What did the English teacher say?

Many analysts believe that the decision to remove foreign languages ​​from the compulsory subjects of the high school graduation exam will have a positive impact on the learning and teaching process (illustrative image).

On November 29th, the Ministry of Education and Training finalized the plan for the high school graduation exam starting in 2025. Accordingly, candidates will take four subjects: two compulsory subjects (Vietnamese Literature and Mathematics) and two elective subjects (from among foreign languages, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, economics and law education, informatics, and technology). Notably, foreign languages ​​are no longer compulsory as before.

Many argue that making foreign languages ​​an elective subject could stifle learning motivation, hinder students' international integration, and negatively impact the National Foreign Language Project, which has a budget of nearly 10,000 billion VND.

However, many experts believe these views are unfounded and argue that making foreign language exams non-compulsory would have many positive effects on both teachers and students.

English teachers will no longer teach shortcuts to cope with the exam, and English learners will proactively strive for their goals. After all, learning English is their choice, and the university they attend is also their choice. Everything will be more positive when there is internal motivation.

Mr. Hoang Anh Khoa, a Master of English Language Teaching from St. Andrews University (UK), is currently the Academic Director of The M-english Home ( Hanoi ).

Teachers and students are no longer "studying just to pass exams".

To elaborate, an expert in English language teaching (currently working at colleges and universities in Ho Chi Minh City) stated that the high school graduation exam cannot comprehensively assess the listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities of candidates. Colleges and universities require a certain level of English proficiency as part of their graduation standards, consider English as a subject in admissions, or require international English certificates as an entry requirement.

"Therefore, making English an optional exam subject does not mean that students' English proficiency will decline or 'hinder' their international integration. In fact, the current general education program has not been able to help students excel in English, especially in communication. It would only be alarming if colleges and universities removed the foreign language requirement," the expert commented.

Sharing the same view, Master Nguyen Nhat Quang, Head of the Foreign Languages ​​and International Cooperation Department at Nova College (Ho Chi Minh City), believes that the high school graduation exam in foreign languages ​​does not help students improve their foreign language skills because it only aims to test what they have learned, mainly grammar and vocabulary.

According to Mr. Quang, the removal of foreign languages ​​from the high school graduation exam will have a significant impact on teaching in the future, but it will be more positive. This is because teachers will be "freed," no longer teaching solely for exams but rather to help students meet the demands of the labor market. In the long term, this will increase the rate of genuine learning rather than just studying to pass exams. "But in the short term, students' foreign language proficiency in grammar and vocabulary will decrease, and many test preparation centers will face difficulties," Mr. Quang predicted.

English teachers attended a professional development event held in mid-November 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City to enhance their pedagogical skills.

Education experts also shared that students don't learn only when forced to take exams, but rather through how teachers teach in a way that makes them enjoy it. Currently, the community of English teachers in Vietnam is very large and constantly updated with advanced pedagogical methods. "The important thing is whether teachers are willing to change their mindset, and this is the crucial factor in helping students' English proficiency develop," Mr. Quang stated.

"In general, foreign languages, and English in particular, are essential skills regardless of your profession. However, learning must stem from your own needs to be effective and motivating. And an advanced education system is one that truly empowers learners, rather than using administrative power to force them," emphasized Master Quang.

Opens up many opportunities

Mr. Hoang Anh Khoa, a Master of English Language Teaching from St. Andrews University (UK) and currently the Academic Director of The M-english Home (Ho Chi Minh City), further analyzes the opportunities that open up for students when foreign languages ​​are no longer a compulsory exam subject. Accordingly, students who do not have the opportunity to develop their foreign language skills, especially in disadvantaged areas, can still pass the high school graduation exam and pursue higher education using their strengths.

"Removing one compulsory subject also makes the exam easier, and when students go to university, they will have more time to invest in English in a more in-depth and practical way. In general, learning a foreign language is a lifelong endeavor, not just limited to high school years. And whether or not one cultivates their foreign language skills is a matter of self-awareness, not something that can be forced to be effective," commented an expert with an 8.5 IELTS score.

Professor Khoa also stated that finalizing the 2+2 option will not lead to a scenario where everyone abandons foreign languages, but rather the opposite. "English teachers will no longer teach shortcuts to pass exams, and English learners will proactively strive for their goals. Because learning English is their choice, and the university they attend is also their choice. Everything will be more positive when there is internal motivation," Professor Khoa said.

Candidates check their answers after the English exam of the 2023 high school graduation exam has ended.

"Don't panic" is the message that Mr. Dinh Quang Tung, Academic Director of YSchool, is sending to teachers and students. According to Mr. Tung, many children have started learning English since kindergarten, and their families are not aiming for high school graduation exams, but rather for studying abroad or obtaining certificates to enter universities in Vietnam. "Therefore, the need to learn foreign languages ​​will only change if colleges and universities no longer require this ability in their entrance and graduation requirements," Mr. Tung said.

"Students need to understand that whether or not they have the opportunity to integrate internationally depends on their own choices, not on any particular exam. If they don't take the English exam in the high school graduation exam, they have many other options, such as international or domestic English certificates, to assess their own abilities," Mr. Tung shared.

English will be a tool instead of a subject .

From the perspective of someone who loves English, I think we shouldn't be pessimistic about English no longer being a compulsory subject in the high school graduation exam from 2025. Because English has become a tool in today's interconnected world, not just a subject anymore.

Students from rural areas in An Giang province confidently give presentations in English.

In recent years, many parents have focused on investing in their children's foreign language education, especially English. The English proficiency of students in rural and urban areas is no longer significantly different, as evidenced by the high achievements of many students from rural areas in language public speaking competitions or international certification exams.

Recently, I had the opportunity to accompany a friend, an English teacher, to an English public speaking competition on the theme of Vietnamese Teachers' Day in a rural commune in An Giang province. I was amazed by the English proficiency of the students from surrounding schools – confidently presenting their topics and applying smart technology to their presentations.

Currently, English teaching and learning in Vietnam mostly only meets the necessary conditions for learners. In secondary schools – the foundation for forming the most basic foreign language skills – English is often taught in a conventional way, even with the innovative thinking of the 2020 Project. From another perspective, the mandatory foreign language criteria and standards required for jobs have created negative aspects in the examination and certification process. Are those who obtain certificates through hasty learning and testing truly confident in their foreign language skills? There are many reasons, but one of the most fundamental is the rushed learning and testing without the opportunity to improve their language skills. Learning a foreign language and obtaining a certificate is necessary, but how to make learners feel confident with highly reliable certificates is what truly matters.

English will be one of the keys to accessing the world's knowledge due to its global nature. Teaching and learning must be approached from a world-wide perspective, beyond the pages of textbooks. Therefore, making English an elective subject in the high school graduation exam will create a positive effect on English teaching and learning, as teachers will set aside the pressure of grades and focus on a positive teaching mindset for their students.

Le Tan Thoi (teacher at Nguyen Dang Son Secondary School, Cho Moi District, An Giang Province)

How did the students react?

When foreign languages ​​became an optional subject in the high school graduation exam, Lam Vinh Khon, a 9th-grade student at Hong Bang Secondary School (Ho Chi Minh City), said he would feel "less burdened" because he wouldn't need to "bury himself in exam preparation." However, according to the male student, English is still a very necessary tