in. How to Teach.
  • Choose the best school. Pay attention to past teachers’ reviews. Ask questions on line. FETV is a great site for teachers in Vietnam. ( On Facebook), Ask about the schools or  and organizations reputation, location, and your ease of getting started as a paid employee. Public school ( Regular hours ) or Language Center. (Night work and Saturday and Sunday). FETV  You will need to join, but ask me if you have problems.
  • Plan your finances.  Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge in travel. Research how much you need to take. What to bring.
  • Get prepared! Maps and phrase books are useful to new arrivals. Maps. Phrase books/Lonely Planet.  

Ready, Set, GO!

Are you ready for one of the most exciting chapters of your life? I think so. And I think Vietnam is the perfect place for anyone who wants adventure in their lives. Your future is as bright as you want to make it

Any or all links on this site maybe affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

Any feedback is most welcome. Please feel free to leave a comment. Steve. 

 

Schools for Teaching On Line.

Are you Teaching? Want to teach?

Here are some schools that accept English speakers to teach on line.

Teaching on line presents it’s own challenges and I have provided access to a great provider of on line teaching resources.

English teaching jobs online are the key to convenient, meaningful, and well-paid work! Teaching online is a great gig to fund your travels, be location independent, and immerse yourself in another culture. Many ESL teachers are getting out their laptops and applying for online English language teaching jobs as oppose to the traditional in-class teaching position. If you’ve got a knack for working with ESL learners and don’t quite want to commit to a contract abroad, teaching ESL online may be just for you.

Check it out here.  

Twinkl for On Line Teachers – Teaching ESL in Vietnam 2021 (vietnamesl.com)

OK, here are some of the schools that teach on line.

International.


And more…..

Here’s a shortlist of the best online English teaching jobs this year, according to experienced travelers and ESL teachers:

Asia

I make nothing out of this post, so please support my other pages so I can continue to provide this information.

www.vietnamesl.com 

Any and all feedback is welcome. I always respond . Thanks for your support.

Mondly Super Sale | Learn languages

 

MONDLY Language learning app.     Mondly is offering 96% off normal price.

 

Mondly is a great app to learn languages.  This lifetime app allows you to learn up to 41 languages.

Mondly is also a very easy app to use. I highly recommend it. Make sure you take up this offer quickly as it will not last.

For more information about this app please click on this link

Mondly App | Best App to Learn Languages – Teaching ESL in Vietnam 2021 (vietnamesl.com)

Special offer for July only.

Mondly is offering Lifetime Access to Mondly with a 96% discount (all current & future languages & features included + free access to 2 of our other apps: Mondly Kids and Mondly AR). To access this offer click here.

The promotion is live until the end of July,

If you want to take up this offer you need to act fast. Click NOW.

Click on Mondly now for the latest price. $90.00

Any or all links on this site maybe affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation you could actually save money.

 



 

Leap Frog | Leap pad Tablet.

What is a leapfrog | Leap pad tablet? 

A leapfrog tablet is a learning tablet that is preloaded with more than 20 educator-approved apps that explore math, reading, writing, problem-solving and creativity skills. In a nutshell it is a fun way for children to learn.

Why Should I buy It?

Fun learning games are a great way to build your child’s basic skills in math and language skills. These are a necessary requirement for the elementary school curriculum. . Also, they teach essential skills for preschool and early learners. For that reason, Fun Learning Games were made with children in mind. This makes learning fun and your children will want to learn.

Laugh and Learn, The Benefits of game based learning.

Computer style learning Games are a great  way to build important skills that children need to succeed.

Educational games for kids play an important role in making learning fun and interesting.

Children enjoy learning with educational games on computers.

They can learn math, languages, and much more. These make their learning experience rewarding and fun.

There is an idea that gaming has a bad effect on your child’s educational development. This is far from the truth. There are very many reasons to challenge this idea. Gaming is a basic component of engaging the child and providing fun-based learning.

What does it teach?

Skills

  • Coding
  • Counting
  • Creative Expression
  • Environmental Science
  • Life Science
  • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Music & Rhythm
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Spelling
  • Visual Puzzles

What is included.

Preloaded content

Includes preloaded content. It features core skills in mathematics, reading and science as well as music, puzzles, logic and creativity.

