Speakers
Description
This paper examines how a Community of Practice (CoP) model was employed to support professional development in English speaking instruction among primary school teachers in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Under the guidance of school leadership, English teachers engaged in weekly collaborative sessions that focused on lesson planning, peer observation, and reflective dialogue. At the core of this initiative was the implementation of the V-L.I.S.T framework, which consists of five sequential components: activating vocabulary, modeling language, providing opportunities for interactive practice, facilitating student-led performance, and offering continuous teacher scaffolding. This framework was designed to guide the development of structured and communicative speaking lessons.
To ensure pedagogical rigor, the V-L.I.S.T framework was aligned with the four strands proposed by Nation (2022), which include meaning-focused input, meaning-focused output, language-focused learning, and fluency development. This alignment ensured a balanced instructional approach that integrates form, meaning, and fluency at every stage of the learning process. Practical applications included speaking activities such as show & tell, mini skits, and interactive storytelling, carried out through monthly English corner themes.
The results indicate significant improvements in student engagement and confidence, as well as teacher collaboration and instructional design. This model demonstrates the potential of localized, theory-informed approaches to foster sustainable professional growth in primary EFL contexts.
Biography
The three authors are experienced academic managers with a strong background in English language education for young learners. Two of them currently serve as vice-principals, overseeing the professional development of English teachers at the primary level in Vung Tau City. All three have been actively involved in the teaching of young learners and bring decades of combined classroom experience to their work.
For over ten years, they have also contributed to the Academic Council of the Vung Tau City Office of Education and Training, playing a key role in shaping language education policies and guiding instructional innovation citywide.
Their affiliations represent the leading institutions in Vung Tau's educational landscape: Vungtau Bilingual Primary School, recognized as the top private school for excellence in language education and teaching innovation, and Quang Trung Primary School, the foremost public school in the same domain. Their combined expertise continues to drive forward-thinking practices in bilingual and English education across the city.
