Exploring American Culture & Applying AI into English Language Learning with Specialist From The U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City
On April 3, 2025, Hoa Sen University (HSU) successfully organized a dynamic workshop series led by Mr. Shidaun Campbell, English Language Fellow from the Regional English Language Office of The U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.
The event attracted the participation of over 100 lecturers, undergraduate and graduate students in English Language Studies and related fields, who engaged in a variety of interactive activities. The workshop series not only provided academic value but also introduced innovative perspectives on learning and teaching English in real-world contexts.
Workshop #01: Learn American Culture through Dance & Music
⏰ 08:30–11:30 | 📍 Room R506, Nguyen Van Trang Campus
As music and dance unfold the narrative of American culture, participants will:
- Learn about African-American music history, from Gospel to today’s Hip-Hop.
- Play a music quiz to identify different music genres.
- Learn Popping dance moves and perform a short routine by the end of the session.
💬 According to Minh Tùng, an English Language Studies major at HSU: “The workshop helped me learn a lot of things – I even got to practice dancing with the lecturer. This approach to acquiring knowledge is much more interesting and dynamic compared to traditional lectures.”
Workshop #02: Using Drama Activities and AI to Improve Oral Language Skills
⏰ 13:30–16:30 | 📍 Room R506, Nguyen Van Trang Campus
Through the integration of AI and drama as learning tools, participants will:
- Change textbook exercises into speaking activities where students practice real-world conversations.
- Design personalized dialogues using ChatGPT.
- Use AI tools (Google Voice, ElevenLabs) to model pronunciation and speaking rhythm.
💬 According to Minh Đức – an English Language Studies major at HSU, the specialist also guided participants on how to transform a textbook activity into a speaking task and practice it using ChatGPT, thereby improving both speaking skills and interaction in English communication. In addition, participants were introduced to AI tools such as Google Voice and ElevenLabs to enhance their pronunciation and intonation in spoken English.
💡 Thanks to the speaker’s enthusiastic guidance, the activities not only aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of American culture, but also introduced innovative approaches to English teaching and learning at HSU, while seamlessly integrating technology into language education. Learning was no longer limited to memorizing theories – it became an experience of feeling and immersing oneself in the language through artistic expression and modern technology.
🌟 As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of our events, we kindly invite you to share your feedback and suggestions via the following link [HERE]. We would also like to share with you all the workshop materials, certificates, and memorable moments from the events [HERE].
👏 We sincerely thank the Regional English Language Office (RELO) – The U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City for their continued support. HSU remains committed to providing high-quality international engagement opportunities for our academic community.
