Vietnam-born Le Son Thanh was VU’s first offshore student to complete a PhD in Australia.

"When Vietnam opened its doors to foreigners in the mid-1980s I knew it was important to learn English.  I learn languages easily and quickly developed a good command of English. I then taught English for several years at the University of Agriculture and Forestry in Ho Chi Minh.

In 2001 I completed a graduate diploma in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) through VU’s offshore program in Hanoi.  

I moved to Australia in 2002, and did my masters degree and a PhD at VU. My thesis explored ways to improve English language teaching in private schools in Vietnam. It devised a model of an English language centre suited to Vietnam that maximises practical communication.

I now teach adult migrants in St Albans and hope to open an English language centre in Vietnam."

Courses studied

Graduate Diploma in TESOL, 2001

Master of TESOL, 2003

Doctor of Philosophy, 2011

Find out more about TESOL courses at VU