What is it like living in Vietnam as an Ex-Pat?

Vietnam has grown in popularity and it is now widely acknowledged as a safe place for ex-pats to live and work. The pleasant weather, inexpensive cost of living, vibrant culture, and gradual improvements in Vietnam’s infrastructure all attract ex-pats.

These are some of my thoughts and experiences about living in Vietnam for the past 15 years.

My experiences living in Vietnam.

When I first arrived at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh city the first thing I noticed was the smell. The locals smelled different, and that is because they do not eat so much beef and have a more mixed diet.

And I was told later that it is the same for Vietnamese. The Vietnamese can smell the meat coming out of foreigners pores.

That was more than 15 years ago. When I first came it was after the breakup of my first marriage, and I wanted to see a completely different culture.

The first time was a 3 week holiday and I traveled from Hanoi to Halong Bay then onto Da Nang, Nha Trang, Hoi An, and then Ho Chi Minh city. it was during this time I fell in love with the country.

You can find out more about Vietnam here.

A brief return home.

I returned home and immediately decided to get a Tesol degree so I could teach English in Vietnam. That was the start.

Returning to Vietnam I secured a teaching job promptly after a mishap in Hanoi. I had been offered a job in Hanoi where it was said to be close to the city.

My introduction to Vietnam

I flew up to Hanoi and was met at the airport by the school owner, who then drove me around for ages under the pretext of buying books. Just when it was getting dark he took me to his school and my promised accommodation.

The school was 2 hours from the capital and in the country. My accommodation was an unairconditioned room with a hole in the wall. it was a rather sleepless night battling the mosquitos.

Two days later I packed my bags and headed to Ho Chi Minh city. I arrived in HCMC and got a job in the first week.

This is when I knew I would be in for some very interesting experiences.

The next few years.

The next few years went in a blur of working, meeting new friends, and having a great time. I established myself as a well-liked and known teacher and worked in various schools. I even spent 9 months working in Pleiku in the highlands of Vietnam.

During holidays I also traveled to Cambodia and Thailand. It is very cheap to travel around South East Asia and I made the most of it.

Outside my house in GoVap, HCMC. My photo.

Fast forward to today.

I am now living in Go Vap in ho Chi Minh city. A district that does not have a lot of foreigners in it. I have some amazing stories and have been on some incredible adventures.

But quite often it is the unexpected things that take your breath away. For example, coming home one night I ran into this outside my house. My neighbors were celebrating TET with a dragon dance.

The dragon dance originated in China about 2,500 years ago. The Vietnamese dragon dance is not just seen as a dance. It is a form of displaying martial arts, as the performers should be Kung Fu masters.

Without the Kung Fu component, it would be seen as just a soulless puppet performance.

TET holiday

Tet is the big holiday of the year with a lot of activities and things to do. If you have only been in Vietnam for a short time it may seem boring because most activities are done at the home.

Tet Nguyên Dán, more usually abbreviated to Tet, is Vietnam’s most prominent and well-known holiday and festival. The name Tet Nguyên Dán means “Feast of the First Morning” in Sino-Vietnamese.

The dates of Lunar New Year vary from year to year, although it usually falls in late January or early February. Tet Holiday is considered the perfect time for family members to return home and gather together.

For Vietnamese the Tet Holiday is an opportunity to relax and enjoy life after a long year of hard labor; as a result, people forget about their problems and concentrate on the festivities. They will also spend time shopping and visiting pagodas and temples during this time.

Tet is a time to relax, eat and enjoy life. And shop. district 1 in HCMC. My photo.

Pagodas and temples.

It is the sights, sounds, and smells that make Vietnam such an amazing place to visit. Often at night, you will hear the monks chanting when you are safely tucked up in bed. They will be up early and stay awake late and it is enchanting to listen to as you drift off to sleep.

Buddhism in Vietnam

Buddhism, mostly of the Mahayana branch, is the most widely practiced religion in Vietnam. The exact date of Buddhism’s entrance to Vietnam is unknown.

However, it is most likely around the year 200 of the Christian era. It arrived by northern routes from Central Asia and southern routes from India.

Types of Buddhism in Vietnam

Taoism, Chinese spirituality, and the indigenous Vietnamese religion all have a symbiotic relationship with Vietnamese Buddhism.

The three Mahayana School of Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Vajrayana, are the most popular among Buddhists in Vietnam.

Pure Land Buddhism ( Amidism ) and Zen Buddhism have taken over Buddhist life in Vietnam. Pure Zen was largely followed by monks and nuns, whereas Pure Land Buddhism was chosen by the general public.

You will see monks walking down the street wearing no shoes and yes. it is still a common sight in the outlying districts.

My local Buddhist monastery. My photo.

What do I do now?

I now have my own school and am married to a Vietnamese lady. We have been teaching online as Vietnam has been quite badly affected by Covid. I also do teacher placements in Vietnam. If you want to look at my school click on the YouTube button below.

My School in Vietnam

Life in Vietnam can be both fun and challenging, it depends on you how much you wish to enjoy it. But there are some big cultural differences. Those that can accept that do well, those that don’t, not so well.

I hope you enjoyed this brief read.

Stephen

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.

What are the stereotypes of English teachers in Vietnam?

Teaching English in Vietnam.

People have predicted that things will change in Vietnam in terms of ex-pats for years But, it is evident that very little has changed in the last 15 years.

The majority of foreign workers work as teachers in schools (whether ESL, Japanese, Korean, International Schools, or universities).

However, in school management, administration, and other fields, there are extremely few foreigners. It’s all about teachers, teachers, and more teachers. So, why hasn’t it altered all that much?

Click here to find out more on Teaching in Vietnam.

The Asian model.

People have tossed out estimates like 70% of foreign employees are teachers and the remainder are anything else.

From small business entrepreneurs, freelancers, corporation ex-pats, or on the low end – Chinese and Korean laborers working in Chinese and Korean companies.

Expats’ evolution in business in East and Southeast Asia has been uneven. While some countries want you to stay in their country for the rest of your life, not all of them are made equal.

Two Models

There are two models to choose from in Asia. You have the Korea and Singapore models, where foreigners began as instructors and trainers and progressed to leading universities, businesses, and advising non-governmental organizations.

Then there’s the Chinese approach, which entails simply being a teacher. This has occurred in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Thailand and Malaysia were the exceptions, but it is apparent that Thailand has returned to the China model.

More progress needs to be made.

It’s disappointing that more experienced foreign personnel are unable to assist in the administration of some of the universities.

They could implement more efficient policies and assist in the modernization of some of the curriculum (which happened in the case of Singapore).

