Biggest challenge is the cultural gap. Western teaching concepts don't always fit in Vietnam. For example, group work which is common in the West may not be as effective due to different social norms.
Well, one horror story could be the lack of proper teaching resources. Teachers might find themselves in classrooms with very few textbooks or teaching aids. Another could be the language barrier not just with students but also with some local staff at schools, which makes administrative tasks really difficult.
Some horror stories involve the students themselves. There are cases where students are not interested in learning English at all, and they can be quite disruptive in class. This makes teaching a real challenge. Additionally, there can be horror stories around the lack of support from the schools. Teachers may not have access to proper teaching materials or training, and yet they are expected to deliver high - quality English lessons. It's like being set up to fail in a way.
My horror story was related to the weather. I had to commute a long distance to the school where I taught English. One day, there was a huge typhoon, but the school didn't cancel classes. I had to struggle through the strong winds and rain just to get there, and when I arrived, half of the students were absent because it was too dangerous for them to come. It was a waste of my effort and also a very scary experience in the bad weather.
Another might be related to housing issues. Some English teachers in Korea have found themselves in accommodation provided by the school that was in a really bad state. It could be dirty, infested with bugs, or in an unsafe neighborhood. Imagine arriving in a new country and having to deal with such a living situation while also trying to focus on teaching. It's a real nightmare.
One horror story could be having to teach in extremely overcrowded classrooms with no proper teaching aids. There are so many students that it's hard to give individual attention. Another might be dealing with parents who have unrealistic expectations about their children's English proficiency improvement in a very short time. For example, they expect their kids to be fluent after just a few weeks of classes.
One common horror story is the housing situation. Teachers might be promised a decent place to live but end up in a run - down, dirty apartment with lots of problems like leaky roofs or no hot water. It's really a nightmare.
The most common one is probably the large class sizes. It's really a struggle to manage so many students at once. Another common horror story is the cultural differences that can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, the concept of 'saving face' in Thai culture can make it difficult to correct students in a straightforward way. And the weather can also be a horror factor. The humidity and heat can make teaching in some classrooms quite unbearable.
The story of 'The Ring'. It has a simple yet spooky plot. There are key phrases like 'curse' and 'haunted video' that can be easily taught. Students can be made to summarize the story in English.
The language level can be a problem. Japanese horror stories may contain complex language or expressions that are above the students' current English level. Also, there might be a lack of suitable teaching materials. Most horror stories are not designed specifically for English teaching, so teachers need to adapt them on their own, which is time - consuming.