ISIEE STANDS BY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION

On September 16, 2026, the Institute for Studies of International Education and Economics (ISIEE) returned to Thanh Loi A Primary School in Tan Quoi Commune, Vinh Long Province, to visit students facing particularly difficult circumstances.





ISIEE Director Nguyen Thi Hong Loan speaks with and encourages the students.

During the 2025-2026 school year, ISIEE covered the full cost of English classes with native-speaking teachers for these students. The classes used the OMO model, combining online and in-person instruction. The program supports 45 children and will continue until they complete primary school.

The visit allowed ISIEE to encourage the students and follow their progress closely, so that support can be tailored to their needs and no child is left behind.

CONFIDENCE COMES FIRST

ISIEE Director Nguyen Thi Hong Loan spoke with each student about the classes. She also asked simple questions such as ‘What’s your name?’ to observe how they listened and responded, and to assess their confidence in speaking English.

Most of the students said they enjoyed the new experience of meeting and speaking with native English-speaking teachers in each lesson.

Tran Hao Thien, a fourth-grade student, said each class was exciting because he ‘gets to meet people from other countries.’

‘I see my teachers on the screen and hear them speak to me in English. Sometimes I can understand them and answer. I also get to learn with my friends, so it is a lot of fun,’ Thien said.

Sitting beside him, Le Van Tan, a small and lively fourth-grader in his school uniform, said: ‘This class was the first time I had ever seen someone from another country. At first, I could not understand anything and was afraid to speak. After several lessons, I gradually began to understand.’

Last school year, third-grader Ngo Khanh Nguyen won first prize in a speaking contest organized by ISIEE and the school. Nguyen said that studying with native-speaking teachers had helped him become more willing to speak and more confident in listening, understanding and responding. He has continued with the program this year and hopes to learn more difficult sentences.

Loan told the students that their growing confidence and willingness to speak and answer their teachers was the most encouraging sign of progress.

‘Confidence encourages students to learn new words, attempt more difficult sentences and steadily improve their listening and speaking,’ Loan said. ‘The results may not be visible after only a day or two. What matters most is that they feel increasingly confident speaking English.’

HELPING STUDENTS STAY IN SCHOOL

The 45 students supported by ISIEE come from different circumstances, but they share a strong desire to learn.

Fourth-grader Nguyen Le Tu Anh is one of three children. Her father works in construction, and her mother is seriously ill. Tu Anh said she enjoys school, but her family’s financial hardship makes her future uncertain.

Le Van Tan, also a fourth-grader, is one of three siblings. His older brother left school to work as a hired laborer, while his 15-year-old sister and Tan remain in school. Like Tu Anh, Tan wants to continue studying for as long as he can, but no one can be certain how far that path will take him.





The visit allowed ISIEE to encourage the students and follow their progress closely, so that support can be tailored to their needs and no child is left behind.



The students are willing to attend school, even when they must cycle long distances. They need the opportunity to learn and encounter new ideas. Just as important, they need people beside them who will offer encouragement and practical support along the way.

‘The journey ahead is long, and I hope the students will persevere,’ Loan said. ‘ISIEE will continue to follow each child’s progress, offer timely encouragement and provide the support they need to continue their education.’