Students at the English class (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Dozens of local children and adolescents were eagerly learningand practicing English activities with their foreign and Vietnamese teachers inan English class on Sunday morning in Phap Van pagoda in Hanoi’s Hoang Maidistrict.
Theclass is remarkable in that students learn English for fun, rather than for an examination,meanwhile their parents are not having to spend money.
TheHappy Class, launched in July 2017, aims to offer an English practicing playgroundfor kids whose parents are unable to afford expensive English courses.
Students at the Happy Class (Photo: VNA)
“Manychildren don’t have much money to study in the various English centres aroundthe city, so we decided to set up Happy Class to share our passion for theEnglish language with everyone,” Nguyen Minh Anh, co-founder of Happy Class,told the Vietnam News Agency.
“Weconnect with English centres in Hanoi to look for foreign teachers who arewilling to teach for free in our classes so that our students have the chanceto talk with native speakers,” Minh Anh said.
HappyClass offers a friendly and comfortable learning environment for kids so that theycan learn English while still enjoying their weekend.
“Thekids don’t have to worry about examinations or grades in our class. That way,they will learn English more freely and naturally,” said Tran Thi Huong Duyen,founder and main teacher of Happy Class.
VictorAnthony Skulicz, from the UK, has offered his voluntary teaching at Happy Classfor six months now.
“Weconnect with English centres in Hanoi to look for foreign teachers who arewilling to teach for free in our classes so that our students have the chanceto talk with native speakers,” Minh Anh said.
HappyClass offers a friendly and comfortable learning environment for kids so that theycan learn English while still enjoying their weekend.
“Thekids don’t have to worry about examinations or grades in our class. That way,they will learn English more freely and naturally,” said Tran Thi Huong Duyen,founder and main teacher of Happy Class.
VictorAnthony Skulicz, from the UK, has offered his voluntary teaching at Happy Classfor six months now.
Victor Anthony Skulicz is teaching English to children (Photo: VNA) Hebelieves a friendly and comfortable learning environment is crucial for kids tolearn the language, saying that young kids have more relaxing minds with which toabsorb information like a sponge.
Theteachers look to introduce a comfortable surrounding rather than a formal one,so students don’t feel afraid or shy.
“Itis a good opportunity for the young to get familiar with the language, even ifthey only speak a small amount of English,” Victor said.
Duringsummer time, the class serves up to 150 students of different ages. The classalso has a team of 15 volunteers to help teachers organise activities, set uptools, and take care of the kids.
NguyenDuy Khang learned about the class when visiting the pagoda. He has volunteeredfor the class for six months.
Thenumber of students is increasing, therefore there is a lot of work forvolunteers to do, such as printing materials, setting up activities, anddividing groups.
“Sometimes,we serve as interpreters for the foreign teachers because not all students can understandinstructions in English,” Khang said.
Thenumber of students is increasing, therefore there is a lot of work forvolunteers to do, such as printing materials, setting up activities, anddividing groups.
“Sometimes,we serve as interpreters for the foreign teachers because not all students can understandinstructions in English,” Khang said.
Children at the Happy Class (Photo: VNA) Atfirst, the class aims to provoke interest in the language among kids. However,many have also developed their English proficiency.
“Ihave come across five or six students in the class who have really developedover a short period of time,” Victor said.
Thenative English teacher believes the outstanding students are those who believein their confidence and put a lot of practice in outside of the class.
Parentstaking their kids to Happy Class now also have the chance to learn English forfree at the pagoda. The class for adults aims to fill in the parents’ waitingtime while giving them English skills so they can help their children.
Foundershope that more teachers, particularly foreigners, will offer their voluntaryteaching so that more students will have the opportunity to learn English, asthey never know when they will need Engligh. -VNA
“Ihave come across five or six students in the class who have really developedover a short period of time,” Victor said.
Thenative English teacher believes the outstanding students are those who believein their confidence and put a lot of practice in outside of the class.
Parentstaking their kids to Happy Class now also have the chance to learn English forfree at the pagoda. The class for adults aims to fill in the parents’ waitingtime while giving them English skills so they can help their children.
Foundershope that more teachers, particularly foreigners, will offer their voluntaryteaching so that more students will have the opportunity to learn English, asthey never know when they will need Engligh. -VNA
VNA
