“The Key – to your knowledge door” was a meeting held at 11 Chemistry classroom on 5^th, April with the topic of using Mind Map. Although Mind Map therapy has been familiar to many students, not everyone likes to or knows exactly how to use it effectively. Hence, “The Key” is likely to make you have a different look on it. Directly instructing Amsers was Do Hoang Long (11 Maths) – the crowned Ambassador of Hanoi-Amsterdam 2011. This little meeting has benefited the students with many ways to study effectively. Let’s follow their meeting!

The meeting started with a quick game in order to assist the students in familiarizing with each other. Each student had to introduce his/her name with an English adjective beginning with the first letter of his/her name. The followers had to repeat all the former ones’ names and adjectives. The funny names the students made up like An “attractive”, Linh “lively”, Phuong “powerful”, etc, quickly created a congenial and friendly atmosphere.

Next, all the students were divided into three different groups and started to discuss Mind Map therapy. The meeting focused on three basic aspects of Mind Map with three questions: WHAT (What is a Mind Map?), WHY (Why should we use Mind Map therapy?) and HOW (How to make a Mind Map?).

 All the games testing the students’ memory with funny photos throughout the meeting made seemingly boring information become absolutely interesting and easy to remember. Besides, some short and surprising questions also played a part in making the atmosphere more relaxed and exciting.

The most important part in this meeting is practicing making a Mind Map. Each group is given a long sheet of paper containing several complicated information about the genius composer Mozart. Each group’s task is to transmit that information into a Mind Map in the most concise, understandable and vivid way.

Although Mind Map has been popular among students for a long time, not everyone knows how to use it. As it was the first time they familiarized with this therapy, all the students seemed unprofessional and did not know how to make the basic information stand out as required in a Mind Map. However, thanks to the enthusiasm, judgment and experience of the elders, the students gradually grasped the essential steps to make a Mind Map.

Besides, Hoang Long also introduced some more intelligent learning methods like Digital Thinking or Timeline for subjects with numerous time marks such as Literature, History, etc.

At the end of the meeting, each was given a lovely bookmark with the logo of this program imprinted on the cover page. Hopefully, after “The Key”, Amsers have had a more effective way of learning to reach “The knowledge door”. Why not join this interesting program immediately?

“The Key” is a program designed with a view to constructing and developing learning skills, organized by the school’s Executive Board together with the Teacher Delegation and the school’s Extending Executive Board. It is carried out in the form of meetings featuring guest speakers and presentations twice a month to discuss new learning methods (E-learning, Case Study, etc).

Author: Ngoc Linh (CE 10-13)

Translator: Hai Anh (A2 11-14)