First Day of Python for my Vietnamese Students

Today is the first day my Chinese-German, Korean and Vietnamese high school students started to use the Python Programming Language. I wanted to give them a two week introduction to Python during the remaining days of the school year. It actually went quite well and I think they were very interested on their first day using Python.

I chose Python over PHP and Java out of personal bias. Tracy Reed introduced Python and Plone to me nearly 3 years ago. I also chose Python since, unlike other programming languages, it is installed by default in both the LInux and BSD distributions (Perl is also installed by default). I also am quite impressed at how many LESS lines of code you need to do a simple program when compared to Perl/CGI and PHP, the two programming languages I learned in the past. The infamous Helloworld program only takes one line in Python alone!!!

My goal is to just introduce them to Python now. When the next school year starts, I plan to spend roughly 2-3 months teaching Python. After a short review of XHTML and CSS, I will introduce them to Django.

These kids are definitely a rarity in Vietnam and they are MY students. :-)

(Group 10A students learning Python)

(Nikki's is reading Chapter 2 of her Python Tutorial)