Phuong is from Vietnam. She moved to Houston 8 years ago. There, she worked in a Vietnamese restaurant and store that was run by her cousins, and was surrounded by all Vietnamese speakers. She moved Memphis 2 years ago when her husband was offered a job here. It has only been since moving here that she has had English speaking acquaintances, as she has begun working in a nail salon in Cordova. Phuong graduated from college in Hanoi, where she majored in business. She did well in her English classes in Vietnam, but the instruction only focused on reading and grammar; as a result, her level of speaking and listening is quite low. She is enrolled in Southwest with the goal of improving her English so she can earn a degree here. She does not necessarily want to earn another degree, but she knows that she must be degree-seeking in order to get financial aid for her studies.

• • Educational background

  • Nationality

  • English proficiency level

  • Career goals

  • Reasons for learning English

  • Reason for moving to Memphis