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Published On: Oct 30, 2006 02:28 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Oct 30, 2006 02:28 PM
Thu - June 8, 2006
Healthy enough to work in Vietnam!
Last Wednesday morning I went for the
dreaded health check at the Hanoi SOS Clinic. Everyone applying for a work
permit in Vietnam has to submit a health check certificate. I purposely waited
until I had EVERY OTHER piece of documentation required for the work permit
before getting the health check done. I just hate going to doctors or hospitals.
I have a crazy fear of needles and in particular of having blood drawn (just
writing that makes me all
squeamish!).
So I went along to the clinic, prepared for the worst. First of all, I filled out a general health questionnaire. Then I went in for a chest x-ray. I'd been told I had to have an MRI but this turned out to not be true, a chest x-ray will do, thank goodness. Then, back to the waiting room. I settled in for a while of waiting, watching this older couple who were obviously in the process of adopting 2 Vietnamese children. They had a little girl and a baby and it seemed like a mountain of paperwork they, and what seemed to be a kind of agent, had to get through.
Then I was called for the nurse check. Uh-oh, this is going to be the blood test, right? Panic was totally setting in at this point and I could feel my heart beating really fast, which is probably not good for blood pressure and heart rate checks! The nurse was really professional and kind. She did all of the checks including the ever-popular "pee-in-the jar". When she took my pulse, she kept telling me to calm down - my reading was waaayyyy up there! Ooops! I couldn't help it, just thinking about that blood test was killing me. So then we came to the blood test itself and all I can say is thank goodness it's now a week ago.
So, arm band-aided up and feeling very stressed and kind of faint, I went back to the waiting room. I couldn't help watch the adopting parents and their children again. I wondered about the children. What happened in their lives? The baby wouldn't know anything, but the young girl would have experienced... what? I looked at her and marveled at how well she appeared to be coping. Or maybe she was delighted at this clear change in fortunes, with two new parents who obviously doted on her.
My thoughts were interrupted by the doctor, calling me for my next check of the day. This one was pretty easy. Just a sort of physical body check and no blood spilt or otherwise removed from my body, which always signals an easy health check for me. Although she did go and get the pulse monitor and test me again, obviously not believing the nurse's previous (and accurate) documentation of my racing heart. Then I was done.
I was told the results take 5 days. So between then and this morning I have been having these nagging thoughts in my mind. As I said to Russell, just the fact that you are being checked for HIV, TB and whatever else kind of infers (at least to me) that there would be the possibility of you, in fact, having these diseases. Which is quite scary. Imagine thinking that you are perfectly healthy and just getting a check up, and then being told you have HIV. I think "shocked" would be an understatement.
In the intervening week, I also had the "great" experience of being reminded of the blood test every single day, in the form of the colour on the inside of my left elbow. The day after the test, I recklessly pulled off the band-aid and again almost fainted. Yikes! The inside of my arm was really dark red/purple. I was just expecting a little tiny dot from the hole, but not this enormous, deeply red bruise.
I finally picked up my results this morning. And yes, I am healthy. Yay! In fact, I am not only healthy, but am "in a good health condition and fit for work in Vietnam". It says so on my health certificate. To be honest, looking at the state of some workers in Vietnam, I'm not sure that being fit for work in Vietnam is any kind of recommendation, but I am very thankful to have my health certificate and all of my documentation now.
As Russell says, perhaps the only problem I have is an acute case of hypochondria.
So I went along to the clinic, prepared for the worst. First of all, I filled out a general health questionnaire. Then I went in for a chest x-ray. I'd been told I had to have an MRI but this turned out to not be true, a chest x-ray will do, thank goodness. Then, back to the waiting room. I settled in for a while of waiting, watching this older couple who were obviously in the process of adopting 2 Vietnamese children. They had a little girl and a baby and it seemed like a mountain of paperwork they, and what seemed to be a kind of agent, had to get through.
Then I was called for the nurse check. Uh-oh, this is going to be the blood test, right? Panic was totally setting in at this point and I could feel my heart beating really fast, which is probably not good for blood pressure and heart rate checks! The nurse was really professional and kind. She did all of the checks including the ever-popular "pee-in-the jar". When she took my pulse, she kept telling me to calm down - my reading was waaayyyy up there! Ooops! I couldn't help it, just thinking about that blood test was killing me. So then we came to the blood test itself and all I can say is thank goodness it's now a week ago.
So, arm band-aided up and feeling very stressed and kind of faint, I went back to the waiting room. I couldn't help watch the adopting parents and their children again. I wondered about the children. What happened in their lives? The baby wouldn't know anything, but the young girl would have experienced... what? I looked at her and marveled at how well she appeared to be coping. Or maybe she was delighted at this clear change in fortunes, with two new parents who obviously doted on her.
My thoughts were interrupted by the doctor, calling me for my next check of the day. This one was pretty easy. Just a sort of physical body check and no blood spilt or otherwise removed from my body, which always signals an easy health check for me. Although she did go and get the pulse monitor and test me again, obviously not believing the nurse's previous (and accurate) documentation of my racing heart. Then I was done.
I was told the results take 5 days. So between then and this morning I have been having these nagging thoughts in my mind. As I said to Russell, just the fact that you are being checked for HIV, TB and whatever else kind of infers (at least to me) that there would be the possibility of you, in fact, having these diseases. Which is quite scary. Imagine thinking that you are perfectly healthy and just getting a check up, and then being told you have HIV. I think "shocked" would be an understatement.
In the intervening week, I also had the "great" experience of being reminded of the blood test every single day, in the form of the colour on the inside of my left elbow. The day after the test, I recklessly pulled off the band-aid and again almost fainted. Yikes! The inside of my arm was really dark red/purple. I was just expecting a little tiny dot from the hole, but not this enormous, deeply red bruise.
