Kiet Le
Interviews have been edited for clarity.
Background Where were you born? Where did you grow up? I was born in a small city in southern Vietnam. I grew up in this city as well. What was it like growing up there and how does it compare to the U.S.? Just a few people speak English there and there are some travelers who come to the city to visit. So there is some English speaking and American influence. How long ago did you move to the U.S.? Just over two years ago. I moved when I was almost 29. During your childhood, when were you first exposed to English? |
You know, in Vietnam I just learned English in high school and at a University, but I never had the opportunity to speak English with coworkers, neighbors, or family. So I didn’t have much exposure to English before coming to the U.S.
Life in the Salon
Do you speak mostly English in the salon or Vietnamese? How does this affect your relationship with your customers?
I mostly speak Vietnamese in the salon. But I do speak English only with customers and Vietnamese only with coworkers. Speaking English helps a lot to improve my relationship to my customers. If I speak English with them, they come back and request me to do their nails.
How do you practice your English? What strategies do you use to improve?
I practice English with my classmates and I go to the campus on my school and communicate with my counselor. I watch American TV every night and read a lot of books. Also, while I am working I will read over customers shoulders if I am giving a massage just to learn new words while I’m bored.
Do customers ever misunderstand you?
Yes sometimes I speak so fast and I whisper so they cannot understand what I say. I also speak softly in Vietnamese but I laugh very loudly.
Did you have to have proficient skill in English to get your manicurist license?
Yes I had to take a test to get my manicurist license and most of the questions were in Vietnamese.
Why was it important that you learn English?
By learning English I have the opportunity to meet more people and to take advantage of my opportunity to live in America. The more English I know the more connections I make with people. I want to eventually have a family one day and provide for them.
Life in the Salon
Do you speak mostly English in the salon or Vietnamese? How does this affect your relationship with your customers?
I mostly speak Vietnamese in the salon. But I do speak English only with customers and Vietnamese only with coworkers. Speaking English helps a lot to improve my relationship to my customers. If I speak English with them, they come back and request me to do their nails.
How do you practice your English? What strategies do you use to improve?
I practice English with my classmates and I go to the campus on my school and communicate with my counselor. I watch American TV every night and read a lot of books. Also, while I am working I will read over customers shoulders if I am giving a massage just to learn new words while I’m bored.
Do customers ever misunderstand you?
Yes sometimes I speak so fast and I whisper so they cannot understand what I say. I also speak softly in Vietnamese but I laugh very loudly.
Did you have to have proficient skill in English to get your manicurist license?
Yes I had to take a test to get my manicurist license and most of the questions were in Vietnamese.
Why was it important that you learn English?
By learning English I have the opportunity to meet more people and to take advantage of my opportunity to live in America. The more English I know the more connections I make with people. I want to eventually have a family one day and provide for them.
Katie Duong
Background
Where were you born? Where did you grow up? I was born in mountap and yes I grew up there What was it like growing up there and how does it compare to the U.S.? It’s not similar to the U.S. in my country there are a lot of differences. There is a lot of humidity and the culture is very different. How long ago did you move to the U.S.? Just in 2013 so six years ago. |
During your childhood, when were you first exposed to English?
I studied English in my country, but at that time the grammar and the sound of English that we were taught was very different than English in California. We learned British English, and it wasn’t the way I wanted to learn it because it didn’t help me with my every day conversations.
Life in the Salon
Do you speak mostly English in the salon or Vietnamese? How does this affect your relationship with your customers?
People don’t really understand me when I speak English but I speak both English and Vietnamese. Speaking English with customers help the customers to understand what I am doing. I want them to be happy with their service.
How do you practice your English? What strategies do you use to improve?
I have improved my English mostly by talking to customers, but I still do have misunderstandings every now and then.
Did you have to have proficient skill in English to get your manicurist license?
No, I didn’t have to have proficient skills in English, I actually took my test in all Vietnamese. I really only started trying to learn English once I got to the U.S.
Why was it important that you learn English?
When you know English you can communicate with everyone in the U.S. You can also speak to different people when you travel. Most people speak English, so it is very useful to be able to speak it when you need directions or want to know the price of things.
I studied English in my country, but at that time the grammar and the sound of English that we were taught was very different than English in California. We learned British English, and it wasn’t the way I wanted to learn it because it didn’t help me with my every day conversations.
Life in the Salon
Do you speak mostly English in the salon or Vietnamese? How does this affect your relationship with your customers?
People don’t really understand me when I speak English but I speak both English and Vietnamese. Speaking English with customers help the customers to understand what I am doing. I want them to be happy with their service.
How do you practice your English? What strategies do you use to improve?
I have improved my English mostly by talking to customers, but I still do have misunderstandings every now and then.
Did you have to have proficient skill in English to get your manicurist license?
No, I didn’t have to have proficient skills in English, I actually took my test in all Vietnamese. I really only started trying to learn English once I got to the U.S.
Why was it important that you learn English?
When you know English you can communicate with everyone in the U.S. You can also speak to different people when you travel. Most people speak English, so it is very useful to be able to speak it when you need directions or want to know the price of things.