Powerful processor

Built with fast, powerful quad-core processor for lightning-fast fun.

Kid-smart fun

Access to 1000+ learning games, videos, eBooks and more. All designed and approved by LeapFrog® educators. And it’s kid-tough and kid-friendly right out of the box.

Personalized learning

Features Just for Me™ learning technology. Personalizes select games, remembers curricular progress and automatically adjusts learning levels.

Extras.

Educator-approved games and apps

Choose from hundreds of fun learning games. E Books, apps, videos, music and more—designed by learning experts, just for children!

Leap frogs learning library has 2,600 options.

 

Technical Specs.

Leap pad ultimate specs.

Screen Shatter-resistant 7-inch multi-touch capacitive screen
Resolution 1024×600 screen resolution
Rechargeable battery Built-in lithium ion
Battery life 5+ hours
Speed 1.0GHz
Memory size 8GB memory
micro SD Card Slot No
Operating System Brio OS
Camera 2MP front and back cameras
Video recorder 480p video recording
Weight (kg) 1.205
Dimensions (inches) 9.06 x 5.88 x 1
Manufacturer’s warranty 1-year warranty
Included content value Explore 15+ preloaded apps & videos
Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth® No
Audio 3.5mm stereo jack with microphone
Accelerometer Yes
Access to LeapFrog® Learning Library
and approved Android™ apps
*
Yes
Open web access with parental approval No
Automatically adjusts skill level** Yes
Parent controls Yes
Time controls Yes
Recommended age range 3-9 years

 

Also comes in pink. And there are over 2,000 games and learning activities available.

Special Offer | Buy now while it lasts.


LeapFrog is as committed as ever. They help making learning fun and support parents with the tools they need to keep kids learning.

LeapFrog is offering an extended 2-month free trial of their interactive learning program.

LeapFrog Academy offer reduced pricing on 6-month and 12-month plans for parents who want to keep the learning going.

 

Price. $119.89 from Amazon.      Leap pad Ultimate $172.01.       Delivery to your door.

Click on the above link and start your children’s learning at home.

Also please look my other offers on my website.

Great Teachers Tool – Teaching ESL in Vietnam 2021 (vietnamesl.com)

 

Any or all links on this site maybe affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

 

 

ESL Resources for Teachers

New Ideas.

Delivering exciting new ideas and fun activities for your ESL class is important. But eventually we all run out of ideas and find ourselves teaching the same thing or the same way.

If you can relate to that, know your students are getting bored.

But I am so busy, I don’t have time to properly do a lesson plan or research new material for my classes.

We can become so busy teaching and making money that we forget to invest time in providing new material into our lessons. And yes, I mean INVEST. The time taken to improve your teaching WILL result in you being highly regarded as a teacher and what does that give you?. More money.

New Material.

So how do we find time to look for new material for our students? It is all on line. But to save you time I have listed the five top websites I use. I have been an ESL teacher for 15 years and now have two ESL schools, so I know a little bit. LOL.

Here we go, my five top sites. Not in order of preference.

English Worksheets.  www.englishwsheets.com

Englishwsheets.com provides free esl printable pdf worksheets for you. ESL Printable Vocabulary Worksheets, Picture Dictionaries, Matching Exercises, Word Search Puzzles, Crossword Puzzles, Missing Letters in Words and Unscramble the Words Exercises, Multiple Choice Tests, Flashcards, Vocabulary Learning Cards, ESL Fidget Spinner and Dominoes Games, English Language Learning Resources for kids, teenagers, adults, parents and teachers.

Busy Teacher.  www.busyteacher.org

Busy teacher provides over 17,000 printable worksheets and lesson plans which are free of charge. These were written by teachers for teachers. There are worksheets, posters, books, song sheets and so much more.

ESL Galaxy.  www.esl-galaxy.com

ESL Galaxy offers over 2368 free printable worksheets for ESL lesson plans and ESL Activities; and there are more additions every other day .The worksheets include lessons for kindergarten, games and worksheets. Grammar and vocabulary games along with board games and songs and video activities. There are communicative activities, powerpoints and interactive games. A great website. :

ESL Video   www.eslvideo.com

ESL Video provides a lot of videos from beginners to advanced with quizzes and lessons. Made by teachers for  teachers. Use video to engage learners to improve their listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary skills. You can also create your own quizzes and save them on the site.