I finally picked up my results this morning. And yes, I am healthy. Yay! In fact, I am not only healthy, but am "in a good health condition and fit for work in Vietnam". It says so on my health certificate. To be honest, looking at the state of some workers in Vietnam, I'm not sure that being fit for work in Vietnam is any kind of recommendation, but I am very thankful to have my health certificate and all of my documentation now.
As Russell says, perhaps the only problem I have is an acute case of hypochondria.
Posted at 10:41 AM
Fri - May 26, 2006
Something I've Learnt
Something I've learnt whilst teaching is
that students are really just people. This might sound strange, of course they
are. But when I started teaching, I was petrified, and the students were the
source of my fear. So my way of handling it was to make sure I learnt all the
grammar rules and followed the structure of the course perfectly. Relationships?
What relationships! I felt that I had the structure of the course under control
- they're learning! (Well, I'm teaching!). But my students were pretty
underwhelmed, if I'm honest with
myself.
For a long time, I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Activities? Check. Pronunciation? Check. Lots of practice? Check. Listening activities practically forever? Check.
Then I started to realise something. And it totally makes sense given the Hanoian (I won't say Vietnamese, I'll get in trouble), approach to life. It's ALL about relationships.
I only started to understand this after I had let down my boundaries a bit, felt a bit more comfortable, and really started seeing and trying to understand my students and what they wanted to achieve. I told them about myself, and they told me about themselves. We built a good relationship. And then I tried it with a new class, and another new class. And the students were delighted. Me too!
I've heard it said that students in VN want entertainment rather than education. I don't think it's really true. I DO think that they want to feel motivated to learn, and they feel motivated by relationships - particularly the relationship they have with their teacher. Students now often tell me how "funny" I am, but I think they really mean that I am honest and self-deprecating and let them see "me" and show my appreciation so much when they tell me about themselves and their lives. Some things they say are so funny, and I let myself crack up and delight in seeing their faces, rewarded by knowing they have entertained their teacher and fellow students.
I saw some of my students on Monday night after being off work for a week, and it was a cacophony of screams and welcomes. When I'm with them, I feel like I'm chatting with my girlfriends, and we often comment about how similar so many aspects of life are between us. Among the topics of conversations: the grapevine (selling the watermelon, as my students say), backstabbing, school politics (student-side), boyfriends and husbands, work stuff, what's happening on TV shows we like, weight issues, perceptions of beauty... the list goes on.
I love finishing a course and feeling that I've really made friends with my students. I love running into old students in the hallways and both of us being delighted to see each other. I even love it when students feel so comfortable with me that they confide their problems. I've had students cry on my shoulder (literally). And I know the reason why is because they trust me to care for them. And I do.
For a long time, I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Activities? Check. Pronunciation? Check. Lots of practice? Check. Listening activities practically forever? Check.
Then I started to realise something. And it totally makes sense given the Hanoian (I won't say Vietnamese, I'll get in trouble), approach to life. It's ALL about relationships.
I only started to understand this after I had let down my boundaries a bit, felt a bit more comfortable, and really started seeing and trying to understand my students and what they wanted to achieve. I told them about myself, and they told me about themselves. We built a good relationship. And then I tried it with a new class, and another new class. And the students were delighted. Me too!
I've heard it said that students in VN want entertainment rather than education. I don't think it's really true. I DO think that they want to feel motivated to learn, and they feel motivated by relationships - particularly the relationship they have with their teacher. Students now often tell me how "funny" I am, but I think they really mean that I am honest and self-deprecating and let them see "me" and show my appreciation so much when they tell me about themselves and their lives. Some things they say are so funny, and I let myself crack up and delight in seeing their faces, rewarded by knowing they have entertained their teacher and fellow students.
I saw some of my students on Monday night after being off work for a week, and it was a cacophony of screams and welcomes. When I'm with them, I feel like I'm chatting with my girlfriends, and we often comment about how similar so many aspects of life are between us. Among the topics of conversations: the grapevine (selling the watermelon, as my students say), backstabbing, school politics (student-side), boyfriends and husbands, work stuff, what's happening on TV shows we like, weight issues, perceptions of beauty... the list goes on.
I love finishing a course and feeling that I've really made friends with my students. I love running into old students in the hallways and both of us being delighted to see each other. I even love it when students feel so comfortable with me that they confide their problems. I've had students cry on my shoulder (literally). And I know the reason why is because they trust me to care for them. And I do.
Posted at 03:39 PM
Thu - April 27, 2006
Foreign Language Project
Given my current visa-no-worky situation, the article below kinda
stings.
But on a much more important and relevant note, it's fantastic to see this kind of investment in English speaking in Vietnam. At the moment, the better-off people can get extra private classes, but not everyone. But this program makes English speaking much more accessible to all. I'm not saying that Vietnam should become an English speaking country. Just that Vietnamese is the national language of only Vietnam, so to do business and deal on a world stage, Vietnamese people need to have another - more widely accepted - form of communication. If things had been different, we could all be learning Chinese. Mind you, many students at the Foreign Language University learn BOTH English AND Chinese! Fun times indeed.
Foreign language project faces shortage of qualified teachers
16:27' 26/04/2006 (GMT+7)
But on a much more important and relevant note, it's fantastic to see this kind of investment in English speaking in Vietnam. At the moment, the better-off people can get extra private classes, but not everyone. But this program makes English speaking much more accessible to all. I'm not saying that Vietnam should become an English speaking country. Just that Vietnamese is the national language of only Vietnam, so to do business and deal on a world stage, Vietnamese people need to have another - more widely accepted - form of communication. If things had been different, we could all be learning Chinese. Mind you, many students at the Foreign Language University learn BOTH English AND Chinese! Fun times indeed.
