Helping Vietnamese people learn English in the Philippines

Many international English centers in the Philippines have student management teams made up of Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Mongolian people. Among them, Vietnamese people are highly regarded.

Ms. Minh Anh (left) and Nhu Quynh - two Vietnamese student managers at GLC English Center - at an event to receive partners from Vietnam - Photo: HA BINH

These managers will assist their fellow countrymen who come to the Philippines to study from the moment they arrive at the airport until they finish their course and leave.

"Hello, I am the Vietnamese manager"

At the end of September 2023, the Philippine Department of Tourism organized a tour of English centers in Cebu City for a group of study abroad companies from Vietnam. At the CPILS Center, school leaders invited managers from each country to introduce themselves.

"Hello, I am a Vietnamese manager at the school. My job is to support Vietnamese students..." - said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung.

Mr. Tung was assigned by the school to introduce the school's curriculum and facilities. Similarly, at GLC, I.Breeze, EV, English Fella... centers, there are Vietnamese managers to guide.

"My work starts from 8am to 11:30am and from 12:30pm to 5:50pm. Mainly taking care of and supporting Vietnamese students during their studies at the school.

In addition, the manager will work with the study abroad center in Vietnam on marketing, updating school information, quoting prices, and responding to requests from partners," said Mr. Tung, adding that he has been doing this job for 5 years and will continue for a few more years.

"I'm happy when students improve their English. I'm happiest when they achieve their goals," he said.

Ms. Thien Thanh - Vietnamese representative and manager at SMEAG English School - said that English schools in the Philippines often recruit two positions: student manager and Vietnamese market manager.

"Student management is helping Vietnamese students with their studies, spirit, life, answering questions, making friends... This job requires having studied in the Philippines, having soft skills such as communication, office computer and English communication" - Ms. Thanh informed.

The Vietnam market manager will represent the school to resolve issues related to students and support study abroad companies in Vietnam in recruiting students.

Requirements usually include college degree, education-related major or experience, having studied or worked in the Philippines, knowledge of marketing, communication, problem solving...

"Each school is different, but generally, Vietnamese managers will accompany Vietnamese students from the moment they arrive at the Philippine airport.

They will pick up students at the airport until the end of the course and leave. Whenever students need, even late at night, they must always be there to provide timely support" - Ms. Thanh said.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung (right cover), Vietnamese manager at CPILS English Center, with students studying at the center - Photo: NVCC

Help English learners adapt to new environments

Ms. Minh Anh - student manager at GLC Center - said that the working environment is multicultural and multinational, so at first it will be a bit difficult for those who have limited English or are not used to communicating in English.

"In addition, becoming a manager also requires practicing the ability to react quickly in many unexpected situations. So that when a problem occurs with a student, you can stay calm to handle it in the best way possible" - Ms. Minh Anh concluded.

Mr. Tung also said that the difficulty of the management job is probably taking care of Vietnamese students who have just enrolled at the school.

"Many new students miss home so much they cry. They have to change their environment quickly, with a busy schedule from morning to night. In the first week, many students are not used to it, so they need a lot of support from the management. That is psychological counseling, encouragement, and sharing so that these students can quickly integrate into school life so that they can improve their English skills as quickly as possible" - Mr. Tung recalled.

Student Tran Nhat Thong - currently studying at SMEAG International English School - said that for those who come to the Philippines for the first time, do not have much foreign language knowledge, and do not have much experience in an international learning environment, Vietnamese managers play a very important role.

It is to promote, connect culture as well as help students quickly adapt to the new environment.

"When I first arrived, I was shy and had difficulty communicating with international friends. But now I am more confident after receiving support from the Vietnamese manager.

Foreign language may not be enough, but being more confident will help you integrate better. For example, I was able to sing for a Russian friend and his teacher in class when he finished his course" - Thong happily said.

Multiculturalism and homesickness

Coming to work in many different ways, what Vietnamese managers have in common is that they like to work in a multicultural environment and want to improve their English.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Oanh (I.Breeze English Center) graduated from Marketing Management at FPT Greenwich University, Vietnam.

She said: "I want to improve my English skills and work in a multinational environment. I researched jobs in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines to be able to use English and gain experience. I found the management job at I.Breeze Center that suited my aspirations."

Ms. Minh Anh graduated from Van Lang University with a degree in public relations and communications. She said: "I knew about studying English in the Philippines before, but I didn't have the opportunity to study.

After graduating, I decided to apply to the Philippines to study and work as a manager at GLC School in Cebu." Ms. Nhu Quynh confided: "Being a manager is an opportunity for me to continue to have an environment to improve my English every day as well as learn working skills from the managers here."

Like other Vietnamese people living and working far from home, many of you face homesickness.

"I often miss home on holidays like Tet, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day. On family holidays or important Vietnamese holidays, I want to gather with my family or with Vietnamese people on big holidays. At times like these, Vietnamese students organize meetings to share. Cozy meals together will help me miss home less" - Ms. Oanh confided.

Reduce mental stress

One of the roles of international managers is to reduce the mental stress of students when studying. Foreign students often have difficulty adapting because of the difference in lifestyle compared to their home country. The goal of international managers is to satisfy and make students happy so that they can achieve their learning goals. Vietnamese managers are very capable and diligent in all matters of Vietnamese students. When I asked Vietnamese students, they were satisfied with their Vietnamese managers. Mr. Fumihito Fukushima (Deputy General Director of SMEAG English School)

Vietnamese managers are highly appreciated

Our English school has students from many different countries. Most of the students cannot communicate well in English, so they need support from the managers of each country. The managers will be the ones to directly meet, exchange and receive guests from partners from that country. Working with the same language and understanding the culture will make it easier to communicate and cooperate.

Vietnamese people are dynamic and flexible in their work. They are willing to work long hours, even on weekends, to complete tasks or solve students' problems. Vietnamese people also tend to have a high spirit of cooperation, are willing to work in groups and share knowledge.

This can be highly valued in a multinational work environment, demonstrating patience, the ability to be responsive in problem solving and dealing with work challenges.

Ms. Nuchada Kalsuwan (Marketing Director of GLC Center)

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