Speaker
Description
This presentation explores the integration of eco-literacy into local education, focusing on Hòa Bình Province, a mountainous region in northern Vietnam rich in natural and cultural heritage. Eco-literacy, defined as the understanding of ecological systems and human impact on the environment, is increasingly vital in addressing global challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, and the loss of biodiversity. While Vietnam’s national curriculum touches on environmental topics, there remains a gap in context-based and community-rooted ecological education, particularly in rural areas.
By using the traditional Cá Tôm Festival - a water-centered celebration of the Mường people and the Đà River ecosystem as focal points, this presentation highlights opportunities to embed eco-literacy into local school curricula. The Mường people’s deep connection to the environment is showcased in this festival, where they celebrate the importance of water, biodiversity, and the natural resources provided by the Đà River. Strategies include project-based learning, interdisciplinary festival integration, and active partnerships with community elders and environmental organizations. The approach emphasizes not only knowledge acquisition but also emotional engagement and cultural preservation. Through these methods, students gain environmental awareness, a sense of stewardship, and pride in their heritage, while communities benefit from sustainable practices and cultural revitalization. Despite challenges such as limited teacher training and centralized curricular control, the presentation advocates for localized educational resources, professional development, and policy-level support.
Hòa Bình’s unique cultural and ecological landscape makes it an ideal case study for educational reform that harmonizes nature, tradition, and learning. This model can inspire other regions in Vietnam and beyond to educate for a more sustainable and culturally rooted future.
Biography
Pham Thi Minh is the Head of the English Department at Hoang Van Thu High School for the Gifted in Hoa Binh province. With 28 years of teaching experience, she has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to English language education. She is recognized as a provincial core teacher by the Hoa Binh Department of Education and Training and has contributed significantly to local professional development programs and teacher training workshops. Her interest include communicative language teaching, innovation in pedagogy, and mentoring young teachers.
Hoang Thi Sau is a dedicated English teacher at Hoang Van Thu High School for the Gifted, with 15 years of teaching experience. As a provincial core teacher, she has actively participated in the design and implementation of teacher training activities within Hoa Binh province. Her professional interests focus on curriculum development, and effective assessment practices. She values collaboration and reflective teaching and enjoys sharing her classroom experiences with fellow educators through workshops and conferences.
Nguyen Thi Bich Hanh is an experienced English teacher at Hoa Binh Ethnic Minority Boarding High School. She is also a provincial core teacher who has worked extensively with students from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Her teaching is informed by her understanding of inclusive education, intercultural communication, She has contributed to a number of educational initiatives and remains committed to supporting student success both inside and outside the classroom.
All of us would like to share a passion for improving the quality of English language teaching in Vietnam. we are eager to participate in conferences like VietTESOL as a way to enhance our professional competencies, exchange innovative practices, and build connections with fellow teachers and researchers across the country and beyond.
