Classroom Culture in Vietnam: What English Teachers Should Expect
Culture shock is real anywhere you go in Vietnam. The classroom is no exception! This blog will prepare you for Vietnamese classroom culture so your adjustment can be as smooth as possible.
By: Brennan Lagman
At Ninja Teacher, we get how exciting, daunting, and scary the prospect of teaching English in Vietnam can be! As much as I’d like to say that you’ll be prepared and everything will go amazingly smooth at your first teaching gig, that’s rarely the case.
Besides all the administrative things you need to complete to begin legally teaching, once you’re in the classroom you are bound to run into some surprising cultural differences that will require some adjustment to navigate.
The truth is, no amount of training, coursework, blogs or vlogs will fully prepare you for the real deal! But that is where the fun in discovery comes in to play: you’ll discover new things just by doing it yourself! That being said, here is a list of common cultural things to consider as you prepare for your exciting new journey in this incredible country.
Vietnamese Culture Drives ESL Education
Vietnamese culture is as warm, vibrant, and inviting as any canteen or street food cart during the dinner rush. Like any culture in the world, it is full of nuances that take some time to understand. Unlike contemporary western societies like the USA, the family is the epicenter of life, even into and beyond what we consider adulthood. Family well being and reputation is very important, thus, families have a sense of pride in pushing their children to achieve educational and career success.
They view English as a language that will provide their young with a gateway to international opportunity and personal success, which is why this generation of young learners is being pushed farther than any before them to obtain ESL proficiency. Thus, parents are very involved in the education of their children, pushing them to do their best and study hard to a much further degree than their counterparts in the west.
Notes on Classroom Culture in Vietnam
Here is a short (but far from exhaustive) list on how you might interact with Vietnamese culture during your time as an English educator in Vietnam.
Punctuality Matters…Loosely
Being on time is very important, especially since parents are often nearby and will complain to faculty if you are late. That being said, it is commonplace in the culture to be anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes late, especially during the rainy season. Expect as a teacher to always be on time, but not all of your students will be as punctual as you.
Dress Code
We cover the dress code in Vietnam in great detail here, but here are some of the main points. The dress code is conservative, business casual, but can be a bit more relaxed and casual depending on the school. Our suggestions are as follows:
Men:
- Dress pants/nice khaki pants (NO shorts)
- Polo shirts (if approved by employer)
- Long-sleeve button downs
- Plain dark shoes
- No tie unless specified
Women:
- Dress or skirt that is knee-length or longer
- Short-sleeve tops are okay, covering the shoulders and with a standard neckline (no visible cleavage)
- Sleeveless blouses must have a jacket or cardigan for cover
- Dark colored, close-toed shoes, heels, or flats
Both:
- Cover any and all tattoos, as they can be off-putting to staff, students, and parents alike.
- Ask your school about piercings. Earrings for women are normal, and other piercings may be okay depending on the employer.
- Alternative piercings like nose and septum should be taken out during the interview process until conversing with employer.
Students Wait to be Called on
Unlike in Western classrooms where volunteering to give an answer is the norm, Vietnamese students wait to be called on. This is because their public school culture penalizes speaking when not specifically asked to by the teacher. You may perceive this as passive or non-cooperative, but just be sure to call on people specifically.
Your Name is ‘Teacher’
Vietnamese students do not refer to their teachers by name. It can be very awkward for some students to refer to you by surname and especially by the first name, as many western teachers would prefer. So if students call out ‘teacher,’ out of habit, it’s best to just let them.
Students Respect Teachers as Authority Figures
Since Vietnamese culture places emphasis on respect for elders or superiors, friendships with teachers do not happen as easily as back home. Students may be uncomfortable with the relaxed disposition some Western teachers have. Sitting on the desk, eating or drinking in class, engaging in games, etc. may come off as off-putting to students who are used to seeing teachers in such an authoritative way, so if they don’t warm up immediately, give them time to adjust.
Vietnamese Students Lack Free-Lecture Note Taking Skills
Students here are taught to copy everything from the board or books into their notes. They are very used to remembering information exactly as it is presented, and thinking outside of what is exactly in front of them is not a common skill taught in the general education system. Accordingly, freestyle lectures, lessons that stray from the text, or that are more abstract or critical thinking in nature tend to handicap students.
Personal Questions are Fair Game
In the local culture, it is not impolite to ask what some foreign English teachers would consider rude personal questions about things like age, marital status, race, salary, etc. Rather than getting upset, be prepared to get some seemingly silly or bombastic inquiries. The best thing you can do is answer and make some fun out of it.
Shy Students are the Norm
Though students are extremely studious and capable of answering questions, they tend to shy away from class participation, group activities, or giving the answer out loud. Be gentle and help them to feel safe by modeling or calling on less shy students to lead the way.
Avoid Public Shaming or Criticism
Because of the culture of saving face, many students will feel highly embarrassed or demeaned if they are singled out or admonished in front of the class. This can bring negative energy into the classroom that should be avoided at all costs. Instead of singling students out be sure to talk to them softly and privately.
Classroom Culture in Vietnam: Different but Doable
This list is far from complete, but these are some of the main things to look out for when you start your job educating young Vietnamese minds with the gift of English proficiency! No matter what you read, just expect to come across some shocking cultural differences. Just don’t fret, it is all a part of the journey!
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