On August 26, 2025, the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, warmly welcomed Assoc. Prof. Barry Bai from The Chinese University of Hong Kong at HCMC University of Technology and Education to deliver a fascinating lecture for approximately 60 undergraduate students majoring in TESOL and English Linguistics. This lecture was to share the research findings from Assoc. Prof. Bai’s team regarding the core elements of English writing in ESL/EFL contexts as well as classroom strategies for the whole writing process.
The lecture
With considerable experience of providing training and professional development support to English teachers and students in the past decades, Assoc. Prof. Bai shared valuable insights and practical teaching techniques for developing creativity in students. He started the lecture by briefly presenting his team’s research findings regarding the use of SRL to motivate students to write in English. He gave a special focus on the effects of motivation on SRL strategy use for low, average and high achievers; influences of process-based instruction on students’ SRL strategy use in EFL writing; and relationships between motivation, SRL strategy use, and writing competence. Recommendations and inspirations for further research were also offered and therefore, highly appreciated by the attendants.
Assoc. Prof. Bai shared his team’s research findings
After finishing the first part of the lecture, Assoc. Prof. Bai continued to introduce a story generating prompts generator to help spark students’ creative imagination in writing. After that, a detailed guidance was given to lead participants from choosing their favorite topic, setting goals for their English learning, organizing their thoughts and stretching sentences in order to successfully embellish their story. Students who attended the lecture also had a chance to try the ‘ARMS and CUPS’ revising and editing techniques, which substantially benefited them in checking and bettering their future writing products.
Students were eagerly trying the story writing prompts generator to write their stories.
The lecture was highly dynamic and informative, with active participation from students in different activities. Junior and senior students enthusiastically practiced the techniques, shared their stories, and received valuable feedback from Assoc. Prof. Bai.
Junior and senior students received feedback from Assoc. Prof. Bai after the activity
In appreciation for Assoc. Prof. Bai's expertise and informative lecture, Dr. Nguyen Vu Thuy Tien, representing the Faculty of Foreign Languages, presented him with a bouquet of flowers.
Dr. Nguyen Vu Thuy Tien, representing the Faculty of Foreign Languages, presented Assoc. Prof. Barry Bai with flowers.
A group photo of lecturers and students with Assoc. Prof. Barry Bai to commemorate the event.
In summary, the lecture by Assoc. Prof. Bai was entirely beneficial and inspiring to participants. The Faculty looks forward to holding other similar lectures so that students have more opportunities to develop their English skills and form professional mindset in English language teaching and learning.
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