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[rbruce108]

I�d like to take private Vietnamese language lessons during my visits to HCMC. Can you recommend any good teachers? My preference is for Vietnamese native speakers who speak with the southern (HCMC-area) accent. Might you be able to suggest the range of hourly rates for good Vietnamese language teachers? I�ll greatly appreciate your recommendations and advice. Thank you!

[rbruce108]

After posting the question that started this thread I received no responses. However, last August I found a list of reputable providers of Vietnamese instruction in HCMC, and chose one: Vietnamese Language Studies - Saigon (VLS). I engaged in a private, 10-day / 80-hour intensive course. My experience at VLS greatly exceeded my expectations.

On my first morning of class at VLS, I met a visiting director of Southeast Asian language studies from the U.S. Department of State, who, coincidentally, happened to be conducting an on-site inspection of VLS. She informed me that the State Department contracts with Vietnamese Language Studies - Saigon to give advanced instruction to State Department staff working in HCMC. She also told me that, in her view, the quality of instruction at VLS is excellent -- the best anywhere. Later that morning, two other State Department staff members expressed similar opinions. Given that I was unfamiliar with VLS prior to enrollment, their references were reassuring and subsequently corroborated in my own classroom experience.

Vietnamese Language Studies assigned 12 teachers to teach my private course. As an MA TESOL-trained ESL instructor who has studied under or observed many language teachers, I assess 2 of those teachers as being world-class -- truly exceptional -- 5 as excellent, 3 as being very good, and 2 as being good. (Note that I have no connection whatsoever with VLS, and am writing this recommendation unbeknownst to the school.)

During my course I learned a fair amount of Vietnamese, improving my listening comprehension, fluency, pronunciation, and reading/writing proficiencies significantly. I also learned a lot about Vietnamese culture -- things I'd never encountered in my prior reading of 80+ books on Viet Nam.

For those who might be interested, following is VLS's contact information:

Vietnamese Language Studies - Saigon
Vo Thi Thanh Binh, Director
4th Floor, 45 Dinh Tien Hoang,
Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: (84- 9103266/9100168
Director�s email: [email protected]
Registrar�s email (Ms. Tran Thien Duy Anh): [email protected]
Website: www.vlstudies.com