Educational Media Reviews Online

English Hustle introduces viewers to the trend of virtual English as a foreign language (EFL) instruction for children in China. Much of this instruction comes from the US, where large companies like VIP Kid provide remote instruction after school hours. Viewers meet several American teachers who provide this online instruction, including Lexi, a mom of six who works from 4am-9am to support her homeschooled family, and Tim, who currently lives in Thailand but teaches virtually in China.

In addition to giving background on the virtual EFL industry, the film also outlines important points in the history of US/China relations, from the Opium War to the Cultural Revolution, and explains how this turbulent history has made some in China reluctant to pay for instruction from the United States. For these reasons, many prefer to utilize Asian-based EFL companies. Viewers meet instructors from a virtual EFL company based in the Philippines, 51Talk. These include Andrew, a caregiver for his father who dreams of becoming a singer, and Anne, a struggling mom who teaches from home because she cannot afford childcare. Both the American and Filipino teachers display a true passion for teaching and a love of their pupils that is palpable through the screen, despite the long hours, constant repetition, and energy drain.

The film concludes with an abrupt shift. Seemingly overnight, the face of international virtual EFL in China changed drastically when, in July 2021, the ‘Double Reduction Policy’ took effect. This policy prevents Chinese children from taking classes after school, intending to ease academic burdens on students and ensure an equal opportunity for all children. This change greatly affected foreign EFL companies, some of which folded immediately, while others privatized or considerably reduced teachers’ schedules. Many American teachers lost their livelihoods overnight. Viewers check in with teachers, seeing how their lives changed after the policy took effect. Some left teaching, pursuing other avenues like homemaking or nannying, and some pivoted to private teaching, hoping to maintain their livelihood.

The short film, only 33 minutes long, manages to provide an in-depth look at the rise and fall of virtual EFL teaching in China, providing plenty of discussion fodder for a wide variety of disciplines. Students in education, language studies, international business, history, and more could all benefit from viewing and discussing English Hustle. The film is engaging and utilizes a mix of perspectives—expert opinions from historians and professors, personal accounts from virtual EFL teachers, and archival footage—that keep viewers engaged. The film is highly recommended for the higher education classroom.

Awards:
Best International Film, Bloomington Indiana Film Festival 2023

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