Ben Mudge

Nationality: New Zealand

Qualifications:

– Bachelor of Information Science – Massey University, New Zealand (2007)

– Certificate in TESOL – Australian International College of Language (2015)

Experience: 10 years’ experience teaching English in Vietnam, including over 5 years teaching IELTS preparation classes

Ben Mudge comes from a small town in the heart of rural New Zealand.  Growing up, he developed an interest in learning about computers and the internet so upon finishing high school, he decided to pursue a degree in IT. In 2007, he graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Information Science. Following university and during his twenties, Ben worked in various roles in New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and Australia.  He developed a strong passion for travel during this period, and to date he has been fortunate enough to have visited over 40 countries.

In 2015, Ben decided to travel to Vietnam in order to study a TESOL Certificate course accredited by the Australian International College of Language. His plan was to obtain the certificate and use it to teach English and travel in various countries in Southeast Asia. However, like many visitors to Vietnam, he immediately fell in love with this country, and over 10 years later, he is still happily living here with no plans to leave.

During his time in Vietnam, Ben has gained experience in teaching a wide range of English language courses from beginner level ESL communication to business English to advanced IELTS preparation classes. In teaching, he prides himself on being well-organized, knowledgeable, and approachable. He has a student-centered approach to his lessons and believes that having good rapport with students and understanding their individual learning styles is key to helping them build their confidence and strive towards their goals. He likes to construct lessons which have a variety of activities and interaction patterns in order to boost engagement and increase learning opportunities.

When he has free time, Ben loves exploring Vietnam, and once even rode a bicycle all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi! Most days, he likes to keep active by playing tennis and badminton or going to the gym. Besides that, he is an avid reader who enjoys a range of literature, especially historical fiction and magical realism.