Dung's "MSU and Me"

Dung Phuong Le, Vietnam, 

Dung Phuong Le has been working as a teacher of English at a public secondary school for 20 years. Her students range and age from 12 to 16 years old. On average, there are 35 students in her class. Dung is a creative member of her English teacher team at her school.

She graduated from University of Languages and International Studies, VNU in Hanoi in 2002. She was nominated as a First- class teacher by MOET in 2018. She got scholarships provided by the US Government for the AE E-Teacher program in 2019, Adelaide University in 2021 and the SEAMEO QUITEP program in 2022. She enjoys participating in conferences. Her primary objective for taking part in Fulbright TEA is to broaden her horizons in teaching English, improve her research skills and expand her views by meeting with teachers from different countries.

MSU and Me

Time flows like water down a stream. Though my time studying at Montana State University (MSU) was short, it could never wash away the memories of that wonderful place and the deep professional development and the cultural exchange . Every day was a journey and those memories were etched into my heart.

Walking along the familiar paths of MSU in the chill of winter, passing by familiar buildings in silence, I felt the memories rush back, just as they did in the beginning. I couldn’t hold back the tears. I recalled that place—those early days that were always warm, filled with laughter and conversations. Deep melancholy filled my heart.

Fulbright TEA cohort 2024

I remembered the early days of studying at MSU in the first rank of education country. Looking far away, it reminded me about the path I took to catch the bus back to Homewood Suites, the modern buildings and spacious classrooms, always warm amidst Bozeman’s freezing winter. I didn’t forget the strange foods, like nothing I had ever tasted before. The Pizza made me relive those marvellous feelings that spent with my Fulbrighters and MSU staff. But above all, it brought to my mind the professors, teachers, coordinators and assistants who supported me unconditionally throughout my time living and studying there. I will keep these memories close in my heart. A wave of emotion rises within me.

Oh, those days…

“Memories won’t mean nothing if someone quickly forgets. But they must mean everything if he inculcates the value of integrity to his heart and mind”

Dung Phuong Le, FTEA 2024