Entering our academic mission

Concluding our second full day in Hanoi. Visited a a private primary school (Doan Thi Diem Primary School -

Meeting with Principal (and her assistant ) of the Doan Thi Diem Primary School

grades 1-5)  that apparently has gained the attention of lots of people, many of them seemingly important and movers and shakers on both sides of the pond. Compared to most public private schools in Vietnam, it is gorgeous. We divided into three groups and were assigned to one of three different grades. I observed the fifth grade science class, where they were learning the planets and also different kinds of animals. The entire lesson was conducted in English and these kids were sharp as a tack! We had a great time with them and they we us. They got to ask us questions and some of them were hilarious. But you would never observe that level of noise in a 5th grade class in the states, I don't think. If you did, the teacher would be out of a job. But these teachers are top shelf pedagogues. Quite the experience. The visit was a smashing hit with all of the group members.

Our first debriefing

 Great meeting this evening on reflecting on the cultural, academic, and process issues so far in our visit. Meaning-making at multiple levels! Frames of reference galore. Elaborate the complexity and then begin to worry about finding our way through.