Dear Readers

Welcome to another edition of English Now. This time it really is a bumper issue, with special articles on the very successful VTTN ELT Conference in Ho Chi Minh City in December 2004, as well as two new regular features – VTTN Primary and Teaching Tips.

A bigger English Now magazine reflects the expanding reach of VTTN and I’d like to say a very warm “hello and welcome” to all our new readers in the eleven new provinces - Hanoi, Quang Tri, Quang Ninh, Soc Trang, Ba Ria- Vung Tau, Kien Giang, Haiphong, Quang Ngai, Ha Tinh, Can Tho and Phu Tho.

As VTTN goes from strength to strength, we remain committed to our original aim of supporting teachers with ideas and strategies towards a more communicative approach to teaching English language. This tenth edition of English Now I hope reflects this with the tips and activities for motivating students through group work, pair work, integrated skills and real-life, meaningful tasks. Most of these ideas came from participants and trainers from the last round of provincial workshops , “Motivation – Why and How?”, and were compiled by our editors, Tran Lam Son and Bao Kham (who, I’m sure you’ll agree, continue to do a fantastic job!).

Lots has been happening with VTTN since the last edition of English Now. The ELT Conference in December was attended by over 350 participants and 50 speakers including the two plenary speakers; our old friend Mario Rinvolucri and a newcomer, Peter Moor. We have included a special pull-out-and-keep section of some of the papers from the conference, as well as a report of the event. It hasn’t been possible to print all 50 papers, but I hope the ones we have chosen will be of interest to you.

Don’t forget that we would love to hear from you about the great things going on in your classroom – just get in touch and we will try to print your ideas! English Now is as ever, by teachers, for teachers.

Finally, on behalf of the English Now team and all its readers, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of our dear VTTN colleague, Thai Hoang Nguyen, who tragically died last month. Nguyen was an invaluable member of the Danang VTTN team as well as the ELT Specialist for the Department of Education and Training. His enthusiasm, commitment and warm personality will be greatly missed by all of us and I would like to dedicate this issue of English Now to his memory.

Laura Grassick
ELT Development Manager