Our Unit 871 Instructor, Amanda, provides insight on the value of culturally responsive teaching in Lana Learn’s English Training Program.
Understanding the Context
At Lana Learn, we teach English to Vietnamese military officers through a program supported by the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense. The goal is to prepare officers for follow-on training in the U.S., with a national target of 30% English proficiency across the armed forces by 2030. But beyond language instruction, our classrooms are also spaces of cultural exchange—and that’s where culturally responsive teaching becomes essential.
Why Cultural Responsiveness Matters
Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is more than just acknowledging cultural differences. It’s about designing instruction that respects and reflects students’ lived experiences, values, and communication styles. In the Vietnamese military context, this means understanding hierarchical structures, group-oriented values, and the importance of saving face. These cultural norms influence how students interact with teachers, respond to feedback, and engage in classroom activities.
Teachers as Cultural Bridges
One of our greatest assets at Lana Learn is our team of teachers who have lived and worked in Vietnam for years. Their deep familiarity with Vietnamese culture, customs, and communication styles allows them to build trust and rapport with students more effectively. Teachers’ lived experience helps them anticipate cultural misunderstandings, adapt their teaching methods, and model respectful cross-cultural communication.
Our teachers’ cultural awareness is not theoretical—it’s practical. It shows up in how they give feedback, how they structure group work, and how they encourage participation in ways that feel safe and respectful to students. This sensitivity is especially important in military classrooms, where formality and hierarchy are deeply embedded.
Practical Strategies in Action
We’ve adapted several CRT strategies to meet the needs of our learners:
Contextualized Language Use: We use military-relevant vocabulary and scenarios from the American Language Course (ALC) to make lessons more applicable and engaging.
Flexible Grouping: While Vietnamese classrooms often emphasize uniformity, we introduce peer mentoring and small group work to encourage collaboration and build confidence.
Accent Exposure: To prepare students for real-world communication, we rotate instructors to expose learners to different English accents and speaking styles.
Cultural Bridging: We incorporate discussions about American and Vietnamese customs, helping students navigate cultural differences they may encounter during follow-on training.
Building Trust and Motivation
Trust is foundational in any classroom, but especially in one where students may be hesitant to speak up. We use positive reinforcement, celebrate small wins, and create a safe space for making mistakes. This approach not only improves language outcomes but also builds the confidence students need to succeed abroad.