Hanoi, 4^th March 2016

REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER WORK

To: HUNRE Governing Board

In order to implement the Project "Learning and teaching of foreign languages in the national education system for the period of 2008-2020", with the aim of improving the quality of foreign language teaching and learning at Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment (HUNRE), under the direction of the Board, the Department of Foreign Languages (DFL) has cooperated with Volunteer for Peace (VPV) and invited several international volunteers to support lecturers and students in teaching and learning English. From January 2014 to present, this volunteer work has contributed to some remarkable educational and social achievements as follows:

1. VOLUNTEERS’ GENERAL INFORMATION

By March 2016, there have been 5 working periods at the University with a total of 10 international volunteers coming from Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada, and Germany:

- Period 1: 02 Danish volunteers

- Period 1: 01 Danish volunteer

- Period 3: 01 German volunteer and 02 American volunteers

- Period 4: 01 Swedish volunteer and 01 American volunteer

- Period 5: 02 Danish volunteers

2.   VOLUNTEER TASKS:

Because international volunteers are confident of communicating in English, DFL allocated them to perform the following tasks:

- Work as teaching assistants for lecturers of DFL to support students in English pronunciation, listening and speaking topics.

- Participate in active learning activities to enhance communication skill of DFL lecturers

- Guide lecturers of other Faculties to speak English fluently.

3.      ACHIEVEMENTS:

There have been 25 intensive English courses for communication skill successfully organized, with the attendance of many lecturers of Faculty of Surveying and Mapping, Faculty of Economics and Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Political Science and Faculty of Water Resources Management. At present, we are running 06 English communication courses. Despite of time and knowledge limitations, these intensive courses helped HUNRE lecturers become more confident of their English communication skills and encourage them to self-study English.

Besides, these volunteers have worked as teaching assistants under DFL lecturers’ guidance to provide students’ inspiration and additional information. This activity has offered favorable opportunities for students to practice English speaking skills and enhance their communication skills as well as inspire them to study English better. Also, it has created a friendly cultural environment between HUNRE students and international volunteers.

Finally, international volunteers have participated in weekly English discussions with DFL lecturers which helped them improve their communication and presentation skills.

4.      ASSESSMENT OF  VOLUNTEER WORK:

- VPV’s Feedback: VPV managers and coordinators are willing to support international volunteers in accommondation, legal and administrative procedures. VPV has established a close connection between DFL and international volunteers.

- International Volunteers’ Feedback: those are who participated in volunteer work at HUNRE gained valuable experience. International volunteers also highly appreciated substantial contributions of Department of Foreign Languages, Science-Technology and International Relations, and other departments to educational development and enthusiastic welcome from HUNRE lecturers, officers, and students.

 - DFL’s Feedback: working with international volunteers’ assistance is a valuable opportunity for HUNRE lecturers to experience cooperative learning if they take the advantages of this pedagogical approach. Moreover, DFL teachers can improve their professional knowledge and teamwork as well.

 DFL highly appreciates all contributions of two DFL lecturers working as coordinators namely, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Linh and Ms. Dinh Thi Hoai, who have overcome many difficulties to manage volunteer work.

 The University’s Feedback: the Governing Board has created favorable conditions for volunteer work. Science-Technology and International Relations Department has been extremely active in processing volunteer work permit.

Recommendations:

The University’s units: Classrooms’ activities should be prepared more carefully in order to improve English teaching and learning environment and the effectiveness of volunteer work.  

Basic English classes: Volunteer activities in A2 – B2 English classes are more efficient than those in A1 English classes.

The harmonious relationship between VPV and The University in general and Department of Foreign Languages in particular, should continue being promoted in the future.