In East Asia, English is recognised as a priority both at educational policy level and by parents keen to invest in their children’s future. However this demand is often ahead of the necessary conditions to support the effective teaching of English.

The British Council hosted the Primary Innovations regional Seminar in Hanoi from 7-9 March 2007, to address these conditions and consider ways to facilitate and support change in primary English language teaching in East Asia to ensure the effective long term teaching of English in primary schools.

The seminar brought together 50 English language specialists from the UK, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Korea and Taiwan to share knowledge, expertise and experiences in the field of primary English language teaching.

This is the first year of a four-year Primary Innovations project which will work in partnership with ministries of education, specialists, trainers, teachers and schools across the region to support change in primary English language teaching.

The outcomes of the seminar have helped to developed the next stage of the project which will focus on three main areas: support for language policy and planning, support for teacher educators and support for teachers.

Primary Innovations is one of several projects run by the British Council in the region which offer positive contributions to social development and change through English language teaching.

For more information about the project in Vietnam contact Tran Huyen.