“The Read-lish: English Book Corner” project, which was co-initiated by the International Educational Investment and Development Joint Stock Company (UCI) and the Center for Knowledge Co-creation and Development Research (CKC), has officially completed after four months. Within the Project framework, three sharing sessions on environmental pollution and climate change, mental health, and gender stereotypes, and one English presentation were organised. In addition, a book corner with more than 294 titles and 455 books in both English and Vietnamese were set up at the library of Huyen Khong English Center.
More than 100 pupils of Huyen Khong English Center and others in Huong Ho, Huong An, and Huong Long wards has had the opportunity to access the book corner for acquiring new knowledge and improving their English language skills. In addition, The Read-lish had helped more than 70 pupils develop soft skills and understand new perspectives on current global topics through sharing activities.
“I am very grateful to the teachers and the Project staff for giving me an opportunity to participate in an interesting series of sharing sessions, helping me to be more confident when standing in front of the crowd, and supporting me to be a better version of myself.” – shared by a female pupil of Huyen Khong English Center.
CKC hopes that the lessons gained from the sharing sessions and the knowledge of the book corner, can continue to nurture good seeds that help pupils thrive up and reach their dreams.
Bao Ho
“Cinderella” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” are so popular fairy tales that most of us would agree that the stories were shaping our childhood. The princesses and princes in these stories have opened the doors to beautiful worlds of imagination. However, we were hardly aware that these perfectly constructed characters have to different extents framed the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Ms. Phuong Vy and Ms. Valerie retold these stories to young school boys and girls at Huyen Khong English Center, facilitating the youth participants to reflect on the gender identity and roles ‘labeled’ in the stories, and rethink gender stereotypes in their ordinary life. Young participants were encouraged to freely re-create their own story versions, invigorting their gender colored perspectives against the stereotypes embedded in the fairy tales’ characters.
The story retelling session was held on 3 April 2022 at Huyen Khong English Center in the series of public events under the “The Read-lish: English Book Corner” Project. The project is co-developed and co-implemented by the International Education Investment and Development Joint Stock Company (UCI) and the Center for Knowledge Co-creation and Research Development (CKC), with an aim to build small and connected English book corners and enhance social integration of young people in Hue city.
Bao Ho
Following the sharing session on Environment, “Mental health” is the next theme that The Read-lish Project presented to students at Huyen Khong English Center on 27 March.
The sharing session commences by identifying the emergence and development of emotions, understanding the role of sentiments in each person’s story, listening and sharing personal feelings to comprehend what goes on in the inner life. In addition, the sharing session equips students with a method of “mental health first aid” when encountering hardships in daily life and promotes the comprehensive development of physical and spiritual health of the juveniles.
The sharing session, guided by Ms. Phuong Vy – a mental health expert and Ms. Valerie – a native teacher from ilead AMA, conveys the children’s knowledge about mental health and an opportunity for students to develop their foreign language skills through exciting lessons. With the topic of emotions, “The Read-lish: English Book Corner” believes that students can express their feelings more confidently and appreciate the emotional values they have experienced because each emotion is a story and also a journey in life.
“The Read-lish: English Book Corner” initiated by UCI and CKC, is a 5-year project aimed at building small and welcoming English book corners that provide useful knowledge and enhance opportunities for international integration for pupils aged 6 to 18.
Anh Huynh