William Grice

My Recent Work

UK Visas & Study (Own Blog) •

Chugging Through China to Vietnam: Trains, Tea, and the Business of UK Immigration

Last week I travelled by rail from Shenzhen to Kunming, then on to Lao Cai and Hanoi. I’m something of a train enthusiast and China-lover, you see, and wanted to watch the landscape roll by and witness China blend into Vietnam, town by town, city by city.

From Guangdong to Yunnan to Vietnam, the landscape shifted, but one constant remained: study-abroad and IELTS ads; not everywhere, but always somewhere...
E L Gazette •

British Council’s shared services in India: smart cost-cutting or cultural misstep?

Just as the British East India Company once relied on native clerks to facilitate its colonial enterprise, the British Council now delegates the cut and thrust of business administration to the same subcontinent.

With critics accusing it of perpetuating linguistic imperialism and exploiting its teachers, this is hardly a good look. The decision to offshore HR and finance functions to Noida may be economically sound, but it raises unsettling questions about culture, cost-cutting, and the quiet persistence of colonial logic in global education.
TEFL UK •

ELT in the Jungle: Teaching English, Transforming Lives with WEAVE

In the depths of Thailand’s Mae Hong Son jungle, English is more than just a school subject—it’s a beacon of hope. As a TEFL volunteer with WEAVE, I worked with Karenni refugees whose lives have been uprooted by Burma’s civil war. Through English, these resilient young women gain not only language skills but the tools to lead, heal, and rebuild. This is ELT at its most powerful: empowering the displaced, amplifying voices, and planting seeds for a freer future.
TEFL UK •

How English Classes Bring Hope to Ukrainian Refugees

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, teaching English offers refugees a vital sense of normality and hope. As a TEFL UK practicum student, I taught Lina, a junior doctor in Kharkiv, over Zoom, despite the dangers she faced, including evacuating during a rocket attack. Lina's dedication to learning English not only provided a brief escape from the chaos but also opened doors for personal and professional growth. Her story highlights how language education empowers refugees, fostering resilience even in the toughest circumstances.
E L Gazette - •

Enhancing English education in Thailand’s refugee camps

Teaching English in Thailand’s Myanmar refugee camps is fraught with challenges, including bureaucratic barriers, limited resources, and high teacher turnover. Despite these obstacles, community-driven education thrives, with refugee schools teaching heritage languages alongside English. Applying Professor Hayo Reinders' guidance on refugee education, volunteer teachers can foster a positive learning environment by using an asset-based approach, integrating culturally relevant topics, and emphasising emotional well-being. These methods can help refugees improve their language skills while navigating the complexities of life in the camps.
E L Gazette •

Inequality and discrimination in Vietnam’s private sector

Vietnam’s EFL industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, fuelled by a booming private education sector and a growing demand for fresher teaching approaches. However, beneath the surface of this flourishing industry lies a troubling reality of inequality and discrimination. The complex interplay of “nativeness,” whiteness, nationality, and unequal pay creates pervasive challenges for qualified Vietnamese English Teachers (Vets), non-native English-speaking teachers (Nnests), and te...