EDUNOVA – Learning English through Real-Life Experiences

Team EDUNOVA with the project “EDUNOVA – Learning English through Real-Life Experiences”

Implemented by:

• Nguyen Ngo Huu Phuoc – Faculty of English (NNA50C11151)
• Pham Thi Thu Ha – Faculty of International Economics (KDQT50B10230)
• Nguyen Mai Phuong – Faculty of International Economics (KDQT50B10343)

Within the framework of the competition “Students with Entrepreneurial Ideas in the Field of Education 2025” organized by the Faculty of English, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Team EDUNOVA introduced the project “Edunova: Language Experiential Tour” – an experiential English learning model designed for lower secondary school students in rural areas.

Project Concept and Objectives

EDUNOVA is developed in response to a common challenge faced by many rural students: while they may possess basic grammatical knowledge of English, they often lack authentic opportunities to use the language in real-life contexts, resulting in low confidence and limited communicative competence.

The project aims to bridge the gap in learning opportunities between rural and urban students by integrating English learning into students’ immediate social and cultural environments. Rather than confining language learning to traditional classrooms, EDUNOVA brings English into everyday life through guided experiential activities.

The project offers a three-month “Tour & Learn” program, combining:

• 15–20 interactive classroom sessions that equip students with essential linguistic tools such as vocabulary, sentence patterns, and communication strategies;
• Five real-life experiential tours to local sites including traditional markets, craft villages, parks, and cultural or historical landmarks, where students complete structured communicative tasks in English.

The learning process follows a cycle of Learning – Experiencing – Reflecting – Developing, grounded in Task-Based Learning and Experiential Learning principles, and aligned with the 2018 General Education Curriculum for English.

Key Values of EDUNOVA

EDUNOVA delivers three core values through its integrated educational approach:

• Academic value: enabling students to develop practical communicative competence by using English in authentic contexts rather than solely for examinations;
• Skills development: fostering teamwork, critical thinking, presentation skills, and confidence through task-based group activities;
• Social value: strengthening connections between education and local communities, while promoting local culture and social spaces as meaningful learning environments.

In addition, EDUNOVA serves as a practical teaching platform for English language majors, particularly students from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. Participating university students are involved in lesson planning, material development, classroom instruction, tour facilitation, and pedagogical problem-solving, thereby applying TESOL knowledge in real educational settings.

Feasibility and Development Potential

The project adopts a lean and flexible operational model, requiring minimal investment in physical infrastructure by utilizing existing public and community spaces. Small class sizes (10 students per class) ensure safety, personalized learning, and effective quality control.

EDUNOVA’s business model is designed to offer affordable tuition suitable for rural families, significantly lower than that of urban English centers, while maintaining strong educational value. With a clearly defined pilot–evaluation–expansion roadmap, the project demonstrates strong potential for scalability and replication in other localities.

Evaluation by the Judging Panel

With its experiential, community-based approach and strong emphasis on practical language use, EDUNOVA demonstrated high applicability and real-world educational impact.

As a result, Team EDUNOVA was awarded Third Prize by the Judging Panel, recognizing the project’s thoughtful design, social relevance, and potential contribution to equitable English language education.