What is an integrated, intensive English program and which one should I choose?

Primary school students in English class

Announcement of enrollment quotas for first grade programs

Primary schools in Ho Chi Minh City have announced specific information about first grade enrollment for the new school year on the school's electronic information portals.

For example, in the announcement of first grade enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year, Tran Hung Dao Primary School, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City announced that it will enroll 315 students in 9 first grade classes. The types of first grade classes are the integrated English program and the enhanced English program.

According to the plan to mobilize children to enter grade 1 in the 2023-2024 school year of Bong Sao Primary School, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City, the school plans to enroll 9 grade 1 students, with 405 students, of which 325 students will study enhanced English, 45 students will study enhanced French, and 35 students will study integrated English.

At Tran Binh Trong Primary School, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, the enrollment target is 210 first graders (6 classes). Of which, there is 1 integrated English class, 5 elective and advanced English classes.

The "keywords" that parents are interested in during the early school enrollment period are integrated English programs and enhanced English programs.

• In the intensive English program , students study 8 English lessons a week (including both foreign and Vietnamese teachers).
• As for the integrated English program , students also study 8 English lessons a week (100% foreign teachers), tuition fee is 10,800,000 VND/3 months and has some special features.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, the integrated program is compiled to integrate the UK national program with the national standard program of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training for the three subjects of English, math, and science, on the basis of reducing the load of science and focusing on developing students' thinking and qualities.

In each subject, the Department of Education and Training will have a curriculum framework for native teachers to teach in English. In addition, there will still be Vietnamese teachers teaching in Vietnamese based on the Ministry of Education and Training's curriculum framework, with the principle of non-overlapping and mutual knowledge complementarity.

The knowledge content of the three subjects English, math, and science of the British education program will be distributed based on the curriculum framework of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, while still ensuring full implementation of the framework curriculum for all grades of the Vietnamese program.

Students of Nguyen Thai Son Primary School, District 3

Which program should I choose?

Whether to let your child study an integrated or enhanced program is a concern of many parents whose children are about to enter first grade. Each program has different advantages. We have recorded the opinions of some parents for your reference.

Parent Dinh Son, whose child attends Nguyen Thi Dinh Primary School, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, said: "I chose the enhanced English program for my child, 8 English lessons a week. In addition, I registered my child to study iSMART with foreign teachers, my child learned math, English, science and found it very interesting and effective. Before my child entered first grade, I also consulted other parents, so I registered for this program. The tuition fee of 10,800,000 VND/3 months to study the integrated English program is difficult for my family to follow in the long run, another important issue is that I am afraid that I cannot tutor my child at home."

Parent Huu Tai, whose child studies at Le Ngoc Han Primary School, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, said: "I registered my children for the integrated program. The advantage of the integrated English program is that my children study in a small class, with a maximum of only 35 students per class, with both foreign and Vietnamese teachers being excellent. The children studying this integrated program are also obedient, gentle, and are cared for and educated very carefully by their families. Therefore, my children have a good learning environment, learn good things from their teachers and friends, and work hard together. Those are the things I care about and look forward to the most when my children go to primary school."

Mr. Dinh Huu Dac, Principal of Nguyen Thai Son Primary School, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, said that currently, primary schools in Ho Chi Minh City have 3 English programs: the project program (according to the project to popularize and improve English proficiency for professional high school students of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee with 4 English periods per week); the enhanced English program; and the integrated English program.

According to Mr. Dac, each program has different characteristics. Parents wondering whether to let their children study the intensive English program or the integrated English program can base it on factors such as the child's ability, qualities, passion for learning; and the family's financial conditions because the payment of 10,800,000 VND/3 months is not suitable for every family.

"In my observation, very smart and quick children learn the integrated program effectively and enthusiastically. As for the rest, families can let their children learn enhanced English. Recently, the school has received very positive feedback from parents about this program," said Mr. Dac.

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