Workshop
On the first day in Nha Trang, our morning began with a welcoming meeting at Thai Binh Duong University, where we gathered to acquaint ourselves with the campus and its facilities. The atmosphere was vibrant as our group shared our initial impressions and excitement about being at TBD University. It was a great opportunity to bond and hear diverse perspectives, especially from our group member who expressed her enthusiasm and thoughts on experiencing TBD University for the first time. As part of the morning session, both TBD University and EF MA students contributed performances that showcased our singing talents. It was a delightful blend of music that highlighted the spirit of collaboration and celebration between our institutions. These performances not only were entertaining but also fostered a sense of friendliness among all participants, setting a memorable start to our time in Nha Trang.
Later in the afternoon, we had an enlightening workshop about 'Current Issues in ELT in Vietnam'. The session was filled with engaging presentations and stimulating discussions that provided valuable insights into the challenges and innovations within English language teaching in the country. Our group actively participated by presenting a poster on 'Global Englishes', contributing to the broader discourse on language diversity and its implications in educational settings. It was rewarding to exchange ideas with fellow educators and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of ELT in Vietnam.
Micro-teaching
PREPARATION
Before embarking on the Practicum trip 2024 to Nha Trang City, our group gathered essential information about the teaching materials, noticed the students' proficiency levels, the number of participants, and other available facilities to design a lesson plan. With this information, we meticulously designed lesson plans and prepared handouts for all classroom activities. Confident in our preparations, we believed our lesson plan was thorough and well-constructed. However, a significant challenge emerged til the observation activity on the second day of the practicum trip.
It became evident that not only the students' proficiency levels, but also the students' energy posed a substantial obstacle to conducting the planned activities as intended. The class that we observed was a bit quiet, some students even did attend the class activities. Knowing these problems, our group spent the remainder of the day revising the lesson plan after the morning observation. Several activities were either modified or removed to better suit the students' abilities. The class teacher noted that students in the early morning shift are often more reserved, necessitating a revision of the lesson plan to make it more engaging and encouraging for student participation.
Our revision process was briefly interrupted by a dinner with the class and our professors. Then, we dedicated the evening to finding a photocopy shop capable of color printing. After three hours of searching the city's streets and alleys on rented motorbikes, we finally located a shop that provided the needed service. Following that, our discussion and rehearsal continued until 2 a.m. to ensure everything was in place for the upcoming micro-teaching.
DURING THE MICRO TEACHING SESSION
On the day of our micro-teaching session, we were both enthusiastic and thoroughly prepared for the practice. The observation experience highlighted the importance of utilizing both English and Vietnamese to teach students with lower proficiency levels. Specifically, after observing Group 1.1's performance, it became evident that Vietnamese should be used 80-90% of the time to ensure effective knowledge transmission and the successful execution of the lesson plan activities.
At the conclusion of the micro-teaching session, we held a rewarding ceremony for the groups. We were delighted and proud to see that the students appreciated our gifts. The lesson was completed within the allotted time, and all the main planned activities were successfully implemented.
Our group initiated the micro-teaching session with a warm-up activity led by Ms. Khanh. This segment was executed successfully, engaging the students and creating a vibrant classroom atmosphere. This level of engagement was sustained throughout the subsequent activities, including the grammar instruction and grammar/speaking exercises conducted by Ms. Han and Ms. Chi. The speaking practice session, led by Mr. Hau and Ms. Phuc Anh, adhered closely to the planned lessons.
Seminar
On the third day of our trip, we had the honor of visiting the Vietnam Naval Academy for the first time. Our coach drove through a stunning landscape, passing an enormous campus adorned with numerous trees. During the seminar, we shared many useful and interesting tips to help students improve their English skills, vocabulary, and grammar. Additionally, we conducted fun games to engage the students and reinforce the knowledge covered in the presentations. Two members of our group presented valuable information and experiences to enhance reading skills. We chose to present certain techniques such as predicting, finding connections, picturing, inferring, questioning, and summarizing as they can help readers better understand what they are reading. The participants for this session were non-English major students from Navy Academy. We were informed that the students’ English proficiency is pre-intermediate level, so the content was carefully simplified for the audience to catch up. However, the number of participants for this session was quite large, we had to be flexible in presenting the content, i.e., we code-switched frequently for difficult terms and for shorter instructions in the warm-up stage. The students in the Navy Academy showed their enthusiasm and actively participated in every activity that we organized, which lessened our tension while presenting in such a formal event. It was an unforgettable experience, as we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in a completely new environment and meet active and enthusiastic students there.
Gala Dinner
The Gala dinner is a cherished event for all MA TESOL students, marking the joyful conclusion of the “challenging practicum.” It is an evening filled with laughter, camaraderie, and celebration. The success of the Gala dinner hinges on meticulous preparation, encompassing everything from music, games, and performances to the thoughtful selection of gifts for our professors and distinguished guests.
WELCOMING SESSION
The Gala Dinner started with an engaging introduction to the evening's entertainment. The stage was perfectly set, and the atmosphere was full of excitement as we looked forward to the night's events. To begin, we were honored to welcome our Professors and distinguished lecturers from universities across the region. Their presence highlighted the importance of our practicum and brought an added level of academic prestige to the evening.
OUR THANKFULNESS
This Gala dinner also provided a heartfelt opportunity for us to express our profound respect and gratitude to the Professors who have been pillars of support throughout our journey at USSH. Through carefully chosen gifts and handwritten letters, we convey our deep appreciation and affection for our esteemed Professors. The evening's highlight was the presentation of gifts, a symbolic gesture of our gratitude. Each letter and gift embodied the sincere thanks we owed to our beloved and venerable Professors. The handwritten notes were more than mere words; they were tokens of our appreciation for the guidance and support provided throughout our academic journey.
UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS
Our anticipation peaked as a member of our group joined the music ensemble, eagerly awaiting her moment to shine on stage. A standout moment of the Gala was the stunning performance by our talented Professor Nguyen Dang Nguyen. The entire audience was captivated, with eyes wide and mouths agape, as Dr. Nguyen’s beautiful voice harmonized perfectly with the song's meaningful lyrics. We were so moved that we saved the song’s name and have since listened to it repeatedly, hoping to hear Dr. Nguyen perform it again in the future. The delightful dance by Mr. Nguyen and Dr. Phuong, evoking a sense of nostalgia and charm, added a lovely and relaxed vibe to the evening.
As the night unfolded, we borrowed the lyrics of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio to express our admiration and love for our Professors, guests, teachers, and fellow classmates. Despite the song having been performed before, its magic was renewed, and we cherished it as if hearing it for the first time.
The Gala was also sprinkled with humor and surprise. One of the most memorable moments was a game featuring Dr. Phuong. The Gala revealed that our Professors excel not only in teaching and research but also in their playful spirit. The game was so engaging that if not for the MC’s suggestion to conclude, it might have continued indefinitely. Another amusing incident involved the MC misnaming teacher Trung Anh three times, which, while initially funny, underscored the importance of meticulous preparation for such a significant event.
A FAREWELL
The Gala dinner was an unforgettable evening, filled with emotions and memorable moments. It was not “a dinner", it was a night of celebration, appreciation, and joy, bringing together students, professors, and guests in a shared experience of gratitude and camaraderie. We look forward to future opportunities to express our love and thanks, carrying forward the spirit of this extraordinary evening.
