Report of Activities in First Year

Peter and I arrived in Rach Gia in December of 2013 to a splendid welcome by the Rector, Vice Rector, Staff and Students. The steps to the Main Hall seemed a throng of smiling faces as the car and the In-Country AVI staff brought us into the college. From the very beginning, the obvious friendliness and huge welcome was easily seen.

We were introduced to the college and took a guided walk around the various faculties, many of which had students going about their classes so we could see the extent of subjects taught. Our first impressions were that the faculties were very well resourced.

A smaller group of staff, led by Mr Duc, took us out to lunch to show us how the area is justifiably proud of its seafood. That evening a larger group gathered, including people from various government departments and GIZ staff and we were provided another sumptuous feast but especially the opportunity to meet people who have become friends.

The college then set about settling us into the city. We received help to set up our banking and finances. We were shown around the city and were assisted in finding rental accommodation. I was also given the opportunity to learn to ride on the back of a motor bike!

In preparation for work, I developed a simple test both for Writing/Reading and Speaking to test staff competency in use of English. The decision was made to offer English classes at three levels, each person having 3 hours per week of classes. Classes commenced in the New Year. Classes originally started at 4pm but it became obvious that this time was difficult for many. Numerous changes have been made to groupings as numbers attending declined. Most of those who explained their inability to attend, told of high work-loads and awkwardness of class schedules as their reasons. I eventually formed two groups, each having 4 hours of classes a week. One night a week was developed into a fun and revision night which anyone could attend. As people from other government departments have heard about the classes, several have sought permission and have joined the classes. This part of the year is particularly busy for teachers so we now only meet for 4 hours a week, all groups combined. The lessons concentrate on building vocabulary, pronunciation and Speaking and Listening practice. Listening is particularly difficult but I have noticed much improvement in vocabulary knowledge, pronunciation and confidence in speaking. Individual teachers have requested special help with their English skills development so I have searched out useful internet sites to enhance their learning at their level. I have corrected the work of some who have wanted extra practice in writing and have been a willing listener for those wanting extra conversation practice. I have also responded to individual requests by staff members to check their English translations for correctness.

When our schedules have allowed it I have assisted Ms Trang and Ms Hoa with their English classes for students.

The college is very good at holding fun activities and celebrations for students and staff. Peter and I were part of the 2014 Spring Festival, we cooked sausages on a BBQ and served them in bread with onions and tomato ketchup. In Australia we would call this a sausage sizzle and in Aussie slang would say we "stoked up the barbie" Many said it was delicious and we sold out very quickly. International Women's Day was another fun occasion, something that is not celebrated in Australia. It was lovely to see the beautiful Ao Dai on the ladies. The staff feast for the beginning of a new academic year amazed us. We were very impressed by the facilities that have been developed and were present at the official opening of the kitchen and student dining room. We were also delighted when we were invited to plant a tree in the college grounds. Australia's Consul General to HCMC, Mr John McAnulty, came to Rach Gia to visit us. The college gave him another of their marvellous welcomes. On this occasion the students lined the road between the Main Hall and the site where he also planted a tree. I assisted Ms Trang with the English students on the college Open Day and an English Club for adults has now been started. I anticipate helping to organise games and activities. The World Travel Club carried out their enterprise idea of making money from providing breakfasts so I enjoyed attending that.

At the end of 2014 I was happy to share my knowledge of teaching methodology and prepared and delivered a four part workshop on "Pedagogy for the 21st Century". Each section lasted 3 hours and were entitled:Cooperative Learning, and this provided practice in many of Kagan's StructuresThinking Skills and Problem Solving skills and strategiesThe stages of Enquiry Based learningAuthentic and Transparent Assessment strategies25 staff members completed the course and received certificates of achievement.

I am currently preparing a program of Leadership Skills and these workshops will be held at the end of March.

The college has assisted us to attend community events such as:The Friendship Committee function held at the end of each lunar yearThe festival arranged by the People's Committee for Lunar New Year's EveThe First Full Moon Festival in Ha TienA visit to U Minh Thuong National Park

I was able to help the ladies who made the return visit from Westminster Kingsway Vocational College. I attended their workshops and demonstration lessons and then shopped for the resources Ms Irene needed for her return visit because it was easier for her to explain to me what she needed. During the first visit we also had the opportunity to go to Phu Quoc and staff members made sure we saw the many things the island has to offer tourists.

One of the areas where I have been able to assist the Administrators of the college is in the writing of grant applications. Submissions, though unsuccessful, have been sent to three organisations:the European CommissionDirect Aid Program from the Australian GovernmentCommunity Grants Scheme from the Wheeler FoundationI can foresee that a staff member of the college needs to be trained to be the focal person for future grant proposals and will try to help in this matter. I have also had several personal learning opportunities. I attended a GIZ forum where many groups reported on their progress with environmental protection initiatives. I learned of the teaching materials that GIZ had published on the subject. I consider myself to have been fortunate to have attended the three-day workshop conducted by SEAMOLEC on modern digital communication. From this course and with additional help from Mr Indra, I am writing an ebook to assist students of the college. During one of Ms Trang's classes I noticed that the vocabulary used in the Diploma student's text book was not of a very high standard and did not match the much more difficult vocabulary needed for their TOEFL examination. My ebook will provide students with the opportunity to do private study in some of the Advanced Vocabulary needed. I recently attended a teleconference to report on work being done by SEAMOLEC personnel in Indonesia to advance the use of distance learning techniques. Ms Mai spoke of the work that is being done in this college because of the SEAMOLEC initiative.

On a personal note:In March last year we attended the AVI IN-Country-Meeting in Dong Hoi and this year's meeting is fast approaching. Through this and through several social occasions in HCMC we have formed strong friendships with other AVI volunteers. Some of these people have visited us in Rach Gia and we have shared with them, sights of the city. We have visited them in Can Tho and Dong Thap. We have been able to explore many of the tourist sites of HCMC.Our daughter visited us and with leave granted by the college, we were able to show her some of the beautiful parts of Vietnam and also took her to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat, one of the wonders of the ancient world. During the college break in August we were able to go to China. The college has also allowed us to hire a car to collect friends from the border at Ha Tien.

In conclusion I would like to thank the college for making this a special year and hope that the college, its staff and students feel that they have gained as much from having us here as we know we have gained from you.