Meet our team

This project is a collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, and Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam.

Hue English is run by a team of sociolinguists and second language education researchers from the UK and Vietnam: Drs Mai Nguyen, Rob Drummond, and John Bellamy of Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; Dr Phung Dao of University of Cambridge, UK; and Dr Huy Nguyen, Dr Binh Nguyen, Mr Khanh Nguyen, Ms Ha Uyen Nguyen, and Ms Hai Thuy Nguyen of Hue University of Foreign Languages, Vietnam.

The team has a track record for successfully designing and delivering impactful international and national research and knowledge exchange projects, bringing together a diversity of interests and expertise in sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and language teaching.

The project is also supported by dedicated research assistants who are students of Manchester Metropolitan University and Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies.

Core team members & researchers

Dr. Mai Nguyen

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

Mai Nguyen is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and TESOL at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Originally from Hue, Vietnam, she previously worked as a lecturer in TESOL at Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies from 2009 to 2017. Her research and teaching interests include language teaching, language teacher education, teaching English as an international language, and the intersection between sociolinguistics and language education. The Hue English project is the ‘dream project’ that fulfills her desire to collaborate with like-minded linguists, teachers, researchers, and Linguistics and TESOL students to research the characteristics of Vietnamese English and explore ways to use localised English samples in English lessons for school students. Mai serves as the project lead, overseeing the planning, delivery, and evaluation of project activities across different stages.

Dr. Rob Drummond

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

Rob Drummond is a Professor of Sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. His research explores the relationship between spoken language and identity, as well as language-based prejudice. He recently completed a large research project called ‘Manchester Voices,’ which investigated the accents, dialects, and identities of people in Greater Manchester. The Hue English project represents a continuation of that work in many ways, taking a collaborative, community-focused approach to exploring people’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences of using English. Rob is especially grateful for the opportunity to work with colleagues from Vietnam.

Dr. John Bellamy

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

John Bellamy is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. John is from Manchester and since completing his PhD in Manchester on language attitudes across different national and linguistic contexts, he has continued researching aspects of multilingualism from a sociolinguistic angle. John is also very enthusiastic about teaching and the Hue English project neatly combines his interest in pedagogical practice with sociolinguistic research on identity, accent perception and the implications for local, regional and national varieties of English.John is a co-investigator in the project, focusing on the analysis of the fieldwork data and the organisation of project events.

Dr. Phung Dao

University of Cambridge, UK

Phung Dao is an Assistant Professor in Second Language Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, UK, where he teaches MPhil/MEd courses in Research in Second Language Education (RSLE) and supervises Ph.D. students. His research interests are primarily focused on Instructed Second Language Acquisition (ISLA), technology for language teaching, learner engagement, and L2 pedagogies, including Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and English Medium Instruction (EMI). Phung is interested in the application of sociolinguistics findings to the language classroom. He contributes to Phase 2 of the project, where he designs research instruments to evaluate the impact of using Hue English samples in English lessons for school students in Hue.

Dr. Huy Nguyen

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Huy Nguyen is a Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and TESOL in the Department of English, Hue University of Foreign Languages. He is also the University’s Vice- Rector. He earned his Ph.D. in Language Education from The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. His main research interests are in the area of language planning and policy (LPP), with a special focus on language-in-education policy, globalisation in foreign language education, and educational leadership in developing countries.

Dr. Binh Nguyen

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Binh Nguyen is a lecturer in TESOL at the University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Hue University, Vietnam. Her research interests include critical thinking development for undergraduates, cross-cultural communication issues, and culture teaching and learning. The Hue English project has given her and her students good opportunities to be more attached to Hue City and be proud of the English that they speak. The Hue English is the first project in which she and her colleagues can involve their International Studies students in doing research with the local community. This is truly a memorable experience.

Hai Thuy Nguyen

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Thuy Nguyen has been a lecturer at the International Studies Department of the University of Foreign Languages and International Studies (HUFLIS), Hue University, since 2019. She has been in charge of teaching various culture and literature courses. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from HUFLIS, Hue University (Hue, Vietnam). After that, she obtained a master’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest, Hungary). In the Hue English project, Thuy works as a media manager who develops content for the project’s social media pages as well as organises activities related to communication. The project is a good chance for her to work with amazing people and to show her pride toward the Hue local accent.