Foreign language project faces shortage of qualified teachers
16:27' 26/04/2006 (GMT+7)
The VND16tril (US$1bil) foreign
languages project, if approved, will become operational in 2007.
Nguyen Loc, Deputy Director of the National Institute for Educational Strategy
and Curriculum, spoke to VietNamNet about the
programme.
|
|
|
|
Besides equipment and strategy, the most
important issue facing the project is the lack of foreign language teachers,
both in quality and quantity. How do you plan to deal with this
problem?
To implement the project well, the quality of
teachers should be improved. The project has six levels as per the international
system. Students as well as teachers have to follow this system.
For example, teachers should pass the fifth
level to teach high school students at third level. This means teachers should
have already graduated from universities specialising in foreign
languages.
Currently, we lack foreign language teachers.
According to a report, only 8.2% of the teachers are trained in foreign language
teaching. Meanwhile, the project is planning to double the number of foreign
language classes.
So, the number of foreign language teachers
should also be doubled. So, we have to train and educate more teachers or employ
those from foreign countries.
Since almost all foreign language students
prefer to stay in big cities after graduation, remote areas and regions in the
country will face a shortage of teachers.
Earlier in 2000, the foreign language programme
and curriculum were changed. Now, under the project, the whole foreign language
sector is proposed to be transformed. Will this be in conformity with the recent
education programme?
Normally, education programmes and content are
changed every five to ten years.
We have earlier revised the education content
and curriculum in 2000. With the project to teach and study foreign languages
expected to become operational in 2007-08, it is now time to revise the foreign
language programme again.
According to the project, all foreign language
programmes will not be revised at the same time. Based on different conditions
and demands, the revised programme can be implemented by each province at
various times.
With the project planned to be completely
implemented in 2015, will some provinces find it difficult to keep up with the
pace?
Each province will decide to implement the
revised programme depending on their own conditions such as availability of
teachers and support from local authorities.
About 40% outstanding universities can
immediately carry out the programme, with another 40% of universities to start
from 2010 or 2011, and the rest from 2016.
Experts have pointed out that the project has
failed to identify a main foreign language to be universally taught. What is
your opinion?
The Government has proposed English to be
taught as the main foreign language. In the near future, the ministry will
submit its proposal to the Government and unify our points of view.
We are still poor and must use our resources
carefully to teach a foreign language that is most popular around the
world.
Earlier, provinces had the right to choose the
first and second foreign languages.
They could choose two out of four foreign
languages, including English, French, Russian and Chinese.
However, we now plan to teach only one foreign
language, and will start with the second language from 2020. The provinces have
the right to choose the language to teach.
Once the project is approved, we will set up a
management board which will look into issues like teachers and teaching
equipment.
(Source: Viet Nam News)
Posted at 08:34 PM
Tue - April 25, 2006
... would smell as sweet.
If you're a westerner (or know western
names) reading this, you would probably have an expectation that - as my name is
Emma - I'm female. We have a set of names in our brains that we associate with
males and with females. So, for example, if you were a teacher in Australia and
calling the register/roll, and came across the name "James", you'd probably be
looking for a boy.
When I first started teaching in VN, I was so unfamiliar with the different Vietnamese names. It was really difficult to learn the names of my students (even harder to pronounce them properly). It was even hard marking the register because I didn't even have that name/gender association (so I'd get to "Huong", for example, and wouldn't even know if I was looking for a guy or a girl). Now, I have a fairly good idea about Vietnamese names, although, like in English, there are some names that apply to both male and female. I really like some Vietnamese names as they sound lovely. And the other nice thing about Vietnamese names is that so many of them have a direct meaning. Hoa is a nice name for a girl, for example, and means "flower". Sweet. I try really hard to make sure I remember all of my students names and am very careful about pronouncing them.
This name confusion works in reverse as well. My name is pretty easy, and easy to remember for VN students as "em" is a term used for addressing people younger than yourself (mind you, it would be a big insult if the students called me "em"!). But poor Russell. His name is hard to pronounce because it has an "s" sound and a hard final consonant sound - both of which are quite difficult for VN speakers (so that his name ends up sounding kind of like "Roo-eh"). And there is also no point of reference (as with me and my VN name problem, above). The cutest interpretation is when we order delivery from one restaurant, and they have him in their computer as "Mr Russbill". I can't imagine the saga that would be involved in trying to change this, so every time he rings up, I hear him say, "yes, yes, Mr Russbill", and I have to smile.
When I first started teaching in VN, I was so unfamiliar with the different Vietnamese names. It was really difficult to learn the names of my students (even harder to pronounce them properly). It was even hard marking the register because I didn't even have that name/gender association (so I'd get to "Huong", for example, and wouldn't even know if I was looking for a guy or a girl). Now, I have a fairly good idea about Vietnamese names, although, like in English, there are some names that apply to both male and female. I really like some Vietnamese names as they sound lovely. And the other nice thing about Vietnamese names is that so many of them have a direct meaning. Hoa is a nice name for a girl, for example, and means "flower". Sweet. I try really hard to make sure I remember all of my students names and am very careful about pronouncing them.
