The spread of the COVID-19 disease has created a number of educational difficulties for both students and teachers. It cannot, however, hinder the Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Technology and Education, from aiding our students in gaining access to a high-quality academic environment. Our faculty was honored to be awarded the project of Virtual English Language Fellow by the Regional English Language Office (RELO), US Embassy in Vietnam in early 2021 as a result of their persistent efforts. With this program, our faculty's undergraduate students were virtually connected to and taught by a native English teacher.
William Lewis was our English Language Fellow for the second and third semesters of 2021. With several lecturers from our faculty, he co-taught a number of classes, including Upper-Intermediate Listening and Speaking, Critical Writing, American Studies, Advanced Listening and Speaking, Upper-Intermediate Reading, Consecutive Translation, and Academic Writing.
The project came to an end after the summer semester, and on September 5th, 2021, our faculty hosted an online farewell gathering for Mr. Lewis. Our co-teaching instructors and undergraduates who used to take Mr. Lewis' classes, as well as our Dean, Mr. Tin Dang, and Ms. Nguyen Tran, English Language Coordinator of the United States Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, all attended the meeting.
During the gathering, several meaningful activities took place, including an expression of our instructors' and undergraduates' thoughts and gratitude to Mr. Lewis, as well as the awarding of an appreciation certificate and a speech from the Dean. Mr. Lewis was described as a pleasure to work with by all of our undergraduates and lecturers who spoke at the meeting. Mr. Tin Dang, in particular, stated at the meeting that this was an absolutely invaluable opportunity for students to be exposed to native English language speakers, particularly because this was the first time students had learned about American culture from “a real American teacher”. Mr. William Lewis' contribution to the Faculty of Foreign Languages is always appreciated, and we hope to work with him again in the near future.
Thai Nhat Phuong Uyen – K20
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