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Advice for teachers -
Vietnamese Second Language

Teaching and learning activities

Unit 3

Unit 3 – Area of Study 1: Interpersonal communication

Theme: The individual
Topic: Personal identity and lifestyles
Sub topic: Health and wellbeing

Outcome 1

Participate in a spoken exchange in Vietnamese to resolve a personal issue.

Examples of learning activities

  • Read an article outlining the importance of a healthy lifestyle for young people in Vietnam. Summarise your findings in a 100-word paragraph.
  • Discuss the findings with classmates.
  • Create a glossary of words and expressions to form a basis for understanding the topic.
  • Read blog posts from Vietnam about how young people balance co-curricular/school commitments and fitness.
  • Listen to a conversation between two young people in Vietnam discussing school routines and finding time for recreational activities/part-time work.
  • Role-play in pairs, asking each other questions and getting tips about the importance of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
  • Write a 250-word informative article for the school magazine outlining the importance of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
  • Create a PowerPoint presentation comparing healthy lifestyles with young peoples’ involvement in part-time work.
  • Example icon for advice for teachers
    Write a 250-word personal email to a friend to convince them to adopt a more balanced lifestyle.
Example icon for advice for teachers 

Detailed example

A personal email to a friend to convince them to adopt a more balanced lifestyle

  1. List vocabulary related to health and wellbeing.
  2. Listen to a conversation between students about how their studies are progressing. Take notes on what they say to each other and the language they use.
  3. Watch a vlog in which a teacher offers ideas to students about how to tackle Year 12 (or equivalent in Vietnam) in the healthiest way possible.
  4. Find and read websites that target students and their study methods. List ideas and advice provided.
  5. Read a youth magazine where students have asked questions about healthy and balanced lifestyles. Discuss the responses and decided whether they are realistic.
  6. Draft an email to be written to a friend suggesting actions they could take to have a balanced and healthy lifestyle in Year 12. In the draft, include:
    • solutions or ideas
    • language that would be used when addressing a friend
    • vocabulary and expressions that highlight your knowledge in this area
    • grammar that showcases your linguistic facility.

Unit 3 – Area of Study 2: Interpretative communication

Theme: The Vietnamese-speaking communities
Topic: The Vietnamese cultural heritage
Sub topic: Regional variations

Outcome 2

Interpret information from texts and write responses in Vietnamese.

Examples of learning activities

  • Study a map of Vietnam and identify the regions, their geographical situation and features.
  • Individually or in pairs, choose a region. Read about it and list its major historical developments and/or particularities. Include towns, farming, traditions, costumes, festivals and food. Prepare a poster or PowerPoint of the most important characteristics of that region.
  • In small groups, research links between the different regions studied. Alternatively, compare the way in which the regions have developed.
  • Example icon for advice for teachers
    Drawing on the texts studied, prepare a script and deliver a three-minute speech about the chosen region with emphasis on one particular aspect of its traditions or regional life.
  • View a series of captioned illustrations that depict information about a particular region and analyse them.
  • Consider the region’s role in the mythology or history of Vietnam. Consider the questions: Do any of the traditions represent Vietnam at all? Why/how might that be so? How do other regions of Vietnam view this?
  • Write a 250-word personal blog post as though you have just visited the region. Make comments about your reactions to discovering the region and any cultural observations about its role in Vietnam.
Example icon for advice for teachers 

Detailed example

A three-minute speech on a chosen region based on information from the texts studied.

  1. Research the region. Write notes about its various attractions and traditions, as well as its geography and history.
  2. Gather images of the area and any of its traditional festivals. Display them on a poster or PowerPoint presentation with detailed captions.
  3. Watch a video of someone talking about a region. Make notes under these questions as headings: How do they present themselves physically while giving the talk? What type of language do they use? What techniques do they employ to make it engaging and interesting?
  4. Plan the script of the three-minute speech using the research. Re-read the information gathered about the region and consider which aspects must be included to convey the flavour of the area and its traditions in the best possible way.
  5. Practise reading the script aloud and note areas that might pose problems in terms of pronunciation or intonation.
  6. If using images as part of the speech, practise indicating them to others so that listeners are aware of them and appreciate how they support the spoken material.
  7. Record the speech; listen to the recording and make any necessary changes to either content or delivery. Also, note the timing and adjust speed of presentation or information included.

Unit 3 – Area of Study 3: Presentational communication

Theme: The world around us
Topic: Global and contemporary society
Sub topic: Sustainability and energy use in Vietnam and Australia

Outcome 3

Express ideas in a personal, informative or imaginative piece of writing in Vietnamese.

Examples of learning activities

  • Create a glossary of words and expressions focusing on concepts and ideas that we have in Australia about sustainability and energy use.
  • Read an article about sustainability and energy usage in Vietnam. Compare the glossary to the vocabulary in the article. Identify any particular words or expressions not already in the glossary. Consider whether this highlights other cultural concerns in Vietnam. Discuss the similarities and differences in pairs and write a 100-word paragraph explaining why that might be so.
  • Research widely to find information about the views held in Vietnam about improving sustainability and reducing energy usage.
  • Write an advertisement or advertising brochure to promote sustainable practices.
  • Consider how both Vietnam and Australia rate in energy usage and sustainability in global terms. Research the major energy usage of both countries. Use the statistics to compare costs and efficiencies. List the differences and similarities. Then write comparative sentences about them.
  • Watch a television program from Vietnam in which participants discuss issues of energy usage and sustainability.
  • Listen to energy companies and their consumers discussing their needs in the energy market. Discuss personal responses to this topic.
  • Example icon for advice for teachers
    Write a leaflet on the topic of sustainability and energy usage in Vietnam.
Example icon for advice for teachers 

Detailed example

A leaflet about sustainability and energy use in Vietnam

  1. View a documentary on sustainability and energy usage in Vietnam.
  2. Read an article on sustainability and energy usage and how it has changed over the last 10 years.
  3. Listen to a conversation between young people in which they discuss their views on sustainability and energy usage in Vietnam.
  4. Discuss in pairs how best to answer questions related to the topic in Vietnamese using full sentences.
  5. Individually, select an article and write questions on it. Also, create an answer key for these questions.
  6. Circulate the sets of questions. Answer all of them. Correct as a group.
  7. Examine some advertising material including leaflets.
  8. Draft captions to include alongside images.
  9. Draft a series of headings and short paragraphs.