This name confusion works in reverse as well. My name is pretty easy, and easy to remember for VN students as "em" is a term used for addressing people younger than yourself (mind you, it would be a big insult if the students called me "em"!). But poor Russell. His name is hard to pronounce because it has an "s" sound and a hard final consonant sound - both of which are quite difficult for VN speakers (so that his name ends up sounding kind of like "Roo-eh"). And there is also no point of reference (as with me and my VN name problem, above). The cutest interpretation is when we order delivery from one restaurant, and they have him in their computer as "Mr Russbill". I can't imagine the saga that would be involved in trying to change this, so every time he rings up, I hear him say, "yes, yes, Mr Russbill", and I have to smile.
Posted at 11:28 AM
Sat - April 22, 2006
What does this mean?
All of the tay/western males we know are
married/partnered/etc. to Vietnamese
women.
All of the tay/western women we know are married/partnered/etc. to western men.
Why is this so? I mean literally tens of men, all attached to Vietnamese women. And a much smaller number of women, all attached to western men.
So:
a) Why do less women than men come to live in VN?
and..
b) Why do they tend to be attached and not partner VN men?
I am very curious.
I am also curious why EVERY.SINGLE. male teacher I know is asked by his students what he thinks of Vietnamese women.
I have NEVER been asked what I think of Vietnamese men, and neither have my female colleagues (I've asked/we've spoken about this).
Seriously, why is this so?
All of the tay/western women we know are married/partnered/etc. to western men.
Why is this so? I mean literally tens of men, all attached to Vietnamese women. And a much smaller number of women, all attached to western men.
So:
a) Why do less women than men come to live in VN?
and..
b) Why do they tend to be attached and not partner VN men?
I am very curious.
I am also curious why EVERY.SINGLE. male teacher I know is asked by his students what he thinks of Vietnamese women.
I have NEVER been asked what I think of Vietnamese men, and neither have my female colleagues (I've asked/we've spoken about this).
Seriously, why is this so?
Posted at 08:16 PM
Thu - April 20, 2006
The Visa Saga of 2006
When we decided to come to Vietnam, it was
established between us that:
a) Russell wanted to continue his career in I.T.
b) Emma could easily do a course to learn how to teach, and then actually teach, English.
So we made sure that Russell had a job in VN *before* we left Australia. We/he went through some paperwork, and it was sorted. Actually, though, getting the things we needed - whilst in Aust - was prettty straightforward. Police check: go down the road to the police station and fill in a form. Health check: not very far along the same road, "yep, you seem okay, here's your certificate".
We arrived in VN, and Russell started working under his shiny new work permit.
Then I (Emma) did my course and got a job. All good.
But then..... <ARRRRRGGHHHH>
...the visa problems started!
<***** Insert many issues, problems, annoyances, delays, etc. Let's not go there. ******>
So now we are at the point where I need to get a work permit, need to receive the criminal check from Aust, have to get a full body (blood test, MRI, etc) health check, etc. to even *submit* the work permit to the government.
In the interim, I've got an FPT "spouse" visa (again), that I entered the county on. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be allowed here at all.
So it looks like, when my short term resident stamp runs out on 17 May, I'll be able to use the "spouse" visa from FPT (thank goodness) and stay in the country, but I won't be able to work.
When I finally sort out all of my paperwork, I'll be able to apply for the work permit, get a visa, and start work again.
In other paperwork related news, I finally (after MANY months) received my "Single Status Certificate". So Russell and I are one step closer along the paperwork trail of getting married! Yay!
Some paperwork issues I am really motivated about, and some.... not so much...
P.S. This post should be called, "Why I hate SITC". The major reason for the crackdown on teachers in foreign owned schools is because of the disaster of SITC. This is a Singaporean company (Singapore International Training College) who set up a large customer base in Hanoi, and recently skipped town with the cash. They left thousands of students and many teachers all in debt, angry and frustrated. So the government is even more wary of foreign-owned businesses than before, particularly English-language schools. So we bear the brunt of the backlash. Sad, really, considering the major deficit in native English speakers in Hanoi.
a) Russell wanted to continue his career in I.T.
b) Emma could easily do a course to learn how to teach, and then actually teach, English.
So we made sure that Russell had a job in VN *before* we left Australia. We/he went through some paperwork, and it was sorted. Actually, though, getting the things we needed - whilst in Aust - was prettty straightforward. Police check: go down the road to the police station and fill in a form. Health check: not very far along the same road, "yep, you seem okay, here's your certificate".
We arrived in VN, and Russell started working under his shiny new work permit.
Then I (Emma) did my course and got a job. All good.
But then..... <ARRRRRGGHHHH>
...the visa problems started!
<***** Insert many issues, problems, annoyances, delays, etc. Let's not go there. ******>
So now we are at the point where I need to get a work permit, need to receive the criminal check from Aust, have to get a full body (blood test, MRI, etc) health check, etc. to even *submit* the work permit to the government.
In the interim, I've got an FPT "spouse" visa (again), that I entered the county on. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be allowed here at all.
So it looks like, when my short term resident stamp runs out on 17 May, I'll be able to use the "spouse" visa from FPT (thank goodness) and stay in the country, but I won't be able to work.
When I finally sort out all of my paperwork, I'll be able to apply for the work permit, get a visa, and start work again.
In other paperwork related news, I finally (after MANY months) received my "Single Status Certificate". So Russell and I are one step closer along the paperwork trail of getting married! Yay!
Some paperwork issues I am really motivated about, and some.... not so much...
P.S. This post should be called, "Why I hate SITC". The major reason for the crackdown on teachers in foreign owned schools is because of the disaster of SITC. This is a Singaporean company (Singapore International Training College) who set up a large customer base in Hanoi, and recently skipped town with the cash. They left thousands of students and many teachers all in debt, angry and frustrated. So the government is even more wary of foreign-owned businesses than before, particularly English-language schools. So we bear the brunt of the backlash. Sad, really, considering the major deficit in native English speakers in Hanoi.
