British Teacher Offers Free English Lessons in HCMC Sidewalks

Photo courtesy of VN Express

A British man in Ho Chi Minh City is providing free evening English lessons to a young girl from a lottery-selling family, inspired by her eagerness to learn. Christopher, a 35-year-old English teacher, conducts these sessions for nine-year-old Thanh Hien on a sidewalk at the Pasteur-Vo Thi Sau intersection.

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Christopher began these tutorials after noticing Hien diligently studying under streetlights while her mother sold lottery tickets. He was moved by her determination and offered to teach her English four nights a week, providing her with educational materials as well.

Despite the distractions from traffic noise, Hien remains focused during the 90-minute lessons. Christopher uses creative methods, such as crafting a snowman with colored yarn, to make learning enjoyable and interactive. He aims to equip Hien with basic English skills and life lessons.

Hien's mother, Mai Anh, appreciates the free lessons and insists on maintaining her daughter's education, even though their family income is limited. The couple has three daughters, and their modest earnings come from her ticket sales and her husband's work as a motorbike taxi driver.

Residents and passersby have reacted positively, often stopping to watch or offering support with school supplies. Christopher plans to return to the UK at the end of June and is intensifying lessons to maximize Hien's progress before his departure.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · VN Express · 20 May 2026