It would be excellent if more progress was made in this area, even if foreign workers are only noticed or valued in the education sector. At the very least, both Vietnamese students and foreign workers may have additional possibilities.

The school stereotypes

In Vietnam, female teachers outnumber their male counterparts by a large margin. Many Vietnamese regard the imbalance as unimportant, but educational specialists believe that the lack of male role models in education has a negative impact on the development of well-rounded students.

“Children are constantly exposed to pictures of men as pilots or engineers, while women are depicted as teachers or tailors,” she explained.

More women than men are thought to have chosen this profession because it allows them to balance work and family life.

Many Vietnamese believe that teaching is not a difficult profession and that as a result, women have more time to spend with their families.

So it can often be seen as a foreign English teacher in Vietnam, that the preference for males is somewhat sexist.

More foreign teacher stereotypes.

The level of English language instruction in Vietnam has been widely criticized, owing to a variety of ‘traditional’ reasons such as huge class sizes and inefficient and poor teacher training.

The ‘difficult’ learner, in particular, is frequently singled out for blame: The most common learning methods are described as ‘passive,’ ‘traditional, mechanical, and occasionally reluctant. S

Students are reported to be insecure, reliant on memorization and prone to blunders, and lacking in communicative and critical thinking skills. This supposed “learning culture” is thought to be “tough to change.”

Cultural Bias.

Quite often this is just an example of foreign teachers bringing their own cultural bias to the classroom.

It’s important to note that traditional Vietnamese teaching methods are teacher-centered, book-centered, and grammar-focused rather than pronunciation-focused. There is also a strong emphasis on rote memorization.

English, which is taught using Western cultural methods, is the polar opposite of this form of instruction.

Right or wrong this is not our country, and we are guests in a foreign land and should accept cultural differences.

Things are changing and we must wait for the change to happen before we judge or try to force change.

You can find out more about etiquette in Vietnam here

There are some annoying things in English schools.

English teachers are employed in both government and private schools in Vietnam to teach English to youngsters. Teachers are not employed by the government school.

Instead, Vietnamese language schools hire teachers and send them to different schools to conduct lessons.

The benefits of this include that language schools give the syllabus and teaching materials, as well as professional development opportunities.

The downsides.

Schools prefer white faces and younger teachers. Whether you are qualified or not, it is much easier to get a job if you are young and white. Even this is slowly changing.

Here is a Reddit post regarding this subject.

Q. I am a British graduate of Indian origin with a TEFL. Though I don’t look British, my English is perfect. How difficult would it be to find work as a brown-skinned dude in Vietnam?

A. You’ll be fine, just not as easy as attractive white men.

I think Vietnam is the least racist of Asian countries I’ve been to. But they ARE very forward.

Overweight a few pounds? You got fat!

Black? You’re the first black person they’ve seen not in the movies! Let me touch your skin!

Locks for hair? Omg, they’re gonna touch that.

Arm hair? Yeah, that too.

Don’t worry they’re very nice, they just have no filter and don’t realize other cultures find it rude.

I think this explains it all, while not trying to be racist there are no laws in place to stop explicit requests for young white foreign males.

Conclusion

if you leave your cultural biases at home, you will be fine. If you can’t, it is probably better that you do not come.

There are some teachers who have been here for only a short time and think they know everything about the country. They will try to get discounts on everything and get angry if they are charged $1.00 more than the locals. This is petty, in my opinion.

And you will also lose face with the locals, so grin and bear it. Remember you are making a lot more than the local population and they know it.

Who am
I?

My name is Stephen and I have been teaching in Vietnam for 15 years. I have taught in both state schools and private schools and now have my own English school.

You can check out my school below on my YouTube channel.

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.

How to help your child learn English at home.

Why you should teach your child English at home.

Helping your child learn English at home.

With schools closed due to the Corona virus, parents all over the world are wondering how they can help their children learn English at home. Sure, teachers are teaching online, but as parents, we can do a lot more.

When instructors and parents collaborate, children have a better chance of succeeding in school. Every interaction you have with your child during the day can be used to help them develop their English skills.

Here are some ideas to help home study.

Have fun.

We have a lot of duties as busy parents. It’s all about finding the appropriate balance when it comes to teaching or leading the learning process at home.

Teachers in schools must plan timetables and lessons for the entire class. You have more freedom to focus on your child’s preferred interests and activities when you learn at home. You can consider what will be most beneficial to your child.

Learners of all ages achieve more when they enjoy and find their work engaging and meaningful. Don’t be frightened to have a good time!

Try new things.

There are a lot of online resources to help, so do not be scared to try different things. You have English learning apps, websites, English rhymes, and songs to name a few. To find out how your child likes to learn and what things do they enjoy.

Children’s picture books

For young children learning English, this method can open them to a whole new realm of learning. It can be difficult to select the correct books, but it is critical to recognize the advantages of having this one-on-one relationship with your child.

Picture books give parents and children a compelling incentive to change from their native language to English. The predefined text of a picture book is a very valuable prop for parents who perform poorly in English.

Flashcards.

Flashcards can be a very useful tool. Especially for the beginner or younger learner. Teaching individual worlds is an important part of the learning process and flashcards provide pictures along with the words and pictures.

Rather than a boring home lesson you can make it fun by turning learning into a game. For example, You can buy 2 sets of the same flashcards and play a memory-based game.

Place the flashcards face down and your child has to remember where the 2 that are the same were placed. Laugh and learn will also instill a desire from your child to learn.

==> Using flashcards to teach English <==

Rhymes and songs

Repeating rhymes and songs is a fun method of learning new vocabulary in English. You can create a collection of songs that your child can listen to over and over to become comfortable with keywords.

==> Rhymes and songs to learn English <==

Apps that help your child learn English

Improve your child’s English skills with these entertaining and educational applications! These games, podcasts, videos, and quizzes are designed for kids of all ages and will help them learn English at home or on the go. You can learn more about them by clicking here.

==> Apps for children to learn English <==

Comics, TV, and video games.

Who doesn’t love cartoons, comics, and playing online games.? Okay, not everyone. But a lot of children do. And if you can get your child to read comics, watch cartoons and play games in English, they will learn faster.

Find what they enjoy doing and try to get them to do it in English. The cartoon network in English is a great tool for home learning.

Word searches and other games

Word searches can be a great tool as long as they are not overused. They can be used as a reward for a lesson well done.

However, as a stand-alone tool, it is questionable. It certainly helps with word recognition if used in the right way. Find a word search that relates to the topic you are teaching and the words you have taught.