ESL Games World   www.eslgamesworld.com

This site is dedicated to helping teachers by providing fun ESL games for the classrooms, powerpoint games and templates, printable board games , interactive games, games for ESL children and Adults.

 

New Life.

There are a lot of websites about teaching ESL which provide resources for your everyday activities. So please make the effort so your students enjoy your classes. It will repay you a thousand times over. And not just in money. A great teacher can change the world.

Products that may help.

The ESL teachers book of lists from Amazon and ESL games in the classroom101. And the ESL teachers toolbox also from Amazon.

 

Educational Flashcards | ESL

Learning Styles and Flashcards

Flashcards are a very important tool in the classroom. They are a great visual aid that helps with visual style learners.

There are several different styles of learning. Visual, auditory, physical, verbal, logical, social and solitary. .

Learning styles focus on how a student is best able to learn or their preferred method of attaining knowledge. This is usually influenced by their unique brain and experiences, and has a direct impact on the way they get information and learn.

For teachers it’s extremely important to understand learning styles and how they impact the students in your classroom. Each student will have their own preferred learning style, and teachers can help create activities that cater to different learning styles to help more students learn effectively..

The visual style is very effective especially with younger students. And flashcards are an effective tool for visual learners.

What are Flashcards?

Flashcards are normally A4 or A5 size pieces of cardboard that have pictures of the subject you are teaching. For example if you are teaching body parts your flashcards will have pictures of the nose, ears, arms etc. If you are teaching numbers they may have numbers from one to ten on them. There are a wide range of flashcards. Quite often they are used to teach a beginner level student..

Using Flashcards in an ESL classroom.

How we use flashcards is very important. If you just stand up in front of your class and show the card and say the name on the flashcard the students will be bored.

The first thing to think about is the age group of the students. With flashcards I generally target the younger student. Mainly because they adapt to a visual style of learning (with the use of flashcards)  better than older students. From four to eleven year old.

The older students will think you are being condescending if you use flashcards and treating them like children. However if I find an older student is having trouble understanding a word , I have used them. But very sparingly. And more in a one on one teaching environment.

So, how do the younger students like to learn. They like to have FUN. So the best way to use flashcards with younger students is to pre-teach the vocabulary, then use the flashcards in a game.

Flashcard games.

There are many different games that can be played with flashcards. You can make up your own or use the internet to discover how many there are. Here are some that work well.

Concentration: You need 2 sets of flashcards for this game.  Place both sets face down on the floor.  Students take turns in turning over 2 cards (saying the cards aloud).  If the cards match then the student keeps the cards.  If the cards are different the cards are turned back over again in their original places.  The student or team with the most pairs at the end of the game is the winner.

Charades: Have a student come to the front of the class and show a flashcard or whisper a word to that student.  The student then acts out that word to the rest of the class and the first student to guess what it is can be the next player.  This works very well with action verbs. Split the class up into teams – the first student to guess wins a point for his/her team..

Pictionary: Good for reviewing vocabulary. Choose a student and show them a flashcard picture or whisper a word into their ear.  The student then draws the picture on the board and the first student in the class to guess what the picture is gets to draw the next picture.  This can also be played in teams with a point system. Better in teams.

Trashball: Students take a shot at the trash can/box/etc. First show a flashcard to Student 1.  If he or she answers correctly then they can have a shot at the basket.  If the student gets the trash in the basket then they win 1 point. The person  who gets the most points is the winner.  This can also be played in teams. A good game at the end of class for cleaning up..

Fish: Before this game you need to have the students in pairs draw and cut out a picture of a fish for each pair.  While they are doing that put 2 parallel lines of tape on the floor a few meters apart.  Have students play in pairs – each student behind a different line, facing each other with the fish in the middle.  The teacher shows Student 1 a flashcard and asks what it is.  If the student answers it correctly they can blow once to move the fish forward.  Next, the teacher asks Student 2 who can blow the fish back towards Student 2.  The student who blows the fish over their opponents line is the winner.

Memory : Split your class into two teams. Boys verse girls always works well. Put your flashcards face down on the floor. Then say the name of one flashcard and choose a student to find that flashcard. They only have one turn each. No multiple pickups. Then choose another student, and another etc. It is surprisingly simple yet the students love it.

