On 13 July 2022 we launched a new collaborative project entitled VietABLL: VietNam Arts-based Language-Learning (January 2022-April 2023). It is led by two research teams from the University of Glasgow (UK): Dr. Lavinia Hirsu, Dr. Julie McAdam, Prof. Evelyn Arizpe and Dobrochna Futro, and VNIES (Viet Nam): Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Prof. Le Anh Vinh and Tran My Ngoc, Bui Thi Dien in collaboration with English Language Specialists and representatives from three DOETs: Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh and Ninh THUẬN.
The project brings together 360 primary and lower secondary teachers, 36 facilitators and 18 local artists to develop innovative creative practices for teaching English. It is based on a TAGs model (Teacher Activity Groups), developed and tested across a series of other international programmes coordinated by the British Council. As part of the current project, teachers and artists will be sharing knowledge, developing new pedagogies and working with pupils in creative ways to support the learning of English in multilingual contexts.
The Hope Choir members performing at the Launch event (from left-right: Mr. Nguyen Van Linh, Mr.Tran Quoc Hoan, Ms. Nguyen Thi Trinh)
Dr Lavinia Hirsu and Nguyen Ngoc Anh opened the event in English and Vietnamese introducing the live bilingual performance of the Hope Choir. Next, Prof. Le Anh Vinh from VNIES, Viet Nam and Davide Guarini Gilmartin from the British Council. Prof. Le Anh Vinh briefly introduced the work of the Institute and the progress of the project so far. Davide Guarini Gilmartin introduced the work of the British Council in Viet Nam and situated the ‘Developing Teachers’ Capacities to teach English across modes, media and language boundaries with creative and arts-based resources’ in the context of other Teacher Activity Groups projects supported by the British Council.
Following this, Dr Lavinia Hirsu and Anh Nguyen shared more details about the project. They emphasised its creative, innovative, inclusive and collaborative nature and highlighted the importance of artistic expertise. The involvement of artists in the project will ensure that language learning is carried out in schools in connection to local arts, cultural heritage and arts-based practices. It will inspire project participants to explore their local knowledges, cultures and resources to enrich their teaching, and expand their horizons of creativity and innovation. The launch event concluded with emphasis on participatory nature of the project and the values that underpin our work: Appreciation, Respect and Courage (ARC).
