I'm not sure what I was initially expecting, but the first time I went to a classroom in Vietnam, I was surprised that it felt a whole lot like it did in the United States. There were desks, chairs and a chalkboard, just as there are in the classrooms at your school right now. Vietnamese students take classes in a variety of subjects, such as history, science and math! All of these aspects of school life resonated with me immediately, and they made me feel more comfortable in my role as an educator in a foreign place.
The progression from elementary school to middle school to high school and college functions the same in Vietnam, as well. That means most of my college students are between 18 and 22 years old, and sixth graders like you guys are around 11 to 12 years old. It’s easy to see the similarities between Vietnamese and American school systems, but over time, I’ve begun to notice some differences that distinguish the academic environment, both inside and outside the classroom.
The most significant difference is cultural, as students and teachers have unique relationships in Vietnam. Teachers and students socialize with each other in their free time, going out for coffee, dinner, sports, or even weekend trips back to their hometowns.
