On August 9, 2024, nearly 200 educators, ESL teachers, and school leaders convened at The Olympia Schools in Hanoi, Vietnam, for the TESOLution 2024 conference. Organized by IEG Foundation, The Olympia Schools, and the OIS School, in partnership with Oxford University Press, the event focused on integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into English language teaching - a crucial and timely theme in education.
The conference featured a series of insightful presentations, beginning with Dr. Chi Hieu Nguyen, CEO and co-founder of IEG Global. In his keynote titled "The Science of Social Emotional Learning & Language Development," Dr. Hieu explored the intersection of neuroscience, developmental psychology, and language acquisition. He emphasized the need for educators to move beyond traditional language teaching methods and consider the growing social-emotional challenges faced by students today. His session provided a scientific foundation to help educators rethink their approaches, encouraging them to integrate SEL into language instruction to better meet students' developmental needs.
Ms. Silvia Yafai, Senior Curriculum Academic Lead at Oxford University Press, followed with a session on "Enhancing Student Wellbeing through SEL Practices." Drawing on her extensive experience in global education and curriculum design, Ms. Yafai offered practical strategies for incorporating SEL into language learning. She highlighted techniques such as mindfulness practices, goal-setting activities, and reflective exercises that not only improve student wellbeing but also enhance academic performance. Such practices and approaches are also some of the core principles in developing the Oxford International Curriculum, which is used in over 14 countries in the world. In her speech, Ms. Yafai was able to interact with the audience, understanding the struggles of teachers in implementing SEL in their classrooms and the different ways in which educators have done it successfully.
The final presentation by Dr. Chi Hieu Nguyen titled "A Whole-School Approach to SEL and Language Development," addressed how schools can integrate SEL across all aspects of their operations. Dr. Hieu discussed the importance of curriculum design, teaching pedagogies, and stakeholder engagement in ensuring that SEL and language development go hand in hand, fostering holistic wellbeing for students.
The conference aimed to bridge the gap between the science of SEL and its practical application in English language teaching. It also addressed the challenges of developing SEL competencies through English instruction and emphasized the importance of a whole-school approach to ensure consistent and sustainable outcomes.
The event received positive feedback from participants. Ms. Nhung Vu, an attendee, expressed her appreciation, stating
"Thanks to Dr. Hieu for co-organizing TESOLution 2024, allowing educators to deeply understand and discuss teaching English through the SEL lens. Today, my colleagues and I gained a clearer and more specific view of the connection between language and human emotional development."
The conference ended on a motivational note with a call to action by Dr. Hieu:
"If not now then WHEN? If not us then WHO?"
We hope that this can act as a powerful reminder of the urgency and responsibility educators have in shaping the future of teaching through the integration of SEL.
TESOLution 2024 aims to influence future teaching practices and policies, particularly in the areas of SEL integration and whole-school approaches to student wellbeing. The conference successfully marks a significant step forward in rethinking and innovating language education to better serve students' emotional and academic needs.
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