Ms. Thanh Tra (an IELTS preparation teacher in Hanoi ) shared: "You shouldn't just look at the advertised numbers of students who have achieved high scores like 8.5 IELTS from centers. Students should request to see the original/certified copy of the certificate and check the issuance date (certificates are only valid for 2 years). Teachers at centers also need not only high scores but also pedagogical skills (CELTA, TESOL, or a university degree in English Language). When you see centers advertising: 'Welcome new students', 'Huge discounts for students'... you should be cautious."
"Checking the fanpages at many centers reveals dozens of satellite fanpages, but the official fanpage is always directly linked to the website. Students should access it from this source to avoid mistakenly visiting fake pages," Ms. Thanh Tra shared.
At the same time, parents should be wary of centers that offer too many types of courses. Some places are like a "mixed bag" of everything from IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL to conversational English... Taking on too many courses often leads to a lack of specialization, from curriculum and teaching methods to the expertise of the teaching staff.
According to the British Council representative in Hanoi, to properly assess the qualifications of IELTS teachers, learners need to have a thorough understanding. For example, teachers at the British Council need to have: A university degree (bachelor's degree or higher); A postgraduate certificate in teaching English as a foreign language accepted by the British Council; Excellent English proficiency (equivalent to IELTS 8.5/9, or CEFR C2 - Common European Framework of Reference for Languages); At least two years of teaching experience.
From the perspective of a training institution, Ms. Le My, a consultant at DOL Dinh Luc in Ho Chi Minh City, stated: For students who want to improve their band score from 5.0 to 6.0, the center will advise on a specific learning path based on their initial test results and individual skill abilities: “For this group of students, we focus on helping them strengthen their foundation and improve weaker skills to reach the 6.0 mark, especially Writing and Speaking – two skills that often drag down scores. When contacting us for consultation, students will receive a free initial test, from which a personalized learning plan will be developed, determining the appropriate study time to achieve their target band.”
Ms. Le My stated: “The Linearthinking method is a system for learning English based on logical thinking, focusing on genuine learning and testing, getting to the heart of the matter, and avoiding shortcuts or rote memorization. This method has been granted copyright certification by the Intellectual Property Office.”
According to Ms. My, besides the methodology, the teachers and technology are also emphasized: “Teachers have achieved IELTS 8.0+ scores and provide one-on-one feedback outside of class hours. The center implements a lifetime access to the Super LMS system, a self-study system for practicing exam questions and reviewing for one year. Support for achieving the desired outcome is linked to the actual exam score; if students complete at least 90% of the exercises, they will achieve their target score.”
Meanwhile, the trend of personalized learning, learning with private tutors, or online learning is also booming. Teacher Tran Ngoc Huu, a specialist in IELTS test preparation, commented: “There is a significant shift in preferences for learning at centers, with private tutors, or online. With the rapid development and accessibility of AI, many talented teachers can outperform the cumbersome operations of centers.”
According to teacher Tran Ngoc Huu, learning effectiveness depends on many factors: "Tuition fees and effectiveness are truly worth mentioning. Teachers have a very high responsibility towards their students, so they must strive to ensure successful outcomes. However, it's impossible to definitively say which model is completely better, as there are still many effective centers that we are unaware of."
Teacher Tran Ngoc Huu also emphasized the individual factor of the learner: “Choosing where to study depends on two factors: the student's commitment and the teacher's digital capabilities. Whether you study online or offline is less important than who you learn from, what you learn, how you learn, and what supporting tools you have. Many students who study online still achieve better results thanks to different programs and methods.”
The foreign language training market in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is clearly developing rapidly in both scale and format. However, among many options, the deciding factor remains suitability for each individual student. From the practical experiences of parents to the perspectives of teachers and management agencies, one common point is emphasized: No single model is optimal for everyone. Effective learning depends on the learner's commitment, the quality of teaching, and the training environment. In this context, thorough research, practical experience, and choosing the right path will be key to helping parents and students take advantage of the opportunities presented by the increasingly vibrant foreign language learning trend.
For informal online tutoring centers and individuals, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City require inter-agency inspection teams at the district, county, and town levels to coordinate with relevant units and individuals to review, detect, inspect, and handle violations in accordance with regulations. Simultaneously, the Department of Education and Training, in coordination with relevant agencies, will organize information and propaganda campaigns on legal and industry regulations concerning education, supporting units and individuals in understanding and correctly implementing regulations in the field of education.
Final article: Recommendations for parents and students to choose licensed facilities.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/bai-2-chia-khoa-chon-lop-hoc-20260421113134537.htm
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