There are online word search makers that you can use to specifically target the words taught in your childs lesson.

Things to think about.

What does your child like to do in his or her spare time? Drawing? going outside to play? comics? Do they enjoy reading stories? Dancing? indoor games or puzzles?

Make an effort to engage in some of their favorite activities in English.

Is your child more active at different times of the day? Do they like the mornings or the afternoons? What do they do after learning? Do they want something to eat? Choose the perfect moment to tackle the most difficult tasks!

What is your child’s preferred method of absorbing information? Is it possible to teach off-the-cuff during these times? Make a list of what works best for them.

Do you want your child to be able to make their own decisions about their education? Or do they prefer to make decisions with you? Always remember to ask them for their opinions and to encourage them as they build their own study skills.

Can I help if I don’t speak English?

Yes! Encouragement and praise are the finest ways to provide the best support for your child. This boosts your child’s self-esteem and belief in their own abilities.

Encourage children when they take charge of their own education and congratulate them on their efforts

You could even give your youngster the task of teaching English to a member of your family. Did you know that one of the most effective methods to learn is to teach someone else? You could even ask that they teach you.

Conclusion.

Whatever you do, make it fun. Your child will love you all the more for you taking the time out of your day to spend with them.

To develop the love of learning in your child will mean they will want to learn and they will increase any learning skill quicker.

Remember the first skill in learning any language is the listening skill, so the more they listen to English, the faster they will learn.

And be patient, learning anything takes time. And learning a language is one of the most difficult things to do. But small steps now will lead to big leaps in the future.

Who am I?

I am an EFL ( English as a Foreign Language ) teacher who owns a school in Vietnam. I have been here for 15 years and experienced most teaching situations.

From teaching in state schools with 50 plus students to a class to one on one private lessons. I have taught in English centers both good and bad, and the bad decided me to open my own school.

You can check out my school in Vietnam below by hitting on the YouTube button.

My school in Vietnam

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.

How to teach English in Vietnam

Teaching English in Vietnam

For several years, teaching English in Vietnam has been highly popular. The unique culture, vibrant marketplaces, tropical environment, and friendly people are all reasons to visit.

Vietnam stretches along the South China Sea’s coast and has borders with three other nations. It has become a popular destination for backpackers, vacationers, and English teachers.

Because the locals are eager to learn English, there are numerous options to teach both adults and children.

Currently, most schools are teaching online but once the classrooms reopen you will be expected to be fully vaccinated against Covid.

What kinds of jobs are available?

Having a TESOL or TEFL qualification can provide you a big edge in the eyes of your employer if you want to be an EFL instructor, especially in Vietnam. What kinds of teaching jobs can you get with them, though? Continue reading to find out!

Get Qualified.

Before you start your journey as a teacher you will need to be TEFL or TESOL qualified. You can use a course provided by UDEMY to get your Teaching Certificate.

Teaching Online

Teaching online has become the norm recently as schools are still closed because of the effect of Covid. This has presented some learning curves for teachers who are used to classroom teaching. You can find out some of my favorite tools for teaching online. ==> HERE <==.

Classroom Teaching.

Once the schools reopen there will be an urgent need for qualified and vaccinated teachers. There are job advertisements being placed on various Facebook groups already. Below are the general types of employment you can expect.

Vietnam English Teaching Schools and also HCMC ESL Teaching jobs are 2 such groups you can find jobs.

Language Schools:

Language schools abound in Vietnam’s cities and towns. Finding a job in large cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Min City is surprisingly simple. A TESOL or TEFL certificate, as well as a bachelor’s degree, are required for the best (and highest paying) professions. However, finding English teaching positions as a native speaker is still rather easy.

Teachers pick language schools for a variety of reasons, including reliability, assistance, and professional growth. These institutions normally provide a lot of workshops, training, and managerial meetings for new teachers.

Another benefit is that they frequently offer incentives like contract completion allowances, relocation packages, and overtime as well as covering the costs of visas and work permits.

If you don’t like waking up early in the mornings, this may be a good option for you.

The cons of Language Schools.

Working in a language school has a couple of disadvantages. One is that you need to sign a contract that commits you to that particular company. There can also be a set amount of hours outlined in the contract, but this can also be flexible.

This usually translates to a weekend and a set weekday routine, which may limit your vacation options. Your normal working hours will be in the evenings Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sundays.

Be very careful when signing contracts as there are sometimes penalty clauses for arriving late to work. And with the traffic in the bigger cities, you are going to be late at least some times. It can be very annoying to be docked one hour of pay if you are 5 minutes late. Read your contract.

Another problem can be these institutions will frequently allow pupils to go to the following level. Even when the student is not ready to advance to the next grade level. This can be aggravating for English teachers as well as pupils’ peers.

Public Schools

Teaching in State schools is another popular route for the EFL teacher to take. The State schools normally get their EFL ( English as a Foreign Language) teachers from private companies. These companies can loosely be termed recruitment agencies at best. At worst, they are just cannon fodder for providing teachers. They advertise heavily on Facebook groups.

Working in State schools comes with its own pros’ and cons’. On the upside, you are working through the day and have the weekends off to explore your new city and surroundings.

The normal hours at State schools are from 7 am to 4 pm. However, you will be allocated classes that run up to one and a half hours in length. If you have no classes you do not need to stay at the school.

Be prepared for a long lunch if you work in a state school, as often the students will have a break between 11 am and 1 pm.

The cons’ of State schools.

The biggest complaint you will hear from teachers is the size of the class. Expect 50 students in your class and anything less is a bonus. So imagine teaching 50 noisy students in a large classroom. There are some tools that make teaching easier that I have written about before. You can look => HERE <== to find out more.

International Schools.

A few years of teaching experience is frequently required for a position in an international school. However, it can provide ongoing career development chances as well as significant benefits such as flight reimbursement and housing allowance.

You’ll primarily be teaching English to Vietnamese youngsters who are either ex-pats or rich. These schools are typically placed in well-off residential suburbs.

Obtaining a list of schools from online groups or ex-pat directories can help you find these schools. Keep in mind that, unlike language schools, these positions are normally only accessible throughout the summer months of June through August.

Private Tuition.

Teaching private English courses in Vietnam, particularly in the larger cities, is quite simple. The biggest benefit is that teachers have far more flexibility and earn far more per hour than those who work in language schools.

Finding pupils is as simple as advertising yourself in local papers or online on a regular basis. Because most parents still do not understand English, it is preferable if you have some Vietnamese language abilities.

Or employ an assistant to help you in your marketing attempts. Teachers can also rely on word-of-mouth and publish notices in neighborhood hangouts to get good results.

