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Research on Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) has received much attention in language education in Vietnam. However, research on investigating perceptions of secondary school teachers towards TBLT implementation in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam is still scarce. The current study investigates secondary school English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ understandings of task concept and TBLT principles. It also explores teachers’ attitudes and concerns in implementing TBLT. Ninety-eight secondary school EFL teachers participated in the study. Framed by TBLT principles adapted from Nguyen, Jaspaert and Van den Branden (2018), a survey was used to collect quantitative data. The results indicated that the teachers generally had a high level of understanding of task concept and TBLT principles. In addition, they showed positive views on implementing TBLT in their practices. The results also addressed teachers’ concerns in implementing TBLT into their teaching practices including time constraints, the mismatch between the reform goals proposed by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and current teaching policies at the secondary school level as well as the large class size. Accordingly, insightful implications for a better TBLT implementation in Vietnam and similar contexts elsewhere have been taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic minorities in Vietnam account for only 15% of the population, but their poverty levels total more than 70% of the national poverty rate. Foreign aid has been an important financial resource supporting the socioeconomic development of ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Based on the empirical research in ethnic households conducted in nine provinces throughout the country, the effect of foreign aid on household income was estimated using the OLS regression model. The results show varying effects in the magnitude and significance among different ethnic groups. Specifically, aid has significantly improved the livelihood of the Cham and Xtieng populations, whereas the results for the Hmong population are detrimental. Consequently, it is suggested that aid and the ethnic policy should be reconsidered in order to reduce inequality among ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Diploderma chapaense, a lizard species found in northern Vietnam and southern China, revealing information about its clutch size and instances of predation, including the identification of Lycodon chapaensis as a predator.

Asian Mountain Toads (Ophryophryne) are a poorly known genus of mostly small-sized anurans from southeastern China and Indochina. To shed light on the systematics within this group, the most comprehensive mitochondrial DNA phylogeny for the genus to date is presented, and the taxonomy and biogeography of this group is discussed. Complimented with extensive morphological data (including associated statistical analyses), molecular data indicates that the Langbian Plateau, in the southern Annamite Mountains, Vietnam, is one of the diversity centres of this genus where three often sympatric species of Ophryophryne are found, O. gerti, O. synoria and an undescribed species. To help resolve outstanding taxonomic confusion evident in literature (reviewed herein), an expanded redescription of O. gerti is provided based on the examination of type material, and the distributions of both O. gerti and O. synoria are considerably revised based on new locality records. We provide the first descriptions of male mating calls for all three species, permitting a detailed bioacoustics comparison of the species. We describe the new species from highlands of the northern and eastern Langbian Plateau, and distinguish it from its congeners by a combination of morphological, molecular and acoustic characters. The new species represents one of the smallest known members of the genus Ophryophryne. At present, the new species is known from montane evergreen forest between 700-2200 m a.s.l. We suggest the species should be considered Data Deficient following IUCN's Red List categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the inclusion of Trimeresurus cardamomensis in the diet of Bungarus fasciatus, which represents the first documentation of B. fasciatus consuming an arboreal viper.