Over-under:  Line up your student in two teams. Give the two students at the front each a flash card. When you say go, the first in line says the word and passes the flashcard over their head, the next student says the word and passes the card under between their legs, the student kid over, then under, etc. The last student in the line races to the front to hand the flashcard to the teacher and says the word. The first team to finish gets a point.

Backs to the Board Game: This one is good for higher level kids.  Make two teams and stand one student from each team in front of the board, facing away from it.  Place a flashcard picture on the board (e.g. “hamburger”) and the students have to explain that word to their team member (e.g. It’s made of bread and has meat and lettuce and tomatoe in it, you can buy it at Lotteria , [ a Vietnamese  McDonalds ], it’s got cheese and tomatoe sauce on it).  The first student to guess the word wins a point for their team.

Back to back Game: This game is really good fun.  You need some  tape. Pair up students tape a card onto each student’s back.  Both students face each other with hands behind backs waiting for the teacher to shout “Go!”.  At this point they must try to discover his/her partner’s hidden flashcard without letting their partner see theirs.  When the student finally sees his/her partner’s card s/he has to shout it out to become the winner.  .

Chase the Flashcard: Put your flashcards in corners, then call out the name of one flashcard. The last student to the corner gets eliminated. Do this until you have one person left. Good for smaller class sizes as you do not want the eliminated students waiting too long.

Conclusion.

There are many more games for flashcards that you can find online. Also talk to other teachers and ask what games they use. We are a helpful group of people

It is a good idea to have some reward for the student or team. It doesn’t have to be big. A sugar free lolly or an eraser or pencil works fine. I save the points until the end of the class and buy an iced lolly for each student on the team. Vietnam is hot.

Flashcards are a great tool but use them wisely. If you use them all the time the students will become bored and you have wasted a good resource. I use them for 20 minutes in a classroom at the most, and not everyday. There are lots of other resources for visual learners as well. And do not forget the other styles of learning.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me. I always reply.

Products.

Here are some Flashcards for toddlers and preschoolers (Free download), but there are lots more.

 

And teaching higher grades.

 

 

Lonely Planet Vietnam | Product Review

Before you come to Vietnam it is a good idea to get a bit of local Knowledge. One of the best resources I have found is the Lonely Planet guide. Whether you come as a tourist or to work I recommend doing a bit of reading before you come. To understand more about the culture and it’s people will help you in your daily dealings.

The Lonely Planet Guide for Vietnam is essential reading and if you wish you can also look at the Lonely Planet Vietnamese phrasebook and dictionary as well as Eat Vietnam.  

Lonely Planet provides the most up to date advice and what to do in Vietnam.

Features

  • Itineries, travel advice and information on cities and the surrounds and what to see and do.
  • Vietnamese food and the different regional foods that can be found and enjoyed in Vietnam. It’s not all “Pho”
  • The culture and people of Vietnam. Where and when to bargain. Showing respect and not inadvertantly annoying the locals.
  • Vietnamese markets. From food to clothes to electronics to floating flower markets. Prepare for a day of fun.
  • Money and exchange rates. ATM information. It’s all about the “Dong” ( Vietnam currency)
  • The weather and when are the best seasons to visit and travel. Vietnam is not just hot.
  • The beer and coffee culture of Vietnam. Ice in my beer, yes please. Caf’e Sua Da, a cold coffee that is delicious.
  • Etiquette in Vietnam. Also please look at my website for more information on this at ….
    Etiquette in Vietnam – Be Nice – Teaching ESL in Vietnam 2021 (vietnamesl.com)
  • Travelling around Vietnam by Planes, Trains, Automobiles and motorbikes. What is a “Xe Om” and why are they so good?.
  • A brief history of Vietnam and it’s people. Vietnamese are a resilient people, find out why.
  • The best places to stay and the best things to do.

Benefits.

  • As a tourist you can use these books to help plan your trip as well as immersing yourself more into the culture while you are here.
  • If you plan to work and live in Vietnam for an extended period of time, these books will arm you with the knowledge in helping you to get around.
  • Understanding more about the culture and it’s people will increase your respect amongst the Vietnamese.
  • Learning some basic phrases will open many doors for you. Whether you are a tourist, teacher or an ex-pat in Vietnam.
  • Knowledge is power.

Products.

Amazon.