Teaching private English sessions can be unpredictable, and it can be difficult to make a living doing it full-time when you first arrive. Some teachers use private tuition to supplement their classes or online teaching activities.

But once you have been here for a while you will attract students who will look for private tuition. It is not uncommon for some reputable teachers to work full time in their own business and make substantially more than teaching in the schools.

Open Your own Language Center.

A natural progression is to move from private tuition to opening your own language center. Create your own language school.

Setting up your own language center is an excellent idea if you want to pursue business in addition to teaching. You’ll be the boss as well as a teacher, allowing you to still pursue your passion for teaching.

Your company location can be your own house or a rented space. Having a TEFL or TESOL degree and teaching experience will assist you greatly in attracting students.

You would need to set up all the necessary legal requirements for running a school in Vietnam. There are a lot of English-speaking lawyers who can help in this matter.

Become a curriculum designer

Many English centers have openings for this position. This is more of a management position. Planning and creating the curriculum and particular courses, coordinating the teaching schedule, and conducting teacher development seminars are all common roles.

Become an EFL Textbook Writer

You can utilize your knowledge and experience to design and sell textbooks and supplemental materials. Many book publishers want to work with experienced teachers since they can benefit from your expertise and experience.

Qualifications Needed.

Officially, a native English speaker with a bachelor’s degree is required to obtain a work visa in Vietnam. In addition, a criminal background check is required. A TEFL or TESOL certificate and work experience is becoming increasingly required.

Work visas can be arranged in-country and it’s still allowed to arrive in Vietnam on a three-month tourist visa and look for work. When you find a job your new employer will normally assist you with the relevant documentation. A health check will also be needed.

Your new employer may or may not pay for your visa, therefore it’s a good idea to set aside some money ($50-$100) for this expense.

The cost of a visa varies depending on the kind and length of your stay. Make sure you include official documentation, such as your university diploma or teaching certificate. And it is preferable to have it notarized at your local consulate or before you arrive.

There are or were some schools that flouted the law ( Regarding paperwork ) and have got away with it for a long time. It is still possible to find employment without qualifications but is becoming increasingly harder to do so.

N.B. With the rise of Covid, it has also become necessary to be fully vaccinated if you wish to return to classroom teaching.

Find out about “resolution 105′ ==> HERE <== and how it affects teachers.

Conclusion.

Choose the type of teaching experience you want. Most full-time employment will require you to work 15-25 hours a week in the classroom, plus prep time. Other language schools will hire part-time teachers, expecting you to tutor or work at a variety of locations.

Your lessons will typically last 45 to 90 minutes, and you will frequently teach five classes per day, five to six days per week.

When lesson planning, office hours, and other activities are factored in, teachers should expect to work 30-40 hours per week in full-time jobs.

The schools are planning to start reopening from December, so hopefully, everything will be getting back to some form of normality soon.

Who Am I?

My name is Stephen and I have been living and teaching in Vietnam for 15 years. I have my own school as well as providing fully qualified teachers to schools in Vietnam.

You can look at my house in Vietnam below.

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.

What Teachers day is like in Vietnam with Covid.

This year Vietnam Teachers day is very sad.

Yesterday was just Teachers day.

Like the song, “yesterday seems so far away” this years Teachers day was a bit sad. This years Teachers day coincided with Childrens day. A time normally spent celebrating both Teachers in Vietnam and Children around the world.

Childrens Day.

Saturday, November 20, 2021, is World Children’s Day. Children’s Day is a worldwide celebration usually filled with love and laughter. On their designated dates, all UN member countries commemorate Children’s Day.

Children’s Day is usually a lighthearted occasion with a serious message. International Children’s Day provides an opportunity to promote and celebrate children’s rights, which will help them to live in a better world.

It seems to be appropriate that it falls on the same day as Teachers’ day in Vietnam.

Vietnam Teachers day.

The same day as Teachers day in Vietnam. This is when students express their gratitude and admiration for their teachers. During the Vietnamese Teachers’ Day holiday schools have concerts, recitals, and exhibitions, which are commonplace.

Students prepare food and flowers for the events. On a regular basis, classes are canceled for the day. Students, on the other hand, frequently attend school in the morning and some even spend the entire day participating in these activities.

Find out more about a normal “Teachers day” ==> HERE <==

This occasion is marked by a wide range of events.

Students have typically been practicing and planning for several weeks prior to the performance. Traditional costumes and dances will be displayed alongside the pupils’ renditions of K-pop or V-pop.

Everything is normally a lot of fun and highly entertaining. Unfortunately this year it was a bit sad.

A Sad Year

Most Vietnamese schools celebrated Vietnamese Teachers’ Day with flowers, balloons, gifts, and greetings, however, there were no pupils because of Covid-19. Without the participation of some Teachers and all the students, this year’s celebrations have become less exciting than normal.

You can read more in the ==> HANOI TIMES <==

The Hurdles of Teaching with Covid

Covid-19 has posed unprecedented hurdles to the education sector, posing significant obstacles for both instructors and students.

In Vietnam’s largest cities, the majority of schools teach online. Online lessons, on the other hand, mean a lot more effort on the part of both teachers and students.

For some parents, this means their children will be unable to participate in online lessons. Because of the high cost of computers and the lack of government subsidies, many people are forced to forego studies.

Time will tell if this generation will be known as the under-educated Covid generation.

Teachers day for foreigners in Vietnam.

Foreign instructors who have lost their jobs because of school closures face additional humiliation and loneliness because of the stigma of foreigners supposedly having Covid.

Many foreign teachers are having a terrible time right now. The majority of the workers were hourly workers who are now out of work.

For many foreign teachers, it has been nearly six months since their last paycheck, and some are even begging on the streets. What can you do if you don’t have food and no income? It is not an option to be proud.

Some are lucky and have secured jobs teaching online. Some are not so lucky and are battling with paying rent and putting food on the table.

Teaching Online.

Although many language teachers have attempted to teach online, some parents are unwilling to pay the entire amount for online sessions.

For newer teachers, online lessons can be as low as a third to half of the standard rate. And for some, finding those students can be difficult. Especially if you have no knowledge of the Vietnamese language.

The parents want their children to learn but may themselves either have a basic grasp of the language, or no English skills at all.

However, if you have a large following, parents will be willing to pay extra. And if you’re known for being a terrific teacher, you won’t have to discount anything.

“Something is better than nothing,” some are saying. “Business as usual” for others.

A Glimmer of Hope. Maybe!

Schools are starting to advertise more for online teachers. However, a lot of the English centers have closed, and finding a well-paying job is more difficult.

