I taught at New Vision for 3 months at the end of 2016. Previously I did a lot of charity  work teaching English in Cambodia. I thoroughly enjoyed it in Ha Tinh. Sometimes the kids talked quite  a bit so I had to be strict sometimes.

I liked Ha Tinh so nuch that I wanted to find a wife and settle down there near the  beach  but I had to return to America for personal  reasons.  The school’s accommodation  was adequate and the pay  regular.  They were very helpful  too with everything.

If I  get the chance I’ll definitely go back there.

I whole heartedly encourage anyone who is thinking about doing it, to just do it. It was an eye opening experience and will be very valuable in my memories.

Coming from near to the moors and having lived in London too, I have experienced both peace and hectic bustle. But home is where the heart is, and I maybe prefer the country. Ha Tinh is like that, the city is like a town in England, but with  the attitudes of a friendly village.

During my time there I made a lot of friends, including my students and their families. I think many tears were shed all around when I left,  me included.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to see Ha Tinh and the true culture of Vietnam, before it eventually becomes fully westernized. It has most modern conveniences, but on a much smaller scale than Hanoi. But nothing is too dated for living basically.  Mostly modern conveniences, a few  takeaway outlets, cinema, gyms. Yoga classes and massage and health centre. There is a small group of expats. maybe 20. That meet up regularly. I often used to just get on my bike and ride and explore.

Hà Tĩnh city is peaceful and small which suits me rather well as I am not a big city person. There is a small expat community and most teachers in the city know each other to some extent. It is a still growing city and this is a wonderful time to be here to witness it’s growth.

During my time here I have taught students aged 2-17 years old both at the center and in local schools. (Kindergartens, Primary and High Schools). It has been a wonderful experience to come here to teach. I have made new friends and the students are livey and fun and they often make me laugh.

I have developed a great love for teaching High School students and was lucky enough to work at Hà Tĩnh high school for gifted students for several months where I met some amazing students and staff and had some fun discussion lessons. I was also very lucky in that I was presented the opportunity to coach the Hà Tĩnh City team in the Provincial Grade 9 English speaking competion. They went on to win the day and we treated ourselves to a hard earned Royal Tea to celebrate.

I have also discovered the joys of teaching in a nursery classroom at the local iSchool. Turning up to work to find out it is a little boys 2^nd Birthday party is a memory I dont think I will soon forget. They may be tiny people but they can be pretty entertaining.

The staff at New Vision center are very friendly and there is always someone to help when you need it. Recently I have even started Vietnamese lessons here which are being provided to me along with a bike and housing. The opportunities i have been given here have been life altering and I couldn’t be more thankful. I appreciate being able to continually work here and being part of the New Vision team in Hà Tĩnh city.

Tôi yêu Việt Nam

Vietnam is a long, beautiful country, with beautiful people. The country has a lot of beaches and the weather is hot, except in Winter. It’s almost always beach weather! Its easy to travel around Vietnam as there are many night buses that can take you to almost any place within the country. The people are friendly, warm, helpful, and all those wonderful adjectives you would use to describe good people. The students on the other hand are just like your normal, loud, outgoing, crazy kids.

Ha Tinh is a small rural city, that is trying to grow and growing it has done. There are always new little coffee shops, restaurants, gyms and/or clothing stores opening up. Vietnamese food is delicious, but if you are craving some western food, there are a few options in town. If Ha Tinh doesn’t serve your needs, you can always jump on a bus and explore the next closest “big” city and get your western food craving there. The beach is just a short drive away. There is a cinema that plays western movies in English, but you have to be quick as a new movie comes out every week. As for a light life, us expats that live here make the most out of it. There are a few night clubs and a few great places for drinking. The expat community is pretty closely knitted together, and hang out on most weekends. Its definitely a sight to be seen.

Teaching ESL in Vietnam is interesting. I joined New Vision in October 2018 and have finished my nine-month contract. Teachers are given free accommodation and a scooter/bike to get to and from the different schools around Ha Tinh City. The students are immensely curious about you. They will want to know every single thing about you. So, be prepared to answer a million questions. The best part about teaching here is walking into a classroom and the students are ecstatic to see you, or if you teach Kindy, you get a bunch of hugs before and after class. The smiles on their small little faces just melts my heart every time.

My name is Eden I’m from England. I taught at New Vision in 2017. I thoroughly urge anyone to bite the bullet and take the plunge into TEFL teaching. All the kids seemed to love me which was lovely. I got to experience what it was like in Vietnam. I’ll always remember that. There were funny times too.

Ha Tinh is a peaceful city but still traditional in many ways. New Vision lived up to all their promises as employers and were very helpful in every way. Don’t think about it – just do it.

Eden

“Vietnam is everything I expected and more. The people are absolutely incredible, from Hanoi and Danang to HCMC and everywhere in between. 

If you are considering a stay in Ha Tinh prepare yourself for rural living with all that it entails. It is nothing like Hanoi or HCMC; no fancy apartments, no amazing shopping experiences or restaurants, a small  expat group for socialising. There are limited amenities, not to mention the complete lack of any luxuries. On the upside, you don’t have to deal with crazy traffic and you’ll be met with true Vietnamese food, welcoming locals and simple living. 

Working at New Vision: it’s a big adjustment, although the Vietnamese teachers are pretty helpful and you’ll easily and quickly make friends. You can expect to work hard from the very first day but the children make it worthwhile. If the kids are not your priority, this job is not for you! 

I teach all ages from 2 year olds to teenagers and have taught adults too. The teaching experience that you’ll gain is invaluable. You will teach using Happy Hearts, Hats on Top, Family and Friends and Solutions. 

New Vision also provides IELTS preparation courses. I teach my IELTS classes using a curriculum which I have constructed through many hours of research and preparation.“