Ha Uyen Nguyen

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Uyen Nguyen is a lecturer at Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies. Her research interests include language teaching, English as a lingua franca, and intercultural/transcultural communication. She contributes to the Hue English project as a researcher, handling data collection and analysis. With her diverse roles as a local of Hue, an English teacher, and an ELF user, Uyen is excited to explore how her fellow Hue locals view their English accents and the potential positive impact of the project on embracing Vietnamese accents in English communication.

Khanh Nguyen

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Khanh Nguyen is a lecturer in English at the University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Hue University. His training and research have been primarily in the field of literary studies, though he is also very curious about many of the questions that the Hue English project engages with. Together with Uyen, Khanh coordinates the different data collection activities at the Hue project site. He is also going to be working alongside other researchers in the analysis of the interview data, where he hopes to contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between language use, identity and culture.

Research assistants

Kizzy Fennell

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

Kizzy is a Linguistics with English graduate from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Her focus is on sociolinguistics, with a particular interest in language and identity. Her Independent Research Project focused on accent discrimination in politics and the importance of changing current attitudes. She is currently chief editor for U-Lingua magazine and hopes to inform undergraduate students of new ideas, findings, and linguistic fields. In this project, Kizzy is a research assistant, responsible for the analysis of interview data. With her passion for research into language and identity, she is excited to be working on this international project, which explores Vietnamese English features in relation to the identities of Hue people.

Lucas Pear

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

Lucas is a Linguistics graduate from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, with a particular interest in sociolinguistics. His Independent Research Project investigated a viral social media trend, 'cursive singing', and observed any gender disparity within the attitudes surrounding it. He hopes to combine his linguistics skills with his interest in social media to work in the media/advertising industry. In this project, Lucas is a research assistant, responsible for the analysis of interview data, as well as contributions towards the website's content. He is excited to be working on this international collaborative project, which explores the intersection of language and identity and will create a lasting positive impact for generations to come.

Nina Salorian

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

Nina Salorian is an educator currently studying TESOL and Spanish at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Her passion for teaching and language has led her to gain valuable experience in various educational settings, including working as a teaching assistant in a primary school and a Montessori-style nursery, as well as tutoring EAL online and at a language academy. In this project, Nina is one of the research assistants responsible for the analysis of data, a contributor to the exploration and application of TESOL in Vietnam, and an updater for the website's content. She is thrilled to be able to contribute her language skills and educational insights to this vital and forward-thinking project.

Jack Taylor

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

Jack Taylor is a Linguistics and TESOL graduate from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. His interests include Syntax, Intercultural Communication, and varying aspects of TESOL – with a focus on moving away from stereotypes in English Language Education towards a modern, inclusive approach. Jack is also a former Research Assistant on the Manchester Voices project, which saw him analysing audio data, for features of speech unique to the Mancunian accent. Within the Hue English project, Jack combines his previous experience with his long-standing interest in social media to bring updates on the social media pages, interacting with commenters and participants of the project. Given the nature, and scale, of this project, he is excited to see the impact that this project will have on a global scale and is confident that this project will help future sociolinguistic research – not only on a linguistic level but across different intersections of the social world.

Do Trong Nhat Long

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Do Trong Nhat Long, born in 2001 in Hue City, Vietnam, is a recent graduate of the International Studies Department (2019-2023). He has a passion for reading and exploring cultural identity and enjoys conversing with friends. As a research assistant in the Hue-English Project, he collects data by conducting interviews with people in Hue who frequently use English in their work across various age groups and fields and transcribes interview audio and videos. He thinks the project is a valuable opportunity to contribute to exploring Hue's culture. He also gains practical experience via the project's activities and the collaboration which are helpful for his future career.

Ho Giang Gia Han

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Gia Han is currently a student at the Department of International Studies. She was born and raised in Hue City. She is a girl who loves to participate in activities, learn new things and laugh a lot. In this project, Han is responsible for preparing, filming, taking photos and supporting interviewers and participants. During the project implementation, sometimes there will be difficulties, such as recording problems due to the surrounding noise, the inability to make an appointment with participants because of the differences in schedule, and especially the difficulty in finding suitable participants to meet the project criteria, etc. Despite these challenges, the project was still successful and the data collection was also completed perfectly. Thanks to this project, Han has been able to work with a great friend, as well as get to know and interact with many people and see their different perspectives on English. Finally, Han is very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in this project. Han hopes that when this project is launched, it will receive much success and receive attention from many people.

