Speaker
Description
As Vietnam moves toward an ESL-oriented future, English language teachers are expected to respond to rapidly changing demands in communication, technology integration, and classroom pedagogy. However, many teachers, particularly freelancers and teachers outside major institutional systems, continue to experience limited access to sustained professional development and professional support. In response, English language teaching associations and communities of practice in Vietnam have increasingly become collaborative spaces where teachers share knowledge, develop new teaching practices, and strengthen professional identity.
This presentation explores how teacher-led communities of practice can support sustainable professional learning beyond one-off workshops and short-term training models. Drawing on survey and interview data collected from 63 online and hybrid professional learning events conducted between 2021 and 2025, the presentation examines how communities such as Communities for ELT Practice and Twinkl Vietnam Community supported teacher growth through collaborative learning, reflective discussion, technology integration, and peer-led innovation.
Findings suggest that community-based professional learning can foster not only pedagogical development but also teacher agency, leadership, and long-term professional engagement. The presentation discusses how collaborative teacher ecosystems may play an increasingly important role in supporting Vietnam’s transition from EFL toward more communicative and socially connected models of English language education.
Biography
Truong Thi Thu Trang coordinates the Community of English Language Teaching Practice in Vietnam, a nationwide professional learning initiative supporting more than forty two thousand educators through collaborative learning, mentoring, and the sharing of practical teaching ideas. She is also a TESOL mentor and teacher trainer at the HEW London Education Consulting Hub in Ho Chi Minh City, where she designs and delivers professional development programs focusing on pedagogical innovation, interactive classroom dynamics, and technology-integrated teaching. Trang regularly collaborates with educational organizations and teacher communities on workshops, webinars, and professional learning initiatives for English language teachers across Vietnam. Her interests include learner engagement, learner-generated content, collaborative communication, personalized learning, and creative approaches to teacher education.
| Affiliate type | Others |
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