Local farmers living around the My Son World Heritage site in Quang Nam Province are trying to learn English to provide home-stay services for tourists.

English class for learners of various ages

Not easy

Each class has 30 members of various ages who share same tables in the meeting hall of Duy Phu Commune in Duy Xuyen District.

“I can do manual work like carrying rice and farming easily. However, I find it really difficult to learn English, especially pronunciation,” said 59-year-old Lai Thi Van from Duy Phu Commune’s My Son Hamlet.

She tried to repeat the same sentences or connect words with images of real items she was familiar with in her daily life. Sometimes, she’s happy enough to learn from her grandchildren.

Van’s family is one among first five households chosen for a pilot home-stay tourism service programme at the Cham religious site of My Son.

Studying English for the first time, 48-year-old Ho Cu was eager to become a tourist guide at home.

“I often spend three hours a day studying English,” Cu said.

Farmers turned into tourist guides

Teacher Tran Te Chau who teaches farmers English said, “Most of these learners find it difficult. However, they’re all interested and enthusiastic.”

Nguyen Duc Nha, head of My Son community-based tourism board said that all villagers are proud of their area which has been recognised as a world heritage site. All of them were very happy to participate in the pilot home-stay tourism programme as it would help promote their area and improve their living standards.

The pilot home-stay tourism programme was jointly launched by the International Labour Organisation and My Son Heritage and Tourism Site.

The programme would encourage tourists to live with local families to learn more about their daily life, while farmers will act as tourist guides.