It's that time again. You just can't keep a good thing down. On behalf of English Now it is a great pleasure to welcome you all to our eighth issue of the VTTN magazine.
With demand for circulation increasing with every publication - 3000 readers from across Vietnam and beyond - it is extremely encouraging to know that the word is spreading and VTTN is gaining more and more interest. This can only mean one thing; the collective desire to improve the quality of our English teaching is burning more brightly than ever!

In response to this groundswell of interest we have beefed up the magazine from 16 to a ÔwhoppingÕ 20 pages. Not only this, we have also had to enlist the help of two enthusiastic new sub-editors to help create, edit and compile all future publications. As our logo says ÔBy teachers, For teachersÕ. This happy collaboration is yet another glowing example of the spirit of VTTN! Applicants were chosen based on their practical suggestions for improving the newsletter and the thoughtfulness of their responses. So without any further ado please join me in welcoming the following people on board: Mr. Bao Kham from Hue, Mr. Tran Lam Son from Nghe An.

As one of our new editors says
ÔEnglish NowÕ has been a good friend to lots of teachers in Vietnam, providing information about VTTN activities throughout the country and making them feel part of a caring-sharing community. Reading the magazine, we feel closer to other teachers and we have the chance to share our experience and learn from each other.Õ

Similarly, according to one of our very own network trainers ÔEnglish NowÕ is like a BYO buffet party where people who are interested in it can join in and contribute to it with their own ideas. I like this analogy. If applied to this edition, we could proudly say that we have:

n A veritable feast of practical ideas from our provincial workshops and ELT workshops.
n A sumptuous banquet containing the finest international talents from the Hanoi conference (March 2004).
n A side order of riddles, jokes, fun and games from our very own Mr. Bang in Bang on!

Let us not forget that this is a very exciting time to be an English teacher in Vietnam Ð there are so many positive changes happening. New text books ÔTieng AnhÕ are challenging our methodological preconceptions and calling for new teaching approaches. Now is the time, more than ever, for us to come together and share the expertise we have. With so many energetic and dedicated English-teaching professionals around I am confident that this will continue to happen. Long live the VTTN!

So until next time, keep your letters coming.

Enjoy this issue and happy teaching!

Nick Walker
ELT Development Manager
British Council, Vietnam