VOLUNTEER MISSION
To provide Native English speakers who assist the Vietnamese teachers with English language pronunciation and cultural clarification.
Pierre Vernard Mooney
2011 to present
I was born October 3, 1946 in Brevard, North Carolina, USA. I attended public schools in Fairmount Heights, Maryland. I graduated from Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland with a B.A. in Sociology in 1968. I was awarded a Masters of Social Work degree in 1972 from Howard University in Washington D.C. I was awarded a Masters of Public Administration degree, in 1977 from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
I retired and relocated to Vietnam 2008, after 32 years of service as a Program Analyst for the Social Security Administration Federal Government of the United States of America. I have been married since 2010 and reside with my wife, Dinh Thi Hong Van, in K. Tan Lap Phuong Tan An, Hoi An. Father of one son, Paul Robeson Mooney age 31,who is employed by the MGM/Mirage Corporation and currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have been a STEC volunteer helping with “PRONUNCIATION” since September 2011.
John Foley
2013 to present
I'm a baby boomer, born in Australia, shortly after World War II. My generation has enjoyed a pretty good ride with wealth, political stability, efficient transportation, recorded music, movies, television, computers and the internet. We have also used up most of the oil and done most of the polluting. I retired in 2013 and thought I would like to give a little bit back, especially to those who truly need it. In my later life I discovered that I was very good at English language pronunciation. In the future, the one skill that everybody will need is English because modern transport will increasingly move the manufacturing and trade to where ever they are needed in the world. Those who speak English will be able to take advantage of this phenomenon. I volunteer as an assistant teacher at STEC where I'm proud to say that I improve the prospects of many children and those in the adult class, too.
Haley Quinlan
2011 to present
I first came to Hoi An in 2006 and instantly fell in love with the ancient town and the Vietnamese people, especially the children. I also fell in love with a local man, Quoc. We spent six fun filled weeks together. Quoc showed me around his home town with pride. After a whirlwind romance I returned to England with a heavy heart, but not for long. Six months later I went back to Hoi An and I am still here years later. Quoc and I are now married and we have two beautiful daughters, Bella and Amelia. During my time in Hoi An I have meet many interesting people. Karen Chun and I became friends and shared an interest in English Language learning. When she opened up STEC (Smart Tutoring English Center) I got a chance to work as a volunteer. The children at our school are very keen to learn and teaching them is a privilege. I hope that we have many successful years growing global citizens. It's very rewarding to pass on a skill that I developed naturally.
James Chun
2012 to present
I came to Vietnam to try something new. My mom asked me if I wanted to volunteer in Hoi An for a while to help out with STEC school. Naturally I said yes because Vietnam was something new and different for me. I have been volunteering at STEC (Smart Tutoring English Center) since 2012 and I immediately loved the environment and peaceful atmosphere of Hoi An. STEC has given me many opportunities to help me grow personally and professionally. I find teaching students of Hoi An very rewarding because they find me interesting and they appreciate the time and effort I put into the lessons. When I’m not working I enjoying riding around the outskirts of Hoi An and enjoy the peaceful countryside scenery. I love going to Da Nang to eat fast foods, such as KFC and Pizza Hut. I also love going to the cinema.
Ken Nguyen
2015 to present
Hoi An is my unique hometown; where I spent my childhood. I moved to America in 1994, where I thought I would settle for the rest of the life. A little twist of fate brought me back to Hoi An in 2013. My childhood memories and my cultural roots made my readjustment to Hoi An comfortable and easy. Life in America was amazing but I prefer the noisy rooster as my alarm clock. It is such a blessing to work for STEC, a cooperative environment with friendly leaders and staff. The best part of STEC is the dedicated students with their innocent smiles. It's a privilege and responsibility to serve the next generation as they advance in their English language skills.