Speakers
Description
As Vietnam transitions from a foreign language (EFL) to a second language (ESL), preschool education is under increased pressure to offer children more natural, meaningful, and frequent exposure to English beyond isolated language lessons. This workshop responds by demonstrating how early childhood educators can use artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools to create simple English songs linked to everyday preschool educational activities, thus allowing English to be part of children’s daily routines, play, movement, and interaction. Grounded in play-based learning, Total Physical Response, and activity-integrated language learning, the workshop demonstrates how AI-generated songs are especially suitable for ESL-oriented preschool education, given their benefits for repetition, emotional involvement, classroom participation, pronunciation development, and low-anxiety language exposure for very young learners. Participants will discover concrete tactics to link AI-generated songs with engaging preschool activities, including early math, movement, art, science exploration, and social-emotional learning, thereby transforming current classroom routines into chances for English language learning. In the session, a live demonstration shows how teachers can use AI prompts to go from selecting a preschool activity and target language to creating lyrics, melodies, and songs ready for the classroom in minutes. Participants will then participate in hands-on group activities to create their own AI-generated preschool songs, learn classroom interaction techniques using gestures and movement, and share practical ideas for using songs in everyday preschool teaching. Finally, the workshop introduces the role of AI in supporting sustainable teacher creativity, optimizing preparation time, and creating ESL-oriented preschool learning environments in Vietnam.
Biography
Ha Cao Thi Hong Thu has three decades of experience in lecturing, teacher training, and curriculum development. She is based at the National College of Education Ho Chi Minh City, and has worked with a range of universities, local departments of education and training, and commercial publishers. She has written a series of English textbooks for very young learners. She has also been a speaking examiner for over 15 years, bringing her expertise to standardized language assessment. She regularly presents, coordinates, and reviews at international TESOL conferences. Her professional interests include training teachers of English to very young learners and teenagers, designing English textbooks, and creating welcoming spaces for teachers to share ideas, learn from each other, and grow together.
Le Thi Hang is an English lecturer at the National College of Education in Ho Chi Minh City with more than 27 years of teaching experience in English language education. She earned her master's degree in applied linguistics from La Trobe University, Australia. Her professional interests include developing innovative teaching materials for non-English-major students and enhancing learners’ speaking and listening skills through technology-supported instruction. She is particularly interested in integrating interactive and learner-centered approaches into English language teaching to increase student motivation and engagement. In addition to teaching, she actively explores practical applications of educational technology to support effective classroom practices and promote continuous professional development and lifelong learning.
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