Primary school teacher in Ho Chi Minh City with the initiative of a 'borderless' reading model

Since 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out violently in Vietnam, social distancing widened the gap between teachers and students, a teacher in Ho Chi Minh City had the initiative to organize online reading activities without borders.

That is the activity "Reading with you" through the Booktalk model implemented by Ms. Hoang Thuy Bich Thuy, former Vice Principal of Nguyen Thi Dinh Primary School (formerly in District 7, now in Tan Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), now a specialist of the Department of Culture and Society of Phu Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. After 4 years, the model is still developing very strongly, especially in the summer - children are immersed in many interesting Booktalk sessions.

No matter what province or city you are from, you are welcome to read books together.

The activity "30 minutes reading with you" was first launched on July 25, 2021 and is currently held at 7:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday evening, via the Zoom application, for all children from 5 to 11 years old.

During the program, students are introduced to their favorite books by their teachers; retell a story that moves, makes you laugh or think; listen to other students share about books, transform into characters in the story... Not only that, depending on their age, students are also guided to draw illustrations and make book covers based on their imagination...

The 30-minute Booktalk reading session with the new students took place on July 20, 2025 via Zoom, with Ms. Bich Thuy accompanying the students.

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

Each Booktalk episode attracts a large number of children, divided into two groups: book talk for preschoolers and first and second graders; reading group for third, fourth and fifth graders.

Notably, the "borderless" reading activity is not an activity exclusive to any school or city. Accompanying the program from the beginning at the invitation of Ms. Bich Thuy, teachers Pham Thi My Nhan and Tran Nguyen Thanh Truc - teachers of Nguyen Thi Dinh Primary School - are ready to join the "team" to do communication and connect colleagues everywhere. From Nguyen Thi Dinh Primary School, the activity gradually spread to many schools in the city and many other provinces. Teachers in many other localities joined hands, participated in Booktalk, and carried out activities with books for the children.

After 4 years, the 30-minute reading program with children is completely free, without advertising, without sponsorship - still growing strongly. To date, 257 Booktalk sessions have been held, the fanpage "Learning from books" has more than 1,700 members from all over the country.

Spread the spirit of happiness in reading sessions with children

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

Exciting Booktalk sessions in summer 2025

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

Presented at the International Symposium on Happy Schools

The Booktalk activity series "30 minutes reading with children" was introduced in the article "Happiness from the journey of reading with children" and presented at the International Symposium on Happy Schools in Hue , in April 2023 (hosted by the University of Education, Hue University).

In the article "Happiness from the journey of reading books with children", Ms. Hoang Thuy Bich Thuy and Ms. Tran Thi Quynh Nga, University of Education, Hue University; Ms. Nguyen Minh Thanh Nhan, Ly Thuong Kiet Primary School, Hue City, said that when students read books, it is the time they share happiness.

Primary school students, depending on their grade level, have begun to be equipped with the necessary vocabulary for reading. They also begin to experience each level of reading, with an expansion in topics, genres, and text volume. In that journey, in terms of psychological and scientific bases of reading teaching, children always need companions to decode interesting but ambiguous words, wonderful but extremely new ideas.

Ms. Hoang Thuy Bich Thuy and her students

PHOTO: PHUONG HA

The presence of experienced readers also strengthens students' confidence in reading or, more importantly, helps establish emotional channels where empathy is evoked and sharing is encouraged. Young students also feel more comfortable if their reading voices are listened to, praised, and encouraged by teachers.

Many children also want to talk about what they read in a new book they were given, a poem in a magazine, a piece of scientific information... The interaction will be more effective if the teacher has read the book, has particularly liked the character the child is talking about, or is truly surprised and excited by the scientific discovery the child has just made through reading.

Reading with children brings many happy experiences

PHOTO: NVCC

Teachers in a Booktalk training session

PHOTO: NVCC

Not only sharing the joy of reading, reading together is also a way to help discover the ability, needs, and interest in reading in each individual student. Also through this series of activities, students connect with each other, find readers with the same interests, have the same reading experience or experience the emotions from reading...

Phan Huynh Nhu Y, a student about to enter 4th grade at Nguyen Thi Dinh Primary School, Tan Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City : "Participating in Booktalk every Saturday night is very fun. I feel happy because my parents are there with me, listening to the stories with me. The teachers are very cute, there are Ms. Truc, Ms. Nhan, Ms. Ha, Ms. Hoang, some of the teachers I often see in school. Their voices are nice and gentle. Every time I am called on to speak, I am extremely excited."

Nguyen Ha Vy, a student about to enter 5th grade, Nguyen Thi Dinh Primary School, Tan Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City: "I love going to Booktalk to listen to teachers and friends tell stories or read books! All the stories are meaningful. The most interesting feeling for me is experiencing the games in the program. Especially, after the Booktalk session, I also participated in interesting challenges. I submitted my entry and received a souvenir. Since then, I have more motivation to study and love reading. I hope to participate in introducing books on upcoming occasions."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-giao-tieu-hoc-tphcm-voi-sang-kien-mo-hinh-doc-sach-khong-bien-gioi-185250731203732533.htm