In August, the 18 TAGs (Teacher Activity Groups) from the three different provinces in Viet Nam where we are implementing the British Council project have started their conversations. Using different platforms (Zoom, Teams and Google Meet), each group was led by two facilitators and included 18-20 teachers working in primary and secondary schools. The first sessions focussed on establishing a group ethos, introducing the project and establishing connections among the participating teachers.
While all the facilitators worked with the same materials, it was great to see each TAG taking their own approach to the content, conducting different warm-up activities, from listening to Vietnamese songs to watching videos of songs in English with Vietnamese subtitles or looking through the window and sharing what the participants saw from their own location. The facilitators and teachers shared how they have been using arts-based activities in their classrooms and some have even explored how they taught certain lessons from the textbook by adapting them to their groups of pupils.
The natural and technological elements have challenged some of the groups: unstable internet connections and the heavy rain have oftentimes made the sessions a bit challenging to engage with for some of our teachers, but the determination of all participants overcame all these challenges. The first round of meetings was a success; now onto the next exciting session!
