Second Career Language Teachers

Introduction

This project looks as an emerging phenomenon in language education in Asia and focuses on Vietnam as a national case. In particular, it examines the rise of second career language teachers (SCLTs), a cohort of teachers whose first careers are not teaching, within the rapidly changing socio-political landscape of Asia and Vietnam.

In the wider Asian region, foreign/second language education is experiencing dramatic changes due to its contribution to political, diplomatic, economic, and educational strategies. Within the rapidly changing educational landscape of Vietnam, where the government is making concerted efforts to promote English as the second language in schools nationwide, this cohort of educators is entering the market as a competitive teaching force. However, several issues are being debated concerning both their professional and personal lives.