Posted at 10:22 PM
Fri - February 24, 2006
I can't talk like a normal person any more...
Arghhh!
I teach a LOT of Elementary level students (which is pretty much the lowest level), so my speech in class is something like this: TELL...... THE ....... PERSON..... NEXT TO......NEXT TO..... BESIDE..... YOU..... ABOUT.... YOUR...... HOUSE!
Sometimes, if I teach a higher level, particularly if just for one class, I can't quite break out of this pace. I'm sure the Upper Intermediate (almost Advanced) students think I might be a little on the...ummm... vague side!
I have also - and tragically - picked up some terrible expressions.
A classic is: "What a pity!". It's actually pronounced in a high pitched voice something like What-A-Peee-Teeee. In response to anything bad that has happened, this catch-all will get you by.
Another is: "Poor YOU!". Or, "Poor ME!". Caps intended.
When I say goodbye to people, "Goodbye" seems too formal, "Byeeee" seems too eighties, and "Au Revoir" seems too French (since I'm not, no offense intended). So I tried to go with the ol' (attempted pron): "See ya layda". Unfortunately, if I say "see ya layda" I get blank expressions. So now, when I say goodbye, I say, in correct-sounding English: "See YOU Lay Ter".
A range of VN expressions have also managed to enter my vocab.
If something mildly shocking happens, instead of saying Oh My God!, it's Oi Zoi Oi! (oy zoy oy).
If anything good happens, it's "Chuc Mung" (pron "chook moong", congrats). But we have taken this to the nth degree. "Our laundry came back" = "Clean clothes, chuc mung". "They have cheese back in the supermarket" = "Deee-li-seee-os - chuc mung".
We also put a little bit too much enthusiasm into "chua" (kind of like chew-a, means "not yet") and "roi" (zoy, means "already"). On finishing washing the dishes, I proclaim, "Dishes..... ROI!!!!!".
At least we make sense to each other...
I teach a LOT of Elementary level students (which is pretty much the lowest level), so my speech in class is something like this: TELL...... THE ....... PERSON..... NEXT TO......NEXT TO..... BESIDE..... YOU..... ABOUT.... YOUR...... HOUSE!
Sometimes, if I teach a higher level, particularly if just for one class, I can't quite break out of this pace. I'm sure the Upper Intermediate (almost Advanced) students think I might be a little on the...ummm... vague side!
I have also - and tragically - picked up some terrible expressions.
A classic is: "What a pity!". It's actually pronounced in a high pitched voice something like What-A-Peee-Teeee. In response to anything bad that has happened, this catch-all will get you by.
Another is: "Poor YOU!". Or, "Poor ME!". Caps intended.
When I say goodbye to people, "Goodbye" seems too formal, "Byeeee" seems too eighties, and "Au Revoir" seems too French (since I'm not, no offense intended). So I tried to go with the ol' (attempted pron): "See ya layda". Unfortunately, if I say "see ya layda" I get blank expressions. So now, when I say goodbye, I say, in correct-sounding English: "See YOU Lay Ter".
A range of VN expressions have also managed to enter my vocab.
If something mildly shocking happens, instead of saying Oh My God!, it's Oi Zoi Oi! (oy zoy oy).
If anything good happens, it's "Chuc Mung" (pron "chook moong", congrats). But we have taken this to the nth degree. "Our laundry came back" = "Clean clothes, chuc mung". "They have cheese back in the supermarket" = "Deee-li-seee-os - chuc mung".
We also put a little bit too much enthusiasm into "chua" (kind of like chew-a, means "not yet") and "roi" (zoy, means "already"). On finishing washing the dishes, I proclaim, "Dishes..... ROI!!!!!".
At least we make sense to each other...
Posted at 10:18 PM
Tue - February 14, 2006
"Queue" la gi?
I was doing an activity in class that
involved the word "queue". One of the students turned to her friend with the
question, "'queue' la gi?" (what is "queue"?). Her friend responded that she
didn't know, and then they both asked me, "Mrs Emma, what's
'queue'?".
My first thought was to say something along the lines of: "you know when you go to the supermarket and you wait in a line of people until the shop assistant serves you, well that line of people is called a 'queue'". But then I came back down to planet Earth, country Vietnam, and remembered.... derrrr.... there is no such thing as a "line of people" WAITING to be served in a Vietnamese supermarket!
In Vietnam, wherever you might "normally" (i.e. western country) find a queue (oh, I don't know, at the airport, in a shop, a bank, at any counter of any description, etc.), there will, instead, be a disorganised crowd with each person jostling their way towards the front. Baskets, items of shopping and even small children are used as tools to push your way towards the front of the crowd. Things are flung onto the counter from afar, as if to say, "well my stuff is there so it MUST be my turn now".
When I first started shopping in supermarkets in VN, I wasn't sure what to do. It was ingrained in me to queue, and, even though people pushed in and hopped around the counter, I couldn't do anything more aggressive than try and hold my ground. But over time, things change.
NOW, I walk up to the counter with my basket and block off anyone else trying to get in my way, subtle positionings of basket and body ensure a no-go zone. Elbows are used in the direction of any insurgents trying to break my line of defence. And then I attack and fling shopping items on the counter well ahead of time: "See that carton of milk and bag of coffee? That's mine. So I'm NEXT buddy!". Add a fairly aggressive "don't mess with me" expression and you have one successful visit to the supermarket.
Needless to say, when we go back to Australia, I might need to be retrained in the art of polite supermarket etiquette.
As for my students, when we finally established exactly what a queue was, they exchanged one of those, "don't westerners have some strange habits?" kind of looks.
My first thought was to say something along the lines of: "you know when you go to the supermarket and you wait in a line of people until the shop assistant serves you, well that line of people is called a 'queue'". But then I came back down to planet Earth, country Vietnam, and remembered.... derrrr.... there is no such thing as a "line of people" WAITING to be served in a Vietnamese supermarket!
In Vietnam, wherever you might "normally" (i.e. western country) find a queue (oh, I don't know, at the airport, in a shop, a bank, at any counter of any description, etc.), there will, instead, be a disorganised crowd with each person jostling their way towards the front. Baskets, items of shopping and even small children are used as tools to push your way towards the front of the crowd. Things are flung onto the counter from afar, as if to say, "well my stuff is there so it MUST be my turn now".
When I first started shopping in supermarkets in VN, I wasn't sure what to do. It was ingrained in me to queue, and, even though people pushed in and hopped around the counter, I couldn't do anything more aggressive than try and hold my ground. But over time, things change.
NOW, I walk up to the counter with my basket and block off anyone else trying to get in my way, subtle positionings of basket and body ensure a no-go zone. Elbows are used in the direction of any insurgents trying to break my line of defence. And then I attack and fling shopping items on the counter well ahead of time: "See that carton of milk and bag of coffee? That's mine. So I'm NEXT buddy!". Add a fairly aggressive "don't mess with me" expression and you have one successful visit to the supermarket.
Needless to say, when we go back to Australia, I might need to be retrained in the art of polite supermarket etiquette.
As for my students, when we finally established exactly what a queue was, they exchanged one of those, "don't westerners have some strange habits?" kind of looks.
Posted at 02:00 PM
Wed - February 8, 2006
Chuc Mung!
When we came to Vietnam, Russell had the
VERY daunting task of starting work in a Vietnamese company. He was the only
westerner in a building of about 500 Vietnamese staff. Can you imagine working
in a new (and very different) country, with extreme language difficulties, a
fair degree of distrust (what will he do/say about our methods?), completely
different working style, and nobody else in the place with whom you can really
communicate? VERY TOUGH! And Russell not only lived that for months and months
aaaaaand months on end, he thrived and became a huge success and a really
important part of the company.
Now Russell is: called on as the "pinch hitter" for big projects and proposals; he's a strong leader showing the staff how to be a true professional (like him); he has the ear of the MD and CEO who regularly seek his opinion; at the same time, he's known for his approachability and regularly receives visits and email from people throughout the company (5000 people) asking his advice or just wanting to talk to him. A couple of times this year, Russell worked on (what were considered) "unwinnable proposals", AND WON! And not even just won, but created huge opportunities for long-term work for the company.
The differences of working in VN affect Russell EVERY SINGLE DAY. Language, funnily enough, is such a small part. It's the attitude, the idea of what's acceptable and what's not, a seeming inability to follow agreed upon processes, different priorities and expectations based on personal experiences. The list goes on! It's hard work and - whilst rewarding - can be really really frustrating for Russell. And even through all the hassle, he just keeps doing so incredibly WELL!
On top of ALL the other successes of his year Russell just won the #2 Most Valued Employee Award at FPT IS, after just one year!
This isn't just a little pat on the back, either! It's a very big deal in the company and the prize includes a certificate & plaque, cash, and a holiday Shanghai and Beijing.
It's a fantastic recognition of his amazing integration into, and leadership within, the company.
Congratulations, Russell!
Now Russell is: called on as the "pinch hitter" for big projects and proposals; he's a strong leader showing the staff how to be a true professional (like him); he has the ear of the MD and CEO who regularly seek his opinion; at the same time, he's known for his approachability and regularly receives visits and email from people throughout the company (5000 people) asking his advice or just wanting to talk to him. A couple of times this year, Russell worked on (what were considered) "unwinnable proposals", AND WON! And not even just won, but created huge opportunities for long-term work for the company.
The differences of working in VN affect Russell EVERY SINGLE DAY. Language, funnily enough, is such a small part. It's the attitude, the idea of what's acceptable and what's not, a seeming inability to follow agreed upon processes, different priorities and expectations based on personal experiences. The list goes on! It's hard work and - whilst rewarding - can be really really frustrating for Russell. And even through all the hassle, he just keeps doing so incredibly WELL!
On top of ALL the other successes of his year Russell just won the #2 Most Valued Employee Award at FPT IS, after just one year!
This isn't just a little pat on the back, either! It's a very big deal in the company and the prize includes a certificate & plaque, cash, and a holiday Shanghai and Beijing.
It's a fantastic recognition of his amazing integration into, and leadership within, the company.
Congratulations, Russell!
Posted at 04:19 PM
Sat - January 7, 2006
Working Holiday
When you are working and living in another
country it's sometimes difficult to feel that you are doing your "real job".
Certainly this is how it has been for me. I had been working in the I.T.
industry for close to 20 years before coming to Vietnam. Unlike changing from
one job to another inside Australia, this change was very different. So many
factors changed at once. The company, the job, the customers, the language and
the culture all changed more significantly than any previous job change I had
undertaken.
So profound are these changes that it is actually a bit of a mental defence mechanism to see it as a "working holiday" in the early days. You mentally imagine that if factors become too difficult, you'll return to your "real" job back in your real country. You feel a detachment from the company and your colleagues. I think this is almost a necessary mental segmentation that you construct to be able to make the change without being overwhelmed.
However over time these mental barriers come down, one by one. Slowly you begin to feel at home in the country. You start to make friends and begin to care about your colleagues. By extension you begin to care about the company and come to feel a part of it. You begin to understand the culture and how you might be able to contribute in spite of your lack of deep understanding. Slowly, word by word you start to understand the gist of the language. Your work-mates who may have seen you as something of a freak to begin with start to feel comfortable around you and even understand your methods and sense of humor.
So at some point you abandon your feelings of a working holiday and begin to see it as your real job. Whilst the transition is good in one way, losing the carefree enjoyment of feeling like you are on a "working holiday" is not necessarily a good idea. I think it's good to feel the responsibility that this is now your "real" job but I also think that it's important to appreciate in full the chance you have before you.
The chance to learn, teach, expand your experience and contribute away from the safety net of your own home is not just a novelty but a powerful chance to really grow in your career and as a person.
So profound are these changes that it is actually a bit of a mental defence mechanism to see it as a "working holiday" in the early days. You mentally imagine that if factors become too difficult, you'll return to your "real" job back in your real country. You feel a detachment from the company and your colleagues. I think this is almost a necessary mental segmentation that you construct to be able to make the change without being overwhelmed.
However over time these mental barriers come down, one by one. Slowly you begin to feel at home in the country. You start to make friends and begin to care about your colleagues. By extension you begin to care about the company and come to feel a part of it. You begin to understand the culture and how you might be able to contribute in spite of your lack of deep understanding. Slowly, word by word you start to understand the gist of the language. Your work-mates who may have seen you as something of a freak to begin with start to feel comfortable around you and even understand your methods and sense of humor.
So at some point you abandon your feelings of a working holiday and begin to see it as your real job. Whilst the transition is good in one way, losing the carefree enjoyment of feeling like you are on a "working holiday" is not necessarily a good idea. I think it's good to feel the responsibility that this is now your "real" job but I also think that it's important to appreciate in full the chance you have before you.
The chance to learn, teach, expand your experience and contribute away from the safety net of your own home is not just a novelty but a powerful chance to really grow in your career and as a person.
Posted at 11:59 PM
Fri - December 16, 2005
IELTS Success!!!!!
WOW!
Today I got the amazing news that 4 of our MOET students "passed"" their IELTS exam to be able to study in Australia!!!!
I can't believe that these students have managed to travel so far in such a short amount of time. I am so proud and happy that these 4 students, in particular, have been successful. They worked SO hard (you have no idea!) and had to deal with so much, away from their normal support base in their own province.
One of the students emailed me (with the heading "I am very lucky!") saying that he will be so happy to study in "your country" (Australia!). This is a guy whose parents are rice farmers and whose younger brother only went to school half of the allotted time so that he could work on the farm and earn enough to feed the family.
Chuong, Lan, Mac and Dung - you are my heroes!
Today I got the amazing news that 4 of our MOET students "passed"" their IELTS exam to be able to study in Australia!!!!
I can't believe that these students have managed to travel so far in such a short amount of time. I am so proud and happy that these 4 students, in particular, have been successful. They worked SO hard (you have no idea!) and had to deal with so much, away from their normal support base in their own province.
One of the students emailed me (with the heading "I am very lucky!") saying that he will be so happy to study in "your country" (Australia!). This is a guy whose parents are rice farmers and whose younger brother only went to school half of the allotted time so that he could work on the farm and earn enough to feed the family.
Chuong, Lan, Mac and Dung - you are my heroes!
Posted at 09:08 PM
Sun - December 4, 2005
Goodbye to the MOET students
The Vietnamese government, through the
Ministry of Education and Training, gave some Vietnamese teachers the most
amazing opportunity.
From around the country, teachers were selected to live in Hanoi and take part in an intensive English program for 4 months. At the end of the 4 months, they would have the opportunity to take the IELTS exam (International English Language Testing System). If they managed to get a good enough score, they would be sponsored to go and study in Australia! Even if they didn't manage that, then they will be able to do their Masters degree at Hanoi University.
There were 3 groups of various capabilities, and I co-taught the lowest level group. We started off with 14 people. 4 dropped out at various points early in the course. 10 die-hards stuck it out. From small towns and remote provinces, Hanoi was quite a shock to get used to for the students. The first weeks of the course must have been amazingly challenging - 3 hours of English class per day, settling in, doing homework, just trying to get around the city. They really struggled. They seemed so intimidated by it all.
After 4 months, the 10 students just did their IELTS test on Friday and Saturday this week. We had a lunch for them yesterday and it was so fantastic to reflect back to the students who had been there that first day in class. This group at lunch were loud, confident, funny, fluent and deservedly proud of their achievements. They had been given the opportunity of a lifetime, and they had made the best of it.
Saying goodbye, as the students returned home to their provinces to spend time with their families and wait for their results, was so hard. I spent 9 hours a week for 4 months with these guys, and I'll miss them a lot. They were interested and worked hard, but always ready to have a laugh or a chat about anything. One of the places the students might study is Melbourne - where I'm from - and I really hope that I will have the pleasure of giving Melbourne-advice to one or all of them.
From around the country, teachers were selected to live in Hanoi and take part in an intensive English program for 4 months. At the end of the 4 months, they would have the opportunity to take the IELTS exam (International English Language Testing System). If they managed to get a good enough score, they would be sponsored to go and study in Australia! Even if they didn't manage that, then they will be able to do their Masters degree at Hanoi University.
There were 3 groups of various capabilities, and I co-taught the lowest level group. We started off with 14 people. 4 dropped out at various points early in the course. 10 die-hards stuck it out. From small towns and remote provinces, Hanoi was quite a shock to get used to for the students. The first weeks of the course must have been amazingly challenging - 3 hours of English class per day, settling in, doing homework, just trying to get around the city. They really struggled. They seemed so intimidated by it all.
After 4 months, the 10 students just did their IELTS test on Friday and Saturday this week. We had a lunch for them yesterday and it was so fantastic to reflect back to the students who had been there that first day in class. This group at lunch were loud, confident, funny, fluent and deservedly proud of their achievements. They had been given the opportunity of a lifetime, and they had made the best of it.
Saying goodbye, as the students returned home to their provinces to spend time with their families and wait for their results, was so hard. I spent 9 hours a week for 4 months with these guys, and I'll miss them a lot. They were interested and worked hard, but always ready to have a laugh or a chat about anything. One of the places the students might study is Melbourne - where I'm from - and I really hope that I will have the pleasure of giving Melbourne-advice to one or all of them.
Posted at 10:40 AM
Sun - November 20, 2005
U-Communicator
When Russell arrived in Hanoi, he had an
English-speaking assistant called Huong. She was really cool and went to great
lengths to help him get his motorbike registered, as well as many other
things.
But she wasn't challenged enough at FIS, just used as a secretary by the general group, and Russell was a lot more self-sufficient than they seemed to think he could be! Anyway, she left.. :-(
So Em Huong was out on her own, looking for a job. Russell and I both said that she should go out and do translation since that is what she really likes. But the thing is, her main benefit to us was not only translation but also organisation. She knew what to do, where, who to speak to, etc. Things that we would never have found out.
Anyway, Huong is starting a business now. It's very exciting! She's going to be called U-Communicator, and she's going to do all sorts of things relating to helping foreigners. For example, I wanted to get some plant pots the other day and didn't know where, so she organised it. And she has another Aussie couple who are looking to start a business, and she is helping them with things.
It's very exciting! She even has a very professional-looking logo!
But she wasn't challenged enough at FIS, just used as a secretary by the general group, and Russell was a lot more self-sufficient than they seemed to think he could be! Anyway, she left.. :-(
So Em Huong was out on her own, looking for a job. Russell and I both said that she should go out and do translation since that is what she really likes. But the thing is, her main benefit to us was not only translation but also organisation. She knew what to do, where, who to speak to, etc. Things that we would never have found out.
Anyway, Huong is starting a business now. It's very exciting! She's going to be called U-Communicator, and she's going to do all sorts of things relating to helping foreigners. For example, I wanted to get some plant pots the other day and didn't know where, so she organised it. And she has another Aussie couple who are looking to start a business, and she is helping them with things.
It's very exciting! She even has a very professional-looking logo!
Posted at 06:29 PM
Wed - November 16, 2005
Insight
One thing I love about teaching is the
opportunity to learn more about Vietnam - people, culture, thoughts... whatever!
Just hearing more about what makes people tick is so interesting. Here are some
examples.
A really lovely student regularly brings me different VN foods to try. She's a Uni student with not a lot of money, but she gets extra of whatever she buys for herself, so that I can try it. She is so keen to hear what I think of the different things. I think it is lovely and very generous.
Another student pulled me aside after class today to tell me that she had done really well in a separate writing assignment - she was just dying to share her success and (I think) get a stamp of approval from me. And she certainly did - I felt so proud!
I love hearing different points of view as well. For example, in Australia, we often observe countries who conduct capital punishment with disdain. We expect that people generally disagree with this. However, in class recently, my students told me that they felt the rising crime rate was because the government wasn't strict enough! I love having my own long-standing opinions turned on their head like that!
In one class, there are a number of 30-something professional women, including one - shock-horror! - divorced woman with a new boyfriend! It's fantastic to meet these women who are quite different to the stereotype of VN women. They rock!
A really lovely student regularly brings me different VN foods to try. She's a Uni student with not a lot of money, but she gets extra of whatever she buys for herself, so that I can try it. She is so keen to hear what I think of the different things. I think it is lovely and very generous.
Another student pulled me aside after class today to tell me that she had done really well in a separate writing assignment - she was just dying to share her success and (I think) get a stamp of approval from me. And she certainly did - I felt so proud!
I love hearing different points of view as well. For example, in Australia, we often observe countries who conduct capital punishment with disdain. We expect that people generally disagree with this. However, in class recently, my students told me that they felt the rising crime rate was because the government wasn't strict enough! I love having my own long-standing opinions turned on their head like that!
In one class, there are a number of 30-something professional women, including one - shock-horror! - divorced woman with a new boyfriend! It's fantastic to meet these women who are quite different to the stereotype of VN women. They rock!
Posted at 08:13 PM
Kieu's Story
Today in class, my students were playing a
speaking board game which was about school days. One of the topics started a
whole conversation about Truyen Kieu - Kieu's Story.
I'd never heard of this before, but apparently this is a very famous - possibly the most famous - poem in Vietnamese history. It was written by a man called Nguyen Du. It's a very long poem: the students told me it is about 3 pages long, with 8 words in one sentence and then 6 in the next, then 8 and so on. Apparently this poem can be (and is) also sung. My students told me that most people in Vietnam would know some, if not all, of this poem by heart.
Amazingly, having never heard of Nguyen Du before, I came home to read the Vietnam News online and there was an article about him! Check it out - Nguyen Du.
I looked up this great web site which analyses this poem. Kieu's Story.
I'd never heard of this before, but apparently this is a very famous - possibly the most famous - poem in Vietnamese history. It was written by a man called Nguyen Du. It's a very long poem: the students told me it is about 3 pages long, with 8 words in one sentence and then 6 in the next, then 8 and so on. Apparently this poem can be (and is) also sung. My students told me that most people in Vietnam would know some, if not all, of this poem by heart.
Amazingly, having never heard of Nguyen Du before, I came home to read the Vietnam News online and there was an article about him! Check it out - Nguyen Du.
I looked up this great web site which analyses this poem. Kieu's Story.
Posted at 07:57 PM