Perhaps this is a point to re-iterate the fact that we are piloting a 'mature' volunteers scheme here in Vietnam. I have to accept that this blog is completely inappropriate as a document to engage future volunteers but … more suitable culled material will appear on the my brother’s charity- http://www.glencoefoundation.org. This gives details of many of the other projects he is involved with. Meanwhile, if you have questions or friendly comments relating to this blog you can E-mail me at DeidreMac@gmail.com
Part of this trip is to see what we, as guinea pigs can offer as volunteers as we visit different places.(Needless to say we are being offered a great deal – marvellous experiences, being part of a fascinating Vietnamese institution, free accommodation and the most hospitable welcome by delightful staff on a campus devoid of tourists.) Wherever we go around the university; on buses and in restaurants people are interested to chat to us in a courteous and charming manner.
Peter is an experienced University lecturer and has been an IT professional for many years so it is clearer what he is offering; help in developing the curriculum without heavy cost, plus English conversation in a technical context. In some ways I feel a bit of an ‘add on’ here because although I am a qualified English teacher I am not TEFL trained and I am teaching within a highly structured course. However, I am offering teaching with an English accent -a bit of a rarity here. Most staff have a strong Vietnamese/American accent. Everyone is hungry for English as it is the official language of top universities, trade and tourism.
My work in the Blue Dragon, which I initiated after I arrived, is somewhat different; here I am offering gentle English teaching – food, numbers, days of the week, time etc. to the children through reading stories and play activities. I brought a large selection of books and play props over from England for this purpose. For me, the most interesting part of this is that it appears they have not been read stories before, and the staff are able to see how engaging this is for them. The stories that work well I can leave behind (particularly the bilingual ones) or can be ordered for the centre. I have also floated the idea of developing a group of students from the university for regular English practice plus translation of story books into Vietnamese for the Blue Dragon. On my second trip to the centre staff told me that the book I had inadvertently left behind in the art room had been in constant use by both children and staff all week.