English Now

As you all know, we're entering the 21st century with many challenges such as an explosion of information, new scientific technologies, an urban population, higher aspirations and social problems.
Facing these issues, the role of education is more and more important. The duty of teachers is heavier than ever. They have to teach their students how to know, how to do, and how to be and how to live together
students how to know, how to do, how to be and how to live together.

In fact, the teaching of English in Vietnam needs further development both in quantity and quality. Teaching methods need to be updated to keep pace with developments in Vietnam as well as in the world. So the Vietnam Government has cooperated with and received assistance and support from many organisations and countries world-wide to improve the quality of teaching English for the Vietnamese in general and the education sector in particular.

Approved by the Vietnamese Government, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has received funding for many projects from the Bristish Government. Vietnam's English Teacher and Trainer Network (VTTN) is one of them.
VTTN's
programme has brought all trainers and
teachers close together to share,
to understand and to help one another exchange, discuss and find the best solutions to improve methodology in teaching English in Upper Secondary Schools.

At the same time, the aim of VTTN's programme is also to show how to bridge the gap between university and school.
In addition, there has been a shift in emphasis towards communicative teaching methods. We have to be aware of innovative foreign language teaching and we should adapt new methods as appropriate to help our students to communicate in English effectively.
I wish VTTN every success.
Pham Van Khai Specialist, Teacher Department, Ministry of Education and Training

What is VTTN?
Vietnam's English Teacher and Trainer Network, supported by the Ministry of Education and Training and the British Council.

Why is VTTN important for teachers?
The purpose of Vietnam's Teacher and Trainer Network (VTTN) is to facilitate the dissemination of best practice among teachers and trainers of English at Upper Secondary School level.
VTTN is a forum for teachers to get together to exchange ideas and take part in discussions, leading towards improving the effectiveness of English teaching in Upper Secondary Schools. The ideas generated in workshops will be shared among all members of the network and passed on through the participants to their colleagues in secondary schools.In other words, the workshops are very much participant-centred and are not training courses as such, but provide a valuable opportunity for teachers to share their experiences and together try to solve common difficulties they face.

Who is it for?
Upper Secondary School teachers of English and teacher trainers in universities/colleges.
VTTN is run by teachers, for teachers
VTTN Team Members
The Ministry of Education and Training

How does VTTN operate?
It is run by teachers, for teachers. teachers.
VTTN currently has eight teams, in Hue, Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh, Nam Dinh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa and Khanh Hoa. The members of these teams (ranging from 2 people to 10 people) are upper secondary school teachers, university teachers and education officials. These teams, together with MOET and the British Council, are responsible for co-ordinating and conducting VTTN activities.
The network plans to expand to other remote areas in the future in order to involve as many teachers as possible.

What activities does VTTN organise?
VTTN facilitates the exchange of ideas through three means:
• Workshops held at provincial level.
• Workshops held at national level.
• A newsletter published twice a year and distributed to Upper Secondary School teachers who take part in the activities.
It contains articles written by teachers and trainers, and ideas and activities teachers can use in their classes.

		Issue 1- November 2000


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