Different measures of success

Currently, choosing an English language center to study with is not difficult, as there are many options available on the market. However, going back to Vietnam 20 years ago, it was very tough to find an English language training center which provided an internationally aligned curriculum.

When the doors of global integration officially opened in the late 90s, Vietnamese people were thrilled that the opportunity for further development had come, but they were also concerned: how could they improve their English for communication and trade? Previously, English classes were taught by Vietnamese teachers using a static and old fashioned curriculum, this model was not enough to meet the needs of a future facing and globally integrated society.

At that moment, ILA brought the first international standard aligned English class with 100% native teachers to Vietnam, marking a big change in English language education. This single class immediately received attention and from this ILA quickly became one of the leading English language centers in Vietnam.

The greatest motivation of ILA is to see their students’ succeed and grow. Success is not only reflected in their exam scores but also in their ability to project themselves when they step onto a stage and deliver a presentation on a challenging subject, with a level of confidence comparable to that observed in children educated in an international learning environment.

Over the past two decades this motivation has driven ILA to constantly invest in its curriculum and teaching staff. Not only teaching English but ILA is also an innovator in Vietnam. ILA has applied 21st Century skills education to its programs, helping students not only have language but also have 6 important skills that help them adapt and lead in the Digital Age. In addition, ILA's teaching staff are carefully selected against high evaluation standards.

“Every year, we receive more than 10,000 applications, but we work very hard to ensure that recruitment is conducted via our strictly supervised system. In spite of the substantial expense of teacher training programs, we have been working towards fulfilling our unwavering commitment to retaining our teaching quality,” said ILA’s CEO Tran Xuan Dzu.

The dedication and expertise of ILA teachers.

The power of empathy

Recently, in addition to health and safety, children's learning has been a concern for the majority of Vietnamese parents. ILA - a truly passionate educational organization with many years of experience in the use of technology in teaching -  promptly responded to this concern by implementing the "Online Learning Ecosystem", including ILA@Home and online classrooms called ILA@Live, exclusively for ILA students.

In the online ecosystem they not only study English directly with their teachers and friends but also practice self-paced learning and explore activities with family members through ILA@Home. Since the launch date, this ecosystem has been constantly receiving positive feedback from parents.

“It’s been a great support. The kids are still studying with their teachers, there are also many videos, exercises, and activities for children to do at home without being bored. I can also learn with my kids and I am learning more about how to support them from home,” said Nguyen Hai Yen- a mother whose son studies at ILA.

Students are excited to join ILA@Live online class.

This has proved that success comes from professionalism, deployment of resources, deep research and most importantly, empathizing with the needs of its students and respect for the first and best teachers any child has - their family. This "ecosystem" has received support not only from parents and students but also from ILA teachers and staff.

“The high standards at ILA have constantly made me want to teach better. Because of the continual expectation of high quality, I have grown a great deal in my profession. Only at ILA have I studied specific courses about cultural differences and how to teach Vietnamese children. We’re really proud of this ecosystem. At this challenging moment, we are still provided with the best conditions by ILA to focus our expertise where it matters - on our students and their parents," said Joel Swagman, one of ILA's senior and most experienced teachers.

Clearly, the calm and thoughtful manner of ILA's implementation of online learning platforms has solved three difficult problems simultaneously: maintaining the joy of learning for students, providing peace of mind for parents, and keeping up the energy and enthusiasm levels of all staff.

Welcome to a challenging 2020 and be assured that ILA will confidently accompany parents and students in overcoming Covid-19 with enthusiastic teachers and teaching assistants to continue the "Education for Life" journey.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep our balance, we must keep moving,” said one of the world’s most respected innovators and compassionate educators, Albert Einstein.  Two decades of ILA's growth have created meaningful milestones for English education in Vietnam, and have contributed to growing young Vietnamese generations who are confident and able to change the world through applying both deep skills and a true understanding of global citizenship.

PV