Teaching English is compulsory from grade 1: Need a suitable roadmap and flexible teaching methods

Compulsory English teaching from grade 1 is a goal that demonstrates the State's great determination in improving the capacity of the young generation, but it also requires methodical solutions and a suitable roadmap for effective and feasible implementation.

Teachers need not only be good at their subject matter.

The Government has just approved the Project “Making English the second language in schools for the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2045”. The goal of the project is to make English the second language in schools in Vietnam. English is widely, regularly, and effectively used in teaching and communication in schools. A notable point in the Project is that from 2030, all general schools nationwide will teach English as a compulsory subject from grade 1 instead of grade 3 as at present.

Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang, Principal of Foreign Language Secondary School, University of Foreign Languages ​​( Hanoi National University) shared: "This adjustment demonstrates the Government's determination to improve national foreign language capacity and promote international integration. The project 'Making English the second language in schools' is a correct and appropriate policy".

According to the Principal of Foreign Language Secondary School, people are stressed, pressured and think that schools teaching English to children from grade 1 makes teachers and students have to study more, teach at a higher level and have higher learning pressure. However, this policy aims to take English beyond the boundaries of a subject.

At that time, English is no longer a subject but it becomes the language used in schools, the language to approach other subjects. The project has a roadmap for each stage, especially it does not require schools to teach the same program, the level of implementation is also different.

Foreign Language Secondary School published a book about building an ESL school written by the school's teachers.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, to effectively implement this project, about 22,000 more English teachers will be needed at preschool and primary levels. Commenting on this content, Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang said that, in general, the number of English teachers needed is a large number on the current scale.

"However, considering the number of teachers that pedagogical universities train each year and we have a project and a specific roadmap, the number of 22,000 teachers can meet the demand. Teachers not only need to be good at their profession but also need to be equipped with language skills and teaching methods in English. This is an important factor to ensure the quality of teaching when implementing this project," said Ms. Trang.

In addition, according to Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang, this project not only requires teachers to teach English in schools but also requires teachers to use English to teach other subjects. However, the project implementation period is until 2045, so the project's goal is feasible.

Methodical solutions and appropriate roadmap

Turning challenges into opportunities, Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang said that, firstly, the education sector needs to have specific policies on assessment scales, teaching models that are rich, flexible and differentiated in each stage for localities to implement.

"Instead of applying it uniformly, localities that do not have enough conditions can maintain the self-selection form in the initial stage, along with support for investment in facilities, equipment and teacher training. If we have an assessment scale and different customizations between school models, localities such as remote areas can also apply it effectively," Ms. Huyen Trang added.

Explaining the above viewpoint, Ms. Huyen Trang said that currently, the project only provides levels, there is no assessment framework and criteria for selecting levels. So we can provide levels for preschool children, children only need to approach from songs, watching plays. For primary school students, students can start from basic colors or vocabulary and gradually increase the requirements. If the education sector follows such a roadmap, it will reduce the burden on teaching staff and achieve the results as proposed in the project.

The project aims to build an ecosystem for using English in educational institutions in Vietnam.

The second is the policy of teacher training and teacher development. We should approach this project step by step and implement it slowly, following a roadmap to achieve effectiveness. In parallel with 'ordering' English teaching staff, teachers of other subjects with the ability to teach in English for pedagogical universities, the education sector needs to train existing teachers.

Finally, the policy needs to mobilize the role of parents and society. Parents should be guided to accompany their children through English learning activities at home, creating a positive, pressure-free environment. When parents and students support, the school will have an easier time implementing the project, Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang expressed.

Three main phases of the Project

The Project on Making English a Second Language in Schools for the period 2025 - 2035, with a vision to 2045, sets out three main stages for implementation:

Phase 1 (2025 - 2030) : The foundation will be built and standardized so that English is used regularly and systematically in the educational environment. 100% of general education institutions nationwide are required to teach English from grade 1. At the preschool level, 100% of educational institutions in cities and urban areas in favorable areas will ensure conditions for children to be familiar with English.

Phase 2 (2030 - 2035) : Will expand and strengthen, promote the use of English more frequently.

Phase 3 (2035 - 2045) : Perfection and enhancement, English is used naturally, developing an ecosystem of English use in the educational environment, communication and school administration.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/day-tieng-anh-bat-buoc-tu-lop-1-can-lo-trinh-phu-hop-va-cach-day-linh-hoat-20251113163901987.htm