Empowering vulnerable communities in Hanoi through student-led English teaching in Vietnam

The British Vietnamese International School Hanoi’s (BVIS Hanoi) student-led social impact project with the local floating village achieved international recognition through the International School Award for Community Service and as the Tes Award Winner for Social Impact.

But it’s not the awards that make this project a winner – it's the students, floating village locals and wider Hanoi community said the school’s Secondary Assistant Head Piers Roderick, with the project’s success already leading to numerous others developing across Hanoi.

As part of this initiative, students at Nord Anglia’s British Vietnamese International School Hanoi created the floating village’s first community library, and started teaching English classes to improve the community’s educational, social and economical opportunities.

“Our students led this social impact project from the very beginning, learning the importance of reducing inequality, how to bring about transformative change in their local community, leadership skills and intercultural awareness, and the power of an inclusive society to help raise people out of poverty,” said Piers.

“Students should play a key role in their local community. From the age of two, all BVIS Hanoi students take part becoming active members of their community, to help those in need, leading to a long-lasting and far-reaching social impact.”

Nord Anglia Education’s second school in Vietnam’s capital, the British International School Hanoi (BIS Hanoi) is also central in community initiatives.

Over the past two years following the pandemic, the school has made focused efforts connecting and reconnecting with a wide range of NGOs, NPOs, Vietnamese schools and social enterprises to initiate powerful social impact projects in Hanoi.

In collaboration with Passerelles Numeriques Vietnam (PNV), BIS Hanoi International Baccalaureate (IB) students launched English Chit Chat last year, teaching English to PNV trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The British International School Hanoi’s Community Service Officer Linh Huynh said the IB students took the lead on virtual sessions, creating their own lesson plans and tailoring them to each individual trainee’s learning capability.

“Our students learnt how to be flexible and creative in their delivery, including interactive quizzes and engaging games to enhance the learning experience, and showed great enthusiasm, commitment and time management skills to create the best possible outcome for the trainees and their career prospects,” Ms Linh said. “It’s been heartwarming to see their improvement and growth.”

BIS Hanoi’s goal for English Chit Chat is to empower others by teaching English, creating inspirational learning opportunities for Vietnamese students and trainees who may be struggling to practice a second language, or afford classes.

“We want to encourage all learners to have the confidence to speak up, to ask questions, and to learn from their mistakes. And we love to see our BIS Hanoi students grow and excel in academic performance, while embracing a kind heart,” said Ms Linh.

A PNV trainee that worked with IB students from the British International School Hanoi described the experience as “fun and interactive”: [During the lessons, the BIS Hanoi student] creates a supportive learning environment where I feel comfortable making mistakes. Her personalised approach not only caters to my individual learning needs but also keeps me motivated and engaged throughout each session. Thanks to her guidance, I've made significant strides in improving my English proficiency, which has also boosted my confidence in speaking English. Since starting these sessions, I've seen a remarkable improvement in my speaking abilities.”

As Nord Anglia Education schools, BVIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi are both committed to creating and offering social impact experiences that transform communities, and inspire their students to grow into thoughtful and empowered global citizens. To learn more about each school, visit www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/asia/vietnam.