Speaker
Description
Mixed-level classrooms remain a persistent and well-documented challenge in Vietnamese EFL contexts, particularly among second-year non-English major students in teacher education programs. In these settings, speaking activities often result in unequal participation, with more proficient students dominating interaction while others remain silent or disengaged.
This presentation shares a practical classroom-based approach to addressing this imbalance through carefully structured interactive tasks. Rather than relying on open-ended speaking activities, the approach deliberately emphasizes role-based interaction, clear task goals, and built-in participation requirements to ensure that all students are actively involved. These tasks are designed not only to increase speaking time but also to create a sense of purpose and accountability in communication.
To further support lower-proficiency learners, simple digital tools are incorporated as a preparatory step, allowing students to rehearse their ideas and language before engaging in peer interaction. Classroom implementation and student feedback indicate noticeable improvements in student confidence, participation, and overall classroom interaction.
By focusing on small but purposeful changes in task design, this presentation offers practical and adaptable strategies for teachers seeking to create more inclusive and engaging speaking environments in similar EFL contexts.
Biography
Pham Thi Thang holds a Master’s degree in TESOL and is currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Sciences, Thai Nguyen University – Lao Cai Branch, Vietnam. She has extensive experience teaching English to pre-service teachers, particularly in contexts where learners have limited exposure to authentic English use. Her teaching focuses on developing students’ confidence and communicative competence in mixed-level classrooms.
Her professional interests include language teaching methodology, teacher education, learner affective factors, and the integration of educational technologies, including artificial intelligence, in language learning. She has actively participated in professional development activities and presented at several national and international conferences, including multiple VietTESOL Conventions and other academic forums in English language education.
Her recent work focuses on reducing speaking anxiety and fostering more inclusive and engaging learning environments for pre-service teachers, especially in mountainous and under-resourced contexts. Through both teaching and research, she is committed to promoting practical, context-sensitive, and learner-centered approaches to English language teaching in Vietnam.
| Affiliate type | University |
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