Based on various sources of data collection for a qualitative research project, the study reported in this paper set out to examine four teachers' and sixteen students' perceptions of a multiple-draft/multiple-party feedback approach to English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student writing. This approach had been implemented as a trial in a tertiary setting in Vietnam. Three sources of feedback at three phases were provided. These included (1) peer/group written and oral feedback on the students' first drafts, (2) a teaching assistant's written and oral feedback on their second drafts and (3) the lecturer's written feedback on their final drafts. Content analysis of the data revealed that all participants valued this multiple feedback approach because of its practicality and the quality of the feedback which participants believed contributed to writing improvement. Based on the participants' reactions, the study highlights the potential of multiple-draft/multiple-party feedback practices for improving English language writing in a tertiary context.

Peer feedback plays a pivotal role in stimulating students' participation in L2 writing, which has the potential to develop students' writing skills. The concept of metacognition has also been examined to facilitate learner writers in their learning process. As such, this study drawing upon the concept of metacognition explores the implementation of peer feedback in English as a foreign language (EFL) tertiary writing classes in Vietnam and based on the findings develops a peer feedback approach to enhance the learners' metacognition. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with sixteen English majors and classroom observations in two English writing classes at a university in Vietnam. Content analysis of the data revealed that peer feedback was informally implemented in two EFL writing classes under study, which might suggest that few opportunities for the students to develop their metacognition could be provided in this current feedback approach. The findings also demonstrated the learners' expectations for changes in peer feedback practice in their writing classes. Thus, the study suggested a jigsaw peer feedback approach which met the participants' desires and simultaneously afforded the learners a number of opportunities to improve their metacognition in EFL writing contexts, especially in Vietnam. This study helps to extend the literature in peer feedback approach in L2 writing which is underpinned by the concept of metacognition and offers both pedagogical and theoretical implications in English language teaching (ELT).

STEM experience-based learning from practical problems will develop students’ skills and arouse their passions for exploring and learning the world. The theoretical research method was used to determine the relationship between experience-based learning and STEM education. Pedagogical experiments on STEM experientical learning activities with the topic “Making bio-products for environmental protection” in high schools are related to students’ awareness and skills of practical problem-solving, introduced through the plan to organizing STEM experientical learning activities; The survey method is used to produce results about students’ attitudes and behaviors against positive and negative actions with environment. The paper may have implications for developing organizing experience - based learning activities in STEM education.

Intercultural sensitivity, which is seen as an affective component of intercultural competence, is crucial to cultivating one’s favorable emotions about cultural differences experienced in intercultural communication. This qualitative study was conducted to find out how undergraduate English as a foreign language (EFL) students in Vietnam perceived intercultural sensitivity. The results showed that although the majority of students had not previously heard the phrase “intercultural sensitivity” before taking part in the survey, their intuitive understanding of the term was rather close to that of the literature. The participants were well aware of the evaluation of their intercultural sensitivity level. EFL students had different strategies for improvement of intercultural sensitivity depending on their study level and intercultural awareness. All participants, especially those who were learning a second language, believed that intercultural awareness is crucial. The study findings point to the recommendation that educators strive to further integrate intercultural sensitivity instruction and learning to improve EFL students’ capacity for intercultural communication.

No abstract