The airlines are just starting to re-open along with some businesses. Covid rates have increased as one would expect. Lockdowns and continued pressure on the local populace though have forced the government into slowly opening things again.

An example of the confusion at the moment is the karaoke bars were allowed to re-open. So the owners went out and re-employed staff and got everything up and working again. Only to be told 2 days later they were closing them down again.

But This is About the Students.

So who are the ones who suffer the most? Yes, the children are hurting the most, both educationally and in some cases emotionally.

This has been one of the most difficult times in Vietnam’s history for teachers and pupils.

The pandemic’s aftermath threatens to undermine this generation’s chances and limit their options well into adulthood.

The long-term consequences may jeopardize their chances of attending college and, eventually, finding a satisfying profession that allows them to support their family.

It’s not just about the learning.

During the pandemic, students lost more than just academic knowledge. Some have lost family members; others have lost employment and sources of money for their parents and caretakers, and almost all have experienced some type of social isolation.

Mental health issues also raise a huge concern.

There has been a rise in the number of people who are depressed. Social disengagement, self-isolation, tiredness, and unreasonable worries have all been reported by the parents of my students. Some students have developed an obsession with cleanliness, which they demonstrate by constantly washing their hands.

What’s the Upshot?

Schools will very certainly need to address the pandemic’s broader consequences for pupils who have been traumatized.

The teachers will once again step up to the front line and assist and support your children.

Why? Because we are teachers.

I leave you with this.

Here are some simple thoughts about what my students want to do after this horrible pandemic is contained. I wish them all the best in their wishes.

Thuy.

“I want to go to Australia because there are kangaroos there. I want to go back to Nha Trang after the pandemic. I want to be an agricultural engineer in the future.”

Ngoc.

“When I grow up I wanna be a person that can pay my bill and taxes and manage all my time I don’t really care what job I will do in the future but I hope it will be a job with decent pay but if I have to choose one job it would be a baker because my dad is a baker and I hope to make great pastries like him and create my own cakes someday.”

Vy.

“In 2025, I will be 18 years old, of course, I will send money back to my parents and then because then I am old enough to work part-time course the rent we will also split in half and if after I turn 18 I still live with my parents for example when I am 30 then sure the whole rent and including electricity bill will be paid by me and when I’m 30 years old and still living with my parents, that means I don’t have a husband or you love something, my parents will kick me out of the house.”

Simple dreams and simple ambitions like everyone around the world. I hope next “Teachers day” will be a lot happier for everyone than this one has been.

Click ==> HERE <== if you want to find out what Vietnamese students are like.

Who am I?

My name is Stephen and I have been teaching in Vietnam for 15 years and own 2 schools. I love traveling and meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. You can check out my house in Vietnam below on YouTube.

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.

What are Vietnamese Students really like?

This is a post about how Vietnamese students view themselves and the overall problems facing students and teachers alike.

How do Vietnamese students see themselves?

When I ask my students what they think about the schools and teachers in Vietnam the main response is “Boring”. And the result is the students see themselves as lacking and describe themselves as lazy. But let us look behind the scenes a bit more.

The number of students in the school and classroom is huge. It is not uncommon for a class to have 50 students and if you get a class with only 30 students you should consider yourself lucky. This is not conducive to good teaching. There is not much individual teaching done in the classroom.

Very basic classroom tools.

Teachers tend to stand in front of the blackboard and write down the lesson of the day and then get the students to copy. While the students are copying the lesson into their notebooks the teacher will often just sit behind his or her desk and play with their phone.

There is also a distinct lack of technology in the classroom. Whatever technology is in the classroom is often paid for by the parents. Televisions, microphones, and DVD players are more common. But don’t expect a classroom full of computers.

And there are reasons for all of the above too. It is not an easy fix. Let us start with the problems the teachers face.

Teachers Problems

The native teachers of Vietnam have to deal with a lot of problems. And some of these only come to light after you have been teaching here for a while.

After teaching here for about 5 years, I got to talk to one of the teachers. She was worried because she was having another baby. Baby number 3. It seems the Ministry of Education frowns on more than 2 babies per family, so she was worried this would adversely affect her career. That blew me away as I thought this sort of thing only happened in China.

Another problem we can all relate to is that they are grossly underpaid. Their monthly income barely pays for rent and the cost of living. Only a few years ago they were getting the equivalent of $300 to $500 per month. Living in a big city makes it very difficult to make ends meet.

Extra activities

As a result of this, a lot of teachers take on extra teaching activities at home. Sometimes informing the parents that if their children don’t attend the extra classes they will get bad grades. This would seriously affect the students’ post-school ambitions.

Scheduling and timetables are a huge drain on the teachers of Vietnam. With classes starting at 7.00 to 7.30 am and going through to 4 or 5 pm, this is a seriously long day. As well as the long day the teachers are pushed into taking as many classes as possible while still having their own “home class” to look after.

As mentioned before class sizes are huge, with classes of 50 plus students not uncommon. In fact, they are more the norm rather than the exception. Pity the poor introvert teacher who has 55 talkative outgoing students in their class.

Lesson planning helps overcome this and you can find out more ==> HERE <==

Vietnamese English teachers.

When I first started teaching in the public schools I thought all the Vietnamese English teachers would come up to me and want to talk. No, it didn’t happen, and I started to think it must be me. But it wasn’t, they were scared that if they talked to me they would be found out that their English language skills were lacking.

Some of the faults of the Vietnamese English teachers are probably easy to understand. They focus more on Grammar than pronunciation. The outcome being the students know the grammatical aspects of the English language better than most native English speakers. However, they either can’t speak or are very limited in their speaking skills.

Native English speakers

And it is for this reason that native English speakers from the USA, England, Australia, and many other countries are employed to teach in the schools. Often this is also funded by the students’ parents.

Don’t get me wrong. There are some seriously good Vietnamese English teachers out there. But they are in the minority and are more progressive in their teaching approach. And even though I haven’t been told, I would think the “establishment” would consider their teaching methods too liberal.

Teaching English is both profitable and fun if you are a good teacher. But first, you have to learn before you earn. Udemy is a great resource for studying anywhere in the world. To check out their classes click the link below.

Now is a great time to get your English teaching license as the borders in Vietnam are just starting to open. You can find out more about International flights ==> HERE <==

The Vietnamese students | What are they like.

When it comes to learning English, Vietnamese students face many problems. It’s difficult in schools where class sizes are huge and English teachers are scarce in both quantity and quality.

One of the key issues is proper pronunciation. Students find it difficult to converse in English as a result of current teaching methods. English education should focus on helping students to speak and communicate effectively in the real world, not just on grammar.

