Students - Vietnam

The market for ESL here is rapidly expanding and teachers are in high demand. There are plenty of schools in the city that operate to a high standard, offering many opportunities for career development.

Class sizes are fairly large- about 15 to 18 students - which might seem a bit daunting at first. In Vietnam, however, teachers are highly respected figures in society. The social order is reflected in the traditional Vietnamese saying: "My king, my teacher, my father." Class control is rarely a problem and students generally are a delight to teach. They are well-behaved, polite, eager to get to know you and will drag you out to a coffee shop or karaoke club at any available opportunity. On Teachers' Day the students might surprise me with flowers and a cake. What's more, the majority of them see English as vital to their future career prospects (and to their ability to understand West life lyrics), so their motivation level is high.