The Summer Term for Young Learners at the British Council, Hanoi has come to an end and proved to be a great success. Students had exciting courses and extra-curricular activities.  There was an English Sports Day for the Seniors and Young Adults and a Summer Concert for the Juniors and their parents. In order to ensure students had a great time, our teachers worked very hard behind the scenes on both these events. Here are some memories about the event preparation from Richard Frost, our Senior Teacher and feedback from parents and students.

The SYL/ESS Sports Day

Martyn and I cannot remember where the idea for holding a summer sports day came from but as soon as we had decided on it, we knew it was perfect.  With the summer Beijing Olympics approaching, the time felt right to introduce students to a popular part of British sporting culture.  It was great seeing our students competing so enthusiastically in the strange events they had little idea about before the start of the term.

We were extremely concerned when it rained on one of the sports days (we spent most of the morning looking out of the windows willing the clouds away) but with a little adapting we were able to still hold it - only with the added fun of grass and mud.  Any fears we had about the day immediately evaporated when we saw our normally serious and mature ESS students throwing themselves around on the floor tugging ropes and falling out of sacks.

I can’t remember any sports day I ever went to as a child causing such excitement.  I hope the students who attended will have a happy memory of a great afternoon.

The JYL Summer Concert

When Martyn and I started planning the concert we realised it would be a lot of work but it was something we felt would really add to the summer term and benefit the students.  It was amazing to see that the plan we started with in the first meeting become a full concert at the Youth Theatre.  By the end of the concert day we were absolutely exhausted but we felt a real sense achievement.

The students got so much from the whole day.  The preparation put into planning and rehearsing for the concert meant they learned and practised a lot of English.  There was also a lot of fun and excitement being had backstage.  Perhaps the most rewarding part though was watching the students as they left the stage after the performances.  They all looked so happy and thrilled by what they had done.  It was amazing to see them all interacting so naturally in English with their teachers and teaching assistants.  I think the students also got a lot from watching the concert and hearing English in such a natural context.  

We talked to a few of the students a few days after and they all said how much they had enjoyed the day.

“The space play was really funny.”  Duy Anh JFLTUF9

“The best thing was winning a prize” Duy Quang JFLTUF9

“I was very, very, very excited” Khanh JFLTUF9

“I really liked the milk drinking.” Long JSUTUF9

“I loved wearing the costume.” Thanh JSUTUF9

“From the moment I was told by my teacher about the Summer Concert, I was so happy because I knew that I would have an opportunity to sing a favourite English song at a professional theatre. Another excellent thing was that my mother, father and my younger brother would also come to see my performance. I practised the song in class and at home. I also asked my parents to watch me practising and give comments. Sunday 27 July came and I was so excited and nervous when I entered the Youth Theatre. I still remember the happy feeling when I came out on the stage with my classmates holding the microphone in my hand among the shouts of encouragements of the audience who were our friends and parents. I’d love to take part in excellent events like this every term at the British Council.” Hoang Hanh Nguyen, Mrs Gam’s daughter, JML-THS9

It’s comments such as these and the excellent feedback we have had from parents that have really motivated us to want to do it again.  I hope it becomes a regular part of our calendar.

“Many thanks to the British Council for having put great effort into organising such a wonderful event for our children. It was an opportunity for our children to show what they have learnt at the British Council over the summer term”. Mrs Duong Thi Phuong Hien, mother of Nguyen Tuan Duong, JML-THS9

“Thank you very much for the Summer Event, my son and my family liked it very much, it was a really great time during which my son learned and played a lot. Mrs Phan Bich Nga, mother of Truong Phan Hong Ha, JFL-TUF9.

My family and I were very happy with the Summer Concert. I think the event was an opportunity for parents to see the progress our children have made. My son is studying at the Pre-starters lower level, but his class’s performance was very interesting”.

“This is the first time I’ve seen my daughter performing on stage at a professional theatre. I was so proud and happy while I was watching Hanh Nguyen, my daughter, singing the song “This is the way” with her classmates. I would like to thank the British Council for having so many excellent ideas and being so professional in organising the extra curriculum activities for Young Learners”. Tran Thi Hong Gam, mother of Hoang Hanh Nguyen, JML-THS9