Time-traveling.

When I started my journey as an EFL ( English as a foreign language) teacher, I envisioned spending 1 or 2 years in a lot of countries around the world. Time for “time-traveling”

I came to Vietnam first on holiday about 16 years ago after my first marriage fell apart, and I was desperately looking for something. But didn’t know what I was looking for.

I traveled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city and met some amazing people, both locals and fellow tourists. I stopped off at a lot of places and had a great time.

After returning to my home country I knew I had been bitten by the travel bug. So I sorted my affairs, lol. And did a course on Teaching English and hightailed it back to Vietnam.

Fast forward to today.

I am still in Vietnam and one of the biggest reasons is the students. I find them fun and inquisitive, they are eager to learn and if you approach your class in the right way they will show you respect. it is not uncommon for students to bow to you outside the classroom. however, with the older students, I try to get them to just say “Hi” and introduce their parents.

Even though they describe themselves as lazy, they are some of the hardest working and enjoyable students I have ever had the pleasure to teach.

Students the world over.

Like students everywhere, they will test you and push your buttons. but once you have established the ground rules and talk to them at the same level and not down to them, you gain their respect and attention.

I now have my own school in Vietnam. Lately because of Covid we have been teaching online. Yes, I still teach as I love it, it keeps me young. Teaching online produces its’ own problems. You can find out more ==> HERE <==

Once again the students have buckled down and worked exceptionally well. The online classes I do focus on pronunciation, talking, and vocabulary. Homework, yes I give homework, is written work. Below is one example of an assignment about work experience from one of my students. Jenny. An English nickname is chosen by her.

Jennys’ blog on work experience.

Written by one of my students.

“The work experience I had as a vet was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of my life. The first day was exciting but overwhelming. I had never seen so many animals at once and there were many different types of them.

I learned how to identify and diagnose the animal’s symptoms and what might be wrong with them. I had to make some tough decisions on whether we should euthanize the animal or not, especially when they were in pain and we couldn’t help them anymore. It made me feel really emotional because you could tell that they trusted me to help them have a better life.”

JENNY

I have not changed anything in this and am very proud to share it, with her blessing. She just asked, if you like it please share and leave a comment. She would be chuffed for a foreigner to reach out and say she is doing well. Jenny is only 14 years old, so pretty impressive.

Conclusion

Normally at the end of every post, I talk about myself, but as this post covers this, it could be better to show you my house in Vietnam. If you click on the YouTube button below it will take you to my YT account and you can check out my house with me.

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.

The Best Luggage for Travel in Vietnam?

This article will give you an overview of the different types of luggage you can use for travelling around Vietnam.

What is the Best Travel Luggage?

Short Trips or Long Vacations.

If you’re only going on a short vacation, carry-on luggage is OK, but if you’re going to be gone for a while, you’ll need a larger suitcase that can be checked into the cargo hold.

Whether you check an ultra-modern hard-shell spinner bag, a conventional fabric case, or a big backpack, do your study to select the right size, shape, and type of luggage for your next vacation.

You may also want to look at the International Airport list before you decide on the route to take on your next trip. The International Airport List.

Checked Luggage.

Checked luggage is typically larger, thicker, and more inconvenient than cabin luggage. The sort of checked luggage you can use on an airplane is determined by how you move it to and from the airport, as well as the physical weight and size constraints imposed by the aircraft.

Carry-on luggage is convenient, but it may not have the space you require for longer trips. Treat yourself to one of those larger suitcases you’ve been eyeing if you’re checking your luggage this time.

Most companies make cases, backpacks, and even bags in a range of sizes, so you could get a matching set for a few bucks. Keep in mind that medium-sized cases are easier to transport than large ones (and lighter, too).

Luggage Restrictions

Large cases are difficult to transport through airports, and each airline has size and weight restrictions, so check with the airline before flying.

Don’t be the person that unpacks their overloaded suitcase at check-in to make it lighter. Before you fly, check with your airline to see what the weight restriction for checked bags is. Most airlines will charge you extra if your bag weighs more than 50 pounds. Or they may even refuse them at check-in.

You may be able to get around the weight restrictions by checking more than one suitcase at a time, but this will almost always cost you extra (and not every airline on every route will offer this service).

Suitcase vs. Backpack

Suitcases with two wheels are easy to draw behind you and are better fitted to travel across rougher terrain, but four-wheeled suitcases glide along by you and are considerably easier to maneuver in confined spaces like airplanes aisles.

When deciding between a 2- or 4-wheeled alternative, cost, practicality, and personal preference are all important considerations. A four-wheel spinner case glides quickly through the airport, but it can get caught on hilly walkways or uneven paths.

A two-wheeled variant can be dragged across almost anything, although it is shaky and bulky. Before you buy, try out a few pieces of luggage.

Hard Shell or Soft Shell

Another difficult decision you’ll have to make is whether to acquire a gleaming new hard-shell case or a sporty-looking soft-shell case.

Hard cases are extremely robust, with smooth curves and vibrant exteriors, but they offer less interior room flexibility (and are more prone to wonky wheels and failing handles).

Soft cases aren’t always as attractive as hard cases, and they don’t always provide the same level of protection. They do, however, usually have more usable interior capacity, handy external pockets, and are much lighter to carry and manage.

Any case’s quality and longevity will be determined by its make and model, so keep in mind the old saying “buy cheap, buy twice” when purchasing.

My Top 5 Suitcases.

Samsonite Omni expandable carry-on luggage.

20″ SPINNER LUGGAGE maximizes your packing power and meets most carry-on size restrictions for those traveling domestically and looking for short stays. Great weekender.
10 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY: Samsonite products are rigorously tested to ensure our products meet stringent standards. This bag comes with a 10-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
STAY POWERED UP Enjoy the luxury of a charging system that travels with you, designed to connect with your preferred battery

Samsonite Winfield 2

28″ Spinner luggage maximizes your packing power and is the ideal checked bag for longer trips
Packing dimensions: 28.0″ X 19.75″ X 12.5″, overall dimensions: 31.0″ X 20.0″ X 12.75″, weight: 11.5 pounds
10-year limited warranty: Samsonite products are rigorously tested to ensure there products meet stringent standards. This bag comes with a 10-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Travel Pro Maxlite 25

A half pound lighter than max lite 4, this lightweight 25-inch spinner maximizes your packing power and is the ideal checked bag for medium to long trips
4 wheel spinners rotate 360 degrees for a smooth roll. The lightweight, sturdy PowerScope handle stops at 38 inches and 42.5 inches and features a patented contour grip with rubberized touch points for easy maneuvering. Unique bottom tray design increases durability
Expands up to 2 inches to maximize packing capacity. Features low profile top, side, and bottom carry handles, two exterior compartments, full-length interior lid pocket, side accessory pocket, and adjustable hold-down straps for packing convenience
Limited Lifetime Coverage plus trusted companion promise, which covers the cost of repair for damage from an airline or another common carrier for 1 year
Case Dimensions: 25x18x11, Overall Dimensions: 27×18.5×11.5, Weight: 7.3 lbs. H20 Guard protects the interior lining from moisture

DELSEY Paris Chatelet Hardside 2.0 Luggage

Made from durable material for long-lasting use. Lightweight 100% polycarbonate shell that is extremely resilient to cracking or breaking; designed with stylish faux leather accents with additional corner protectors for extra durability.
Double-spinner wheels provide a stable base with multi-directional rolling that is lightweight and comfortable when fully packed.
Ergonomical handle for easy maneuverability and soft-grip side and top carrying handles; includes laundry bag, shoe bag and mesh zippered pockets for additional organization.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS : 16.5 x 14 x 28/75 inches.

Briggs and Riley Baseline.

Expandable Luggage: This swivel wheeled bag expands 2.5 inches for up to 25% more packing space. Cinch-down mesh garment panels keep contents from shifting and minimize wrinkling, Outsider handle provides greater interior capacity. Free TSA lock included
Durable Construction: Made with ballistic nylon outer fabric that resists wear, moisture, dirt and abrasion. A lockable double zipper pull keeps contents secure and SpeedThru pocket allows quick access to travel items at security checkpoints
Lifetime Guarantee: The only luggage company that offers an unconditional lifetime guarantee. If your bag is ever broken or damaged, we’ll repair it free of charge, no proof of purchase is needed, and no questions asked

How to Choose the Best One-Bag Travel Backpack

Traveling with only one bag gives you a sense of liberation. All of your vital belongings are within reach, forcing you to forego many of life’s ostensibly required consumer things that you could definitely do without. You may simply move from place to place with just one bag, always having just enough but never too much.

Choosing the ideal travel backpack for one-bag travel is a difficult task. There are a plethora of brands and models to pick from, each with its own level of durability, affordability, and try-on-ability (we made this word up for trying something out before buying it online). When you throw in different points of view and perspectives from people with varied values, needs, and body kinds, you’ve got a real slew of possibilities to sort through. Having the finest travel backpack that fits you is vital, whether you’re a first-time traveler planning your first trip, a digital nomad going through a “sell everything and put it in a backpack” period, or somewhere in between.

My Top 5 backpacks

Shrradoo

Large Capacity and Organized: Men’s travel backpack owns 20 independent pockets for large storage and organization for small items. 3 spacious main multi compartments with many hidden pockets can accommodate lots of stuff like college supplies, travel accessories, stationery, notebook, cord organizer, and side deep zipper pocket for easy access essentials. Side elastic net pockets conveniently hold travel gear umbrellas or water bottles.

Extra Large 50L Travel Laptop Backpack with USB Charging Port Fit 17 Inch Laptops

Kaka Travel Backpack.

Durable anti-theft travel bag: This backpack is Made with high-quality terylene oxford fabric. It’s a very durable backpack, Anti Theft, Water Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Professional design, and strap with high-density soft decompression foam for your comfort.

Carry On Backpack Durable Convertible Duffle Bag.

Durable anti-theft travel bag: This backpack is Made with high quality terylene oxford fabric. It’s a very durable backpack,Anti Theft, Water Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Professional design, strap with high density soft decompression foam for your comfort.
Larger Roomy Compartments: A total of 10 pocktes. 1 Main zipped pocket, 3 front zipped pockets, 1 side mesh pocket, 2 small strap pockets and 3 pockets in the large front zip pocket,It can provide separated space for computer, iPad, A4 files, wallet, clothes, power bank and more your items.
Large-capacity Backpack: The backpack Size – 20.5 X 12X 6.7 inches, Laptop Compartment Dimensions – 18 X 11 X 6 inches Capacity: 35L (Large size fits most 15.6″ Laptop.)weight:3.68 LBS

G-FAVOR 40L Travel Backpack, Vintage Canvas Rucksack Convertible Duffel Bag Carry On Backpack Fit for 17.3 Inch Laptop Ba

3-in-1 multifunctional backpack: Convertible backpack (backpack, shoulder bag, hand luggage bag), the bag is designed with straps, shoulder straps, and hand straps, and you can use several different carrying methods to give you a different experience.

Travel Backpack, Vintage Canvas Rucksack Convertible.

MULTI-FUNCTIONAL TRAVEL BACKPACK. This carry on backpack designed as a convertible backpack (backpack, cross-body bag, duffel bag backpack), this travel luggage backpack can use several different carrying methods to give you a different experience. Comfortable design gives you maximum back support. Breathable and adjustable shoulder straps relieve the stress of shoulder for a long time carry on.
LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE & POCKETS. The laptop backpack with a main compartment and a 17.3 inch laptop compartment, it has independent pockets inside, in which small items can be easily stored. There are several compartments on the computer backpack, and there is a waterproof shoes compartment, make your items organized and easier to find.

High Sierra Dells Canyon Travel Backpack.

A stylish orange and grey backpack

Take on any TSA line with the quick-draw laptop and tablet compartment
Grab your gear on-demand with stay-in-place front zip organizer.
Multiple grab handles on all sides make traveling easy from any angle.
Discrete luggage piggy-back strap and compression straps.
Hike happy with Airmesh straps made from premium EVA foam
Avoid swamps and swamp-back with ventilated Airmesh back panel

High Sierra XBT – Business Laptop Backpack

Whatever piece of luggage you have decided on when travelling in Vietnam, or anywhere, please keep a close eye on it. Vietnam is a safe country to travel in, and most crimes here are opportunistic crimes. Petty crimes, like bag snatching, do happen. So, it pays to be aware especially around bus stations and airports where there might be 2 or 3 people wrkinh together to relieve you of your new luggage..

When investing your money into anything like this, it is my opinion to spend a little more and get quality rather than purchasing goods that need to be replaced frequently.

Whatever you choose make sure it is right for you. Buy cheap, buy twice.

Affiliate Disclosure.

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.

Any money made is used in helping the students and teachers in Vietnam. Thanks so much.

Educational Flashcards | ESL

Flashcards are an excellent resource to use in the ESL or EFL classroom with younger students.

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.

Many different games 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.

Products.

Here are some Flashcards for toddlers and preschoolers that won’t break the bank and are professionally made. Buy from Amazon for less than $10.00 per set.

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.

Steve

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.

Tech Tools for the classroom

Teach Easy.

To make your life easier in the classroom (Public schools) it is advisable to have some tools available to help.

Why?

Classroom sizes in Vietnam are pretty big. You can walk into a class of 50 students every day. If you are not prepared you will be exhausted by days end. You need help to project your voice.

What do I need?

First off a wireless headset with a blue tooth connection to a speaker will save your voice after a day in the classroom.

I currently use an “Aporo” wireless headset and Sony 30 watt speaker (XB32). As well as this I run all my audio recordings through Google drive on my cell phone.

Any good wireless headset and speaker will work. I recommend you try before you teach.

My cell phone is also connected via blue tooth to the Sony speaker. I have pre-saved all my audio recordings to my cell phone and pre-program the tracks I need for the lessons ahead.

I also use a mini projector for any visual presentations and display it on a wall in the classroom. Or I use a whiteboard or a rollout screen. I also have the audio output of the projector connected to the Sony speaker.

If you want to make your classroom experience more exciting and easier for you, invest in your future.

Here are a couple of items that may help.

I hope this helps. Also, have a look at my other posts, they might even help you.

How to teach English in Vietnam. – Teaching ESL in Vietnam 2021 (vietnamesl.com)

Any comments are gratefully accepted and always answered.

Any or all affiliate links on this website may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something on these links I may 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.

Teaching English Abroad in Vietnam

There are certain ways that will make it easier for both the teacher to teach and the student to learn English as a second language. This will help you to understand more about teaching English in a foreign country.

How do students learn

Before we move into teaching styles and the methodology of teaching it is a good idea to reflect on how languages are learnt. If you can think when a baby is born it does not come forth into the world with a full range of vocabulary.

He or she spends the first years of life listening and absorbing the fundamentals of the language.

The first skill learnt is the Listening skill which is the foundation of all the other skills. ( I can quite often guess the nationality of the teacher because of the pronunciation of the student).

This is, arguably, the most important skill. The second skill in learning order is the speaking skill. Once the child has heard enough sounds, he or she will start putting together words and then phrases and sentences. The third and fourth skills are reading and writing and are higher learning skills.

And similarly to a baby learning a language this can be an effective guide in teaching English to an ESL (English as a second language) student. however, we do not have years to teach in the same way and time frame that a baby has to learn its native language.

Integrating the four skills can develop communicative competence because it focuses on the realistic communication, which is the main pursuit of teaching and learning in modern society

Teaching styles.

You will ultimately find your own teaching style and classroom techniques as you develop as a teacher. some recognized styles of teaching T.P.R (Total physical response), The communicative approach, meaningful learning, and the old-fashioned rote learning. Most teachers will cherry-pick from the below teaching techniques to suit themselves.

You can find out more about teaching styles at the ” Australian Christian College“

Total Physical Response.

T.P.R is a language acquisition method developed by psychology expert, Professor James Asher. TPR uses a combination of language and physical actions to engage students in the language learning process.

Total Physical Response has a lot of benefits, particularly for beginners and young learners.

The pairing of movement with language is innately associated with effective learning
Students actively use both the left and right sides of their brains
It works with both small and large groups
It sharpens students’ listening skills
Students are not required to speak until they are ready to, therefore creating a “safe zone” that greatly lowers inhibitions and stress
Students will appreciate the change of pace and potential for humor.
Kinaesthetic learners (who respond well to physical activities) and visual learners (who learn best with visual cues) will get a lot out of TPR.

The Communicative approach.

Teaching through language. A strong concentration on listening. It emphasizes interaction as both the means and ultimate goal of the study.

The communicative approach is based on the idea that learning a language successfully comes through having to communicate real meaning. When learners are involved in real communication, their natural strategies for language acquisition will be used, and this will allow them to learn to use the language.

Example

Practicing question forms by asking learners to find out personal information about their colleagues is an example of the communicative approach, as it involves meaningful communication.

In the classroom

Classroom activities guided by the communicative approach are characterized by trying to produce meaningful and real communication, at all levels. As a result, there may be more emphasis on skills than systems, lessons are more learner-centered, and there may be some use of authentic materials.

Meaningful Learning

The concept or theory of meaningful learning is that learned information is completely understood and can now be used to make connections with other previously known knowledge, aiding in further understanding. Meaningful learning is often contrasted with rote learning, a method in which information is memorized sometimes without elements of understanding our relation to other objects or situations. Meaningful learning is to feel that all the pieces of a concept, idea, theory, formulae, or argument fit together.

ADVANTAGES OF MEANINGFUL LEARNING

Meaningful learning helps students achieve success in the classroom by:

Encouraging understanding, not memorization
Encouraging active learning techniques
Focusing on the outcome of the learning process
Relating new information to prior knowledge

DISADVANTAGES OF MEANINGFUL LEARNING

The challenges associated with meaningful learning include:

Takes longer to achieve
Should be tailored for different types of learners

Some students may face challenges with meaningful learning, as it requires building off previous knowledge. This is where dedicated teachers and tutors can help ensure students understand concepts so that meaningful learning can continue to happen.

Rote Learning

Rote learning is a more traditional form of teaching. It is based on repetition until the students remember the words and phrases. Rote learning is defined as the memorization of information based on repetition.

ADVANTAGES OF ROTE LEARNING

There are some benefits of Rote Learning, including:

Ability to quickly recall basic facts
Helps develop foundational knowledge

DISADVANTAGES OF ROTE LEARNING

The drawbacks of learning by memorization include:

Can be repetitive
Easy to lose focus
Doesn’t allow for a deeper understanding of a subject
Doesn’t encourage the use of social skills
No connection between new and previous knowledge
May result in a wrong impression or understanding a concept

While being able to quickly recall pieces of information is helpful, to understand information on a deeper level students must use a different method of learning.

It’s your move.

Students have different levels of interest and ability and learn in different ways. Auditory, kinesthetic, visual, etc. But if students “laugh and learn” the subject matter is more easily absorbed and retained.

There are many different ways of teaching and you will find the way that is most suitable and effective for yourself. One of the best ways to test if you are being effective is the engagement of the students.

When you are doing your teacher training you should be introduced to these different styles and hopefully given the chance to practice them. Just like anything, your teaching style and techniques will be perfected with practice.

Teaching On-Line / Schools that want teachers

Look at this post about schools that are looking for online teachers. On-Line Schools.

I also do placement of ESL teachers across Vietnam.

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