On the morning of Saturday, April 12th, 4Life Education was honored to host the insightful talk show “Stepping into Grade 1 Together – Knowledge Toolkit & Mother Tongue.” The event featured our esteemed guest speaker, Dr. Le Sao Mai (Sunny’s Mom) — a linguistics expert, lecturer at Da Nang University of Education. Besides, she is also a cherished parent in our 4Life community.

This meaningful gathering brought together wonderful parents preparing to guide their little ones through the exciting and important transition to Grade 1.

Understanding Parents’ Concerns About Stepping into Grade 1

At 4Life, we deeply understand the worries many parents face as their children prepare to enter primary school – a new world full of learning, responsibility, and independence.

This talk show served as a valuable platform for us to address parents’ heartfelt worries and provide essential guidance for Grade 1 preparation, including:

• How can I help my child develop Vietnamese in a multilingual environment?
• What strategies are effective in supporting my child’s early learning journey and ensuring a smooth transition into Grade 1?
• How can I truly partner with my child during this crucial stage of preparing for primary school?

Dr. Le Sao Mai addressed these worries through both the lens of an expert and a fellow parent.

Bringing together caring and dedicated parents, the event focused on guiding children through their first steps into primary school.

Understanding the 2018 Curriculum to Support Your Child’s Step into Grade 1

One of the key highlights of the session was Dr. Sao Mai’s sharing about Vietnam’s new 2018 Primary Education Curriculum — a modern, student-centered approach designed to nurture well-rounded individuals.

This updated framework emphasizes:Active, hands-on learning; creative thinking and problem-solving; applying knowledge to real-life situations.

With a focus on building both knowledge and character, the 2018 Primary Education Curriculum empowers children to explore, question, and learn joyfully. As a parent navigating this new landscape herself, Dr. Sao Mai offered practical advice for making the process of stepping into Grade 1 smoother for both children and parents.

Helping parents feel informed and ready, Dr. Le Sao Mai shares important updates on the 2018 curriculum for children stepping into Grade 1.

Growing a Love for Vietnamese Through Everyday Connection

Dr. Le Sao Mai emphasized that a genuine love for Vietnamese isn’t just taught – it’s grown through the heartfelt connections we make with our kids every single day.

Parents should make time for meaningful conversations to foster Vietnamese language development. Share stories that matter, and memories that make you smile — all in your warm, natural Vietnamese. Encourage your children to talk about their day, their friends, and the little things they’ve discovered. Spend at least 10 minutes reading to them before bedtime. And most importantly, listen deeply when they express their thoughts and feelings — and respond with love.

Those everyday connections, filled with your love and attention, are the most powerful way to nurture a deep and lasting connection with their mother tongue. This strong foundation will be their superpower as they step into Grade 1.

Parents listened attentively, actively joined the Q&A sessions, and shared their own experiences throughout the event.

Multilingual Kids? Relax – They’re Native Speakers!

Dr. Sao Mai’s reassuring message to parents: “Your child is already a native Vietnamese speaker. Trust in that natural ability.” Even in a multilingual environment, your child has absorbed Vietnamese from birth. What children truly need is gentle guidance to understand when and where each language is appropriate to use.

Vietnamese is the language of love and connection with grandparents, aunties, uncles – those family members who might not speak English. While English is their passport to the wider world, learned and practiced with friends and teachers at school.

Help your child understand the value and appropriateness of each language. This empowers them to switch between languages confidently and appreciate the richness of both.

A successful talk show that provided parents with essential tools to support their children’s first steps into primary school.

The talkshow created a vibrant exchange as parents actively engaged with Dr. Sao Mai, sharing their own experiences, asking insightful questions, and collectively seeking solutions and support for their children’s transition to Grade 1. Parents received actionable strategies for preparing their child for primary school.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Le Sao Mai (Sunny’s Mom) for her heartfelt, expert sharing and to all the dedicated parents who made time to attend. Your trust and engagement are the reason we continue creating meaningful events like this.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to offering inspiring and valuable experiences for our community. Don’t forget to visit Activity updates in our website! you’ll find a variety of helpful articles and resources to support your children’s development.