Hello everyone, be it old or new readers, I wrote the original (link) of this following text 3 years ago. At the time, I had been teaching ESL to Vietnamese adults for 6 months and relying heavily on the internet and the generosity of strangers for my lesson plans. Those and games and activities were … Continue reading 10 tips for teaching conversational English to young adults – revisited.
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Life in Vietnam
LIFE IN VIETNAM I was born in the countryside of Vietnam. So I lived there all my life until I was 18 years old. After graduating from high school, I moved to Ho Chi Minh city to continue studying in a university. I have been living in HCMC until now, for about 15 years. So … Continue reading Life in Vietnam
Japan in pictures #1: Hiroshima
Here's some long overdue pictures of my trip to Japan, starting with Hiroshima. I'm quite busy these days so I don't really have time to write an elaborate text covering the general atmosphere and my feelings while travelling the land of the rising sun, but I still have a lot of pictures (and 2 videos!) … Continue reading Japan in pictures #1: Hiroshima
Vietnam’s small changes, by “Wind”.
Back in the old days (actually not really that ‘old’), not many people in Vietnam could afford an air conditioner. Even if they could buy it, the electric bills would be a big problem.
Do cockroaches have souls?
Sure, it's not an experience I especially enjoy. It's repulsive, to be honest. Every time I see one I get a little tingle of eew that reverbrates through my spine and down to the tip of my fingers. By now I know they're definitely not as shocking to find in my house as rats, and after watching … Continue reading Do cockroaches have souls?
Here’s a text because it’s been a while
It's 9 am and I wake up abruptly. Every morning. As if I was late for work. I scramble in my mattress directly on the floor of my bedroom (the landlord had promised a bed base when I visited, but later denied ever saying this, so here we are) to extend my body enough to … Continue reading Here’s a text because it’s been a while
5 more tips for teaching conversational English to young adults
5 more tips to teach conversational English to young adults!
A Holiday in Laos
Our protagonist wakes up abruptly, momentarily in shock. His cell phone alarm, set for 6 am, seemed to have never rung at all. He checks the clock: 6:55. His flight to Hué is at 8:05. He is instantly, fully awake. In a panic, he rises from the couch where he slept the night as a … Continue reading A Holiday in Laos
Lost thoughts of a border crossing
Last month I discovered Terry Pratchet's Discworld novels and it's having quite a funny effect on my brain. I think he's my new favorite author. I'm sure a used reader will detect the influence on my writing. I guess I should mention that at the moment of scribbling this in a Vietnamese student notebook I … Continue reading Lost thoughts of a border crossing
New Year on Phu Quoc
Long have I wanted to visit this island, of which the reputation is on par with paradise itself. As a big fan of islands myself, it was with grudging resolution that I stopped my bike in Ho Chi Minh city back in March 2015 (gasp! Almost a year already!) to look for work as my … Continue reading New Year on Phu Quoc