Ho Phan Ly Sa

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Sa, at the moment, is a sophomore at Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, pursuing a major in International Studies. Her fascination with understanding different cultures and the power of language as a bridge to connect people from diverse backgrounds has been the driving force behind her academic pursuits, especially in International Studies. Ly Sa’s journey in International Studies has been marked by a unique project she participated in called "Hue English." Hailing from Vietnam, Ly Sa noticed a fascinating phenomenon in her hometown of Hue – a city known for its rich cultural heritage. When speaking English, locals often infuse the language with distinct regional elements, creating a charming blend of accents, idioms, and expressions unique to the area. Through the "Hue English" project, Ly Sa hopes to showcase the city's cultural richness to the world and promote a deeper appreciation for linguistic diversity. She believes that language is not merely a means of communication but a powerful tool for preserving cultural identity and fostering mutual understanding. Ly Sa served as a sample collector and interview conductor.

Ho Thi Van Thanh

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Van Thanh is a student at Hue University of Foreign Languages. With the desire to learn and experience the tones and voices of local people using English, she considers the Hue English project as a good opportunity to exchange and learn many new things. Through the project, Van Thanh has trained her language skills and been exposed to English accents and voices from different people. Therefore, she also learns how to use the appropriate tone and voice in different situations such as daily communication, work, or interviews.

Le Ba An Ngoc

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

An Ngoc is a student at the Department of International Studies, Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies. She was born and raised in Hue, Vietnam. Language and cultural studies are very exciting to Ngoc. She is mesmerised by Hue City's peculiar allure, especially the local accent. Ngoc feels as though the Hue-English project has come at just the right time since it gives her the chance to engage in her love of in-depth research and fascinating findings. Ngoc participated in the project as a data collector and interviewer. She is ecstatic to be participating in this global collaborative initiative. In the course of gathering information from English speakers in Hue, she gained a lot of knowledge and experience. Ngoc realises that speaking English fluently or poorly is not as important as communicating your message clearly. Ngoc was urged by an interviewee that she should maintain the distinctive characteristics of her country and location rather than trying to sound like someone else. Ngoc hopes the project will be a success and leave behind good ideas for future generations.

Le Thanh Tung

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Tung has just finished his 2nd year at HUFLS and is now entering his 3rd year. Prior to his work on the Hue English project, he encountered challenges with making connections with others and preferred to work independently, however, this project helped him to see things differently. Tung contributed towards the interview stage of the project, and enjoyed getting to hear perspectives of Hue people, as well as working in a team with his partner when searching for interviewees. He is very happy to be a part of this project and to have shared this experience, knowing that all of the hard work has paid off in the end.

Nguyen Dac Minh Quan

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Quan Nguyen is currently a 4th year student at Hue University of Foreign Languages, majoring in International Studies. He was born in Hue, Vietnam and has lived here for 22 years. He started studying at Hue University of Foreign Languages in 2020. Initially a shy student, he began his 3rd year of university with a desire to improve himself, so he started participating in more activities. Recently, he signed up to participate in the Hue English project. At first, he joined as a designer for the project, but then he switched to the role of an interviewer. He also did other tasks such as transcribing the interviews. He hopes that through this project, he can help people understand more about Hue, about the beautiful scenes, delicious food and the beauty of Hue people.

Nguyen Kim Kieu Oanh

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Kieu Oanh is a student at the Department of International Studies, HUFLIS. She is very happy to take part in the Hue English project as a data collector. She feels so lucky to be able to contribute her small part to this project. In addition, through this project, she can clearly understand how rich each person's thoughts are when talking about Hue, its people, and the way Vietnamese and Hue people speak English.

Nguyen Thuc Chinh

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Thuc Chinh is a student at the International Studies Department, HUFLIS. She was born and raised in Hue city, a small but very beautiful ancient city. She is an active and smiling girl. In this project, she acts as a facilitator for the interviewer. Chinh is often behind the scenes; she prepares the equipment and helps with the photography. The project was sometimes difficult, but she was happy to be able to learn a lot of new things about the language she studied. Chinh hopes the project will be successful and reach many people.

Tran My Dung

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

My Dung, from Gia Lai province, is a student at the Department of International Studies, HUFLIS. She has a strong passion for languages and always sees languages as a tool to bridge the gap between people and cultures from all over the world. In the Hue English project, My Dung is an interviewer, responsible for collecting interview data samples for this project. Participating in this project, she has learned many things from knowledge to essential life skills, particularly communication skills, because she always described herself as “a typical example of an introvert.” She is extremely honoured and excited to be a small part of this international project. She hopes that the project’s aims and activities will contribute to discovering the unique characteristics of Hue people’s English and improving the English proficiency of future generations in Hue.

Tran Thi Nguyen Truc

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Nguyen Truc is a second-year student at Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, hailing from Hue, Vietnam. Pursuing a major in international studies, she possesses a deep interest in fostering cultural exchange. As an interviewer for the Hue English project, Nguyen Truc plays a crucial role in exploring how the people of Hue communicate in English, bridging the gap between languages and cultures. With enthusiasm and dedication, she aims to contribute to this international collaborative effort, investigating the intersection of language and identity. Nguyen Truc believes that this project will create a lasting positive impact, promoting a deeper understanding of the significance of language in shaping cultural identities.

Truong Dang Hong Anh

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Hong Anh is a third-year student studying at Hue University of Foreign Languages and a student at the Faculty of International Studies. She was born and raised in Hue. Having the opportunity to participate and work with the Hue English project is an honour for her. During the process of participating in the project and working with many people while speaking in English, she discovered that there will be many people with different accents. She has been exposed and learned a lot from the interviewees such as new idioms and intonation. Through this project, Hong Anh wants to be able to introduce the rich cultural beauty of the city to people around the world. It can be seen that language is not only for communication but also a tool to create mutual understanding between countries. Hong Anh contributes to the filming and video editing process.

Doan Ho Anh Tri

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Tri Doan is a student of Hue University of Foreign Languages. He is currently a 4th year student and his major is international studies. He was born and grew up in Hue city. In 2020, he started to study at Hue University of Foreign Languages. In the first two years of his study, he was a shy student. However, since his third year at the university, he has been a more confident student. He started participating in more activities and the biggest activity that he had ever joined was the Hue English project. After this activity, he realised that the ways the people in Hue city use English are quite interesting and he learned a lot when he was an interviewer of the project. He is also proud that he can help more people in Hue city to know more about the Hue English project.

Ho Do Quynh Nhu

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Nhu is a graduate of The University of Foreign Languages, Hue University, and is now working as an English teacher in the city. With a passion for languages and cultures, she participated in the Hue English project as an interviewer. Being an interviewer, Nhu played a role in gathering valuable insights from local residents, teachers, and students about their experiences with English in the city. Embracing the project's aims, she felt honoured to contribute to a meaningful endeavour that aimed to promote English proficiency, cross-cultural understanding, and community development. Nhu's enthusiasm for the project was evident in her approach during interviews, because communicating in English and finding answers for research questions are her favourites.

Vo Thi Linh

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Thi Linh from Quang Nam is a student at the Department of International Studies, HUFLIS. The Hue English project helps to fulfill her desire to collaborate with like-minded students and teachers to study the characteristics of Vietnamese English. In this project, Linh plays the role of an interviewer, responsible for collecting interview data. She is delighted to be working on this Hue English project.

Vo Thi Nhat Loan

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Nhat Loan is a student at Hue University of Foreign Languages. Being passionate about International Relations and video editing, she joined the Hue English project, conducting interviews to capture local stories. Each interviewee communicated uniquely in English, from fluent speakers to those facing challenges. These interviews, though brief, revealed significant insights about daily lives and professions in Hue. Despite some hesitancy, her attentive listening brought her valuable charm. Being part of the project was a cherished experience. She contributed to sharing Hue's cultural values with the world as well as fostering friendship between Hue and Manchester.

Vu Cao Canh Ky

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Canh Ky is currently a 3rd year student at the Department of International Studies, HUFLIS. He is a sample collector and interviewer conductor of the Hue-English project. Having learned English from a very young age, he has a passion for foreign languages as well as the unique cultural identity of each country in the world. Moreover, he realised that English is a tool, very much like a "hammer" to "break" the gaps to help people get closer together, share more things with each other and make the world better. His dream came true when he participated in the project HUE ENGLISH - a project to study English accents of the Hue people (Vietnam). He had a memorable journey as well as learned many things about life skills, knowledge and especially people. It also motivates him to improve himself every day and realise the beauty of knowledge in the human voice.

Tran Thi Diem Quynh

Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam

Diem Quynh is currently a 3rd year student at the Department of International Studies at HUFLIS. She is a sample collector for the Hue-English project. Hue is where she was born and raised. She thinks that the Hue people's accent when speaking Vietnamese is very special, so she wonders about the characteristics of Hue English. She feels very fortunate to be involved in this project. During the data collection process, interviewing people in Hue who speak English helped her gain more knowledge and experience. Through the project, she has learned more about the diversity in English pronunciation among Hue people as well as English around the world. It was a very memorable and meaningful experience for her.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse