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Vietnamese student Tran is discovering the art of teaching

Enrolling in the ACU Master of Teaching has helped Tran find her place in work and life.

As an international student in Singapore, Tran was studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts—but when she took on a volunteer role as a teaching assistant, she was surprised by how much she loved it.

“I had a passion for inspiring others with my love of art, but I hadn’t yet thought of becoming a teacher,” she says.

Originally from Vietnam, Tran had dreamt of studying abroad after finishing high school.

She appreciated her time in Singapore, although she occasionally wondered about the roads she hadn’t taken, including the opportunity to study in Australia. When the time came to enrol in a master’s degree, she decided to explore her growing interest in teaching and to make the move to Sydney.

Today, Tran is a student in the Master of Teaching at ACU—and life in Australia is turning out just as she’d hoped.

“ACU provides a lot of practical academic support. All the lecturers and faculty teams were incredibly supportive in helping me understand the course content,” she says.

“What surprised me most was how helpful the Academic Skills Unit on Canvas turned out to be, and how welcoming and approachable everyone, both students and staff, has been. And it goes beyond academics—they also have a counselling program, mentoring and the welcoming International Student Advisors who made the transition to studying in Australia much smoother.”

One of the things she’s most enjoyed is the diversity of her student cohort. In her class, one in five ACU students comes from overseas. And Tran soon discovered that this diversity wasn’t just a feature of ACU: when she went on professional placements, a key feature of ACU teaching degrees that give students real classroom experience, she found herself teaching children from all over the world.

“I met kids from China, India and Europe. They brought culture to the classroom. Many of them come to Australia without speaking fluent English, so we use gestures and mutual understanding to communicate,” she says

“The degree really emphasises inclusivity. We have to know our students, their background, their family heritage and how they learn so we can help them on their learning journey.”

Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world, with almost 1/3 of the population born somewhere else. People from all backgrounds, cultures and life experiences are valued here for the contributions they can make to Australian life.

For Tran, her own cultural background combined with her passion for the arts meant she could bring a fresh perspective to the classroom. Students love her approach, which combines traditional teaching techniques with the sharing of culture and stories through playing and storytelling.

It’s a constant reminder that she has a lot to offer—as an international student, a creative, a teacher and as part of the Australian community.

“Moving to Australia can feel like a big decision, but ACU has a very supportive community. You will never feel alone,” she says.

ACU is among the world’s top 50 universities for Education. Explore ACU teaching degrees and scholarship opportunities, including the ACU Executive Dean’s International Scholarship, or talk to our international student support team to find out more.