Speaker
Description
This session explores how a Facebook-based Community of Practice (CoP), originally created for 20 Vietnamese teachers in 2022, has evolved into a hybrid professional development network with nearly 36,000 members. Designed to meet the social learning needs of teachers nationwide, this CoP blends online engagement with in-person workshops to support sustainable, teacher-driven growth.
Grounded in Wenger’s CoP framework and recent studies on teacher agency, the presentation highlights key practices:
– Weekly Teacher Talks for peer mentoring and classroom problem-solving
– Pedagogical challenges promoting reflection and creativity
– Workshops connecting local educators with global experts
– Cross-community collaboration, allowing members to become mentees, mentors, or community leaders
More than a space to consume content, this network fosters multiple entry points for teacher development. Participants may begin as learners seeking support, but many grow into contributors, organizers, or mentors—building confidence, visibility, and professional identity through community involvement.
This session will particularly benefit educators who are:
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Exploring how to engage meaningfully in CoPs
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Curious about building or sustaining educational communities
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Interested in developing leadership within teacher networks
Through practical examples and shared experience, the session offers strategies for creating inclusive, dynamic CoPs that enable long-term growth in diverse teaching contexts.
Biography
Thu Trang Thi Truong is a visiting lecturer at Thai Binh Duong University and a TESOL mentor and teacher trainer at HEW London Education and Consulting Hub in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She is also a Certified Global PTE Academic Trainer of IMME Australia, and Lead Ambassador of Twinkl Vietnam, a branch of the UK-based Twinkl—one of the world's leading providers of educational resources.
With over 16 years of experience, Trang specializes in pedagogical innovation, classroom dynamics, and teacher development. She is the Co-founder and coordinator of the Community of English Language Teaching Practice (CEP), a professional network of nearly 36,000 Vietnamese educators. Through CEP, she fosters grassroots professional learning, collaborative reflection, and nationwide sharing of teaching practices.
Trang’s work connects institutional training with community-based growth, empowering educators to thrive in diverse contexts. Her interests lie in inclusive pedagogy, teacher empowerment, and the integration of academic training with real-world application.
