Speaker
Description
Educators working in remote, ethnically diverse communities face ongoing challenges in sustaining motivation and engagement in English language classrooms. This presentation explores evidence-based strategies to support ethnic minority learners in under-resourced contexts, emphasizing both inclusivity and learner-centered design.
Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) and the Expectancy-Value Theory of Achievement Motivation (Eccles & Wigfield, 2002), the session highlights how fostering autonomy, relevance, and competence can significantly improve learning outcomes. Culturally responsive practices—such as integrating local content and differentiating instruction through visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile modalities—have proven to enhance participation and engagement among students with varied learning preferences.
Drawing on classroom experience in northern Vietnam, the session shares practical, low-resource activities designed to boost learner motivation and retention. These include project-based tasks, movement-based language games, and reflection exercises that align with students’ cultural backgrounds and interests.
Outcomes observed include increased classroom participation, improved learner confidence, and more sustained interest in language learning beyond the classroom. Participants will take away a set of adaptable activities and frameworks applicable to a range of diverse classroom settings.
This presentation contributes to VietTESOL 2025’s focus on equity, innovation, and inclusive pedagogy by addressing the needs of marginalized learners. It offers both theoretical grounding and hands-on solutions to enhance language learning in some of the most challenging, yet rewarding, teaching contexts.
Biography
Dao Thuy Nga, an English teacher at Quyet Thang Secondary School in Son La city, Son La province, has long been regarded as an inspirational figure. She is extremely passionate about studying and teaching English. As part of the American English (AE) E-Teacher Program, she has finished a number of MOOC courses offered by World Learning in order to hone her expertise and better prepare her for the local and global teaching and learning demands of the Era 4.0. She shared her insights at the VietTESOL International Convention in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024. She has also facilitated multiple K–12, VMOOC, and Share_it_ Viettesol webinars. (RELO).
Funded by the Regional English Language Office (RELO), U.S. Embassy, She attended the “Integrating Critical Thinking Skills in Exploring Culture as a Foreign Language (EFL) English as Foreign Language setting” online course. What is more, she has also been an active member of Microsoft Innovative Educators (MIEs) of Vietnam and has been nominated as an MIEE—Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert in 2022. She can be reached at: daothuyngaparis@gmail.com/ https://www.facebook.com/nga.dao.3979
