In room C106, the soft clicking and clacking of keyboards fills the space as students dive into coding exercises with Coppell High School’s newest AP Computer Science teacher Kha Nguyen standing in the front of the class teaching his students how loops are used in codes.
Nguyen is from Vietnam and moved to Dallas to complete his college education, welcoming new opportunities and possibilities. Prior to teaching at CHS for the 2024-25 school year, he had experience at a university as an assistant professor at the University of North Texas, helping him realize how much he enjoys teaching.
“I chose CHS because it was closeby to my house and I have heard a lot of positive things about this school,” Nguyen said.
America itself is very different from Vietnam for Nguyen. In his homeland, the streets are full of noise and excitement, creating a lively and festive vibe. CHS is very different from the schools back in his hometown, which was stricter.
“For exams, we had only one chance. If we fail, then we fail,” Nguyen said. “And if the students failed an exam, they wouldn’t have another chance to retest, as we do here.”
In his first year at CHS, Nguyen’s primary goal is to assist his students, providing them with guidance as they advance in the class. His commitment to helping students understand the material is clear in his teaching style and classroom interactions.
“He makes sure to clearly explain things to us and keep answering our questions until the students get the topic but is also strict for his students’ benefits,” junior Palak Kumar said.
Sometimes, Nguyen’s strong accent can make it difficult for students to fully understand the lesson he teaches. To overcome this challenge, he actively focuses on speaking more clearly and limiting the amount of time talking during explanations.
“I like to explain it in other ways by playing games or showing real-life scenarios and creating some small projects from them to understand what a concept is,” Nguyen said. “This method not only enhances students’ understanding of hard concepts but also makes learning more enjoyable.”
Nguyen has an extensive background in computer science, going back to his high school in Vietnam which had competitions for computer science.
“I was in the top 10 in the district of all the high schools in my area,” Nguyen said. “I have worked hard to understand the concepts and to get to what I achieved. I also use this knowledge to help students throughout the classes I have with them.”
Prior to the school year, while meeting CHS computer science teacher Michael Finnegan, they discovered similar interests like technology and knowledge about coding. This connection marked the beginning of a friendship.
“Finnegan was actually the first friend as a colleague I made when I came here. He was very friendly and guided me throughout the syllabus,” Nguyen said.
At CHS, Nguyen found a supportive community to help him grow.
“I was at home, surrounded by teachers who share the same interests as me who have a genuine passion for education,” Nguyen said. “Their kindness and support made a positive environment that helped me adapt to this new place.”
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