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At 9:30 p.m. one recent Sunday, after finishing an online English communication class attended by around 60 students, Minh Giai quickly turned to work on his speech for his upcoming university graduation ceremony.
With an impressive GPA of 3.58/4, he graduated top of his class in the distance learning English linguistics program at Hue University. Earlier, he had studied at Ha Long High School in Quang Ninh Province.
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Monk Minh Giai during an online Literature class for the 2024 high school graduation exam. Photo courtesy of Minh Giai |
He says: "I’m happy because I’ve achieved my goals. More importantly, I’ve gained more knowledge, experience, and motivation to continue learning languages every day."
Nguyen Thi Phuong Nhung, his English linguistics head teacher at Hue University, describes him as an exemplary student who was chosen to deliver a bilingual speech at the graduation ceremony in late March.
"Achieving this score is very difficult. Monk Minh Giai has a firm grasp of the knowledge, is always diligent and serious in his studies," she says.
Born Nguyen Trung Kien, Minh Giai graduated in 2014 with bachelor's degrees in law and English linguistics.
In 2018 he chose a monastic life and began his practice at Huyen Khong Pagoda, taking the dharma name Minh Giai.
Alongside his Buddhist studies, he also got a master's degree in cultural management at Hue University. In 2023, he was accepted into a PhD program in anthropology and simultaneously enrolled in the English linguistics bachelor's program.
Last year Minh Giai got certificates in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), university-level pedagogy and basic translation and interpretation.
He is pursuing online Buddhist studies at the International Buddhist Academy in Sri Lanka.
More than a year ago he began offering free online English classes focusing on Buddhist philosophy, basic pronunciation and communication through weekend Zoom sessions attended by nearly 170 students.
He also provides free Sanskrit classes to monks and nuns at Buddhist schools across Vietnam.
The remainder of his time is dedicated to religious practice, writing his dissertation, and continuing his online studies.
He says: "I like the quote by John Cotton Dana, a great American cultural figure, who said, 'The person who dares to teach must be one who never stops learning'. I accumulate knowledge until I feel confident enough to teach."
This month Minh Giai will begin English review classes for high school graduation exam students, and there will be three sessions a week. He studies the latest national curriculum and exam structure to prepare lessons and encourages students not to miss more than two classes.
Five years ago he began offering free literature review classes for monks and disadvantaged students.
Until now he has taught literature for 12 years at various university entrance exam centers and as a private tutor in Hanoi.
Last year he collaborated with other educators to provide history and geography lessons to highschool students on online platforms and has so far helped 200 students, many of whom scored above 7.5 in university entrance exams.
He also runs a popular free online English communication class every Saturday evening, which is attended by nearly 80 students.
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A screenshot image of monk Minh Giai's free English communication class every Saturday night. |
Nguyen Quoc Anh, a student from the 2023 literature review class, scored 9.5 points and gained admission to Hanoi University of Education's Vietnamese language department.
He commended Minh Giai's engaging lessons that covered exam content but also broader topics.
"Though his class started at 5 a.m., students came from everywhere and studied keenly. He was very dedicated, correcting assignments and guiding us in essay writing."
Thich Thien Duyen, a fellow monk at Huyen Khong Pagoda, commended Minh Giai's talent, dedication and perseverance.
"Everyone respects him. He is as an example for others."
Despite his busy schedule Minh Giai says he feels no stress. He utilizes AI tools to manage his weekly schedule and task reminders on his computer.
His day typically begins at 3:30 a.m. From 5 to 6 a.m. he practices English by listening to programs like TED Talks and National Geographic and imitating pronunciation.
He also has regular one-on-one sessions with teachers from Vietnam and abroad.
This year Minh Giai aims to complete his PhD and is considering enrolling in an online master's course in Buddhist studies in Sri Lanka next year.
"I am passionate about education and feel happy motivating my students. Many former students who passed university exams now come back to help me prepare others."
Monk Minh Giai introduces himself in English. Video courtesy of Minh Giai
