English Teaching Volunteering Program in Hanoi

The Teaching English Program in Hanoi, Vietnam, will be perfect for those who love to spend time with kids. Being a developing Asian country that has a dark past, Vietnam is still on the weaker side when it comes to English Language skills. However, with the rapid growth of tourism and other sectors in the region, studying English is considered to be an important part of the curriculum.

Vietnam being one of the fastest growing economies in Asia and the world, the economy is shifting from being an agrarian economy to a service based economy which has resulted in a major demand for English language speakers.

In recent years, access to primary and secondary education has risen significantly, and schools have received increased levels of funding. Furthermore, there is a greater focus on physical, psychological, social and emotional growth, alongside general educational achievement. English language training was introduced into the national curriculum in 2010. This follows continued recognition from the government for the importance of the ability to speak English to young people.

A perfect and affordable volunteering program for gap year travellers,college and high school students,the Teaching Program will help you to polish your existing skills and help you to acquire newer ones. The aim of the program is to provide an English language speaking environment for the students and teachers, to practice and improve their confidence in using a foreign language in their daily communication.

Volunteering for the Teaching Project in Vietnam will be an incredibly rewarding and challenging experience where you can gain valuable international teaching experience alongside assisting the Vietnamese students in their English studies.

Volunteers are assigned to various educational settings, including primary and secondary schools, community classes, and colleges. Regardless of your placement, the local team is dedicated to ensuring you have a rewarding and unforgettable experience during your teaching placement in Hanoi.

Sample Placement Profile – Community Classes 
The English community classes provide an alternative English learning environment for students. Students who attend such classes mainly come to Hanoi for their study from provinces outside of Hanoi. They can be from 10-20 and are grouped according to their English level and their age. Community classes focus on groups of students who want to improve their English skills, especially speaking and conversational skills. It also helps to improve students’ confidence in using a foreign language. There are often 2 classes per day with around 10-20 students per class. Each class lasts for 2 hours with a 10 minutes break. Volunteers who teach in the Community classes lead the class on his/her own, sometimes, with another volunteer. Volunteers are also provided with a suggested curriculum from which more supporting/alternative materials can be designed by the volunteers. In the class, the volunteers get support from a local intern with translation if needed.

Want to see other ways to make an impact? Check out our Volunteer in Asia programs.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

• Being a volunteer, you’ll have to work alongside the teaching staff and lead the classes in improving the pronunciation and conversational skills.

• You can bring in your own ideas to the classroom in order to make the sessions more interesting and engaging.

• Focus on improving the listening/speaking skills for students as well as the teachers. Guide the teachers whenever they need your assistance.

• Focus on the weaker kids, and see how you can help them out. Keep a tab on the growth of your students.

• The best would be to focus on interactive sessions and activity based learning methods.

• Organising games and other activities in classrooms.

• Participating and supporting in the organisation of cultural exchange events with students if relevant.

Normally volunteers will teach for about 20 hours a week. This time may vary depending on situations. There is always a local teacher who works closely with international volunteers.

Requirements & eligibility

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program. As a teaching project volunteer in Vietnam, you must provide a clean criminal background check prior to your placement. We welcome volunteers of all nationalities, religions, and backgrounds in the Vietnam program