Vietnam: Teaching University Students

Introduction

Vietnam, one of the most populated countries in the world, is a dynamically developing one where roads are being renovated, new buildings are emerging and cities are changing. Unlike Thailand and Cambodia, Vietnam has not been influenced as much by Western culture and has a unique identity, which manifests in many ways including the delicious traditional food. Vietnam’s fast-growing economy is assisted by tourism, led by the growing interest for the country’s fascinating history and breathtaking sights such as its beaches, the beautiful countryside in the north and the typical rice fields. Despite a painful past, the Vietnamese are proud of their heritage and embrace life with determination and enthusiasm. The largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, was formerly named Saigon and was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina. Today it is a bustling city hurtling along at a dizzying speed, merging the new with the ever-present old.

The aim of this project is to create opportunities for learning through cultural exchange in the setting of a college hospitality and leisure industry class. As a teacher assistant in the class, you will interact with students aged 19-25 and recreate real-life situations from the hospitality industry. Through role plays rather than previously prepared teaching materials you can teach English in a spontaneous and creative way. The students are eager to learn English and to meet foreigners and you will learn about their culture and way of life in return. At the end of the program you will receive a certificate for your achievement.

Make new friends with young people in a process of cultural exchange and teaching!

Daily Life

On the first day of your program you will get introduced to the tourism college and explore the campus. In the afternoon you will get a sense of the classroom and your level of involvement will be determined – you may be assigned to a classroom assistant or lead teacher.

The rest of the week you will be fully involved with the activities at the college. You will attend regular classes and interact with the students throughout the day and enjoy your free time in the evenings and weekends with the new friends which you will make during your stay.

Travel and Accommodation

Your accommodation during the placement is in a student dorm on a college campus where there are rooms especially reserved for the participants in the project. The rooms are single-gender for 8 to 16 people and you will share showers and western-style toilets. In the common areas, such as the terrace, you can enjoy a view over the city or you can have some down time and read one of the available books or magazines in the “office” room. On the same floor you can find the café where you can buy a smoothie or soda and sit at the desks and tables. If you want to engage in some form of creative activity, you can paint or use materials for crafts, or you can play some music on the piano or guitar. For some sports, you can head to the pool or gym.

You will have wifi access in the dorms; however, the quality of the connection is dependent on the weather conditions.

You will be served three meals per day in the restaurant on campus which consist mainly of typical Vietnamese food but also of some Western dishes.

In the area around campus you can find ATMs as well as taxis to take you anywhere in Ho Chi Minh. In the city you can find anything that you may need.

Arrival is on a Sunday and departure/check-out is on Saturday before 12:00 pm during the last week of your program.

Requirements

• Minimum age 18.
• Passion and enthusiasm to get to know the country, lots of energy and creativity, and not afraid to stand up in front of a class of students.
• No previous skills are necessary, however, you will need to speak English at a conversational level.
• Minimum 2 weeks commitment – 30+ hours a week
• CRB Police check (or equivalent) showing that you have no previous criminal convictions
• Necessary vaccinations.
• Necessary flight & visas.
• Full travel & medical insurance. Full assistance will be provided in getting everything you will need ready if you choose our Premium Support.

Costs

€400 Euros per week

* Check the latest currency conversions with xe.com
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
*** Placements are confirmed with a 1 week deposit

What’s Included:

Project Fee includes food, accommodation, airport pickup, orientation, in-country support and project activities.

Private rooms are available for an additional €100 per week.

What’s not included:

Flights, insurance, visas (if applicable) and vaccinations. Full assistance will be provided in getting all these arranged if you choose our Premium Support.

Premium Support Upgrade

We understand there’s a great deal to plan and organise for your trip. When booking a Placement, many of our participants choose to purchase our Premium Support Upgrade to benefit from the expertise, knowledge and experience of our Project Coordinators.

We can provide the personal advice you need to ensure your trip is organised with excellence and planned with efficiency; ensuring the very best experience possible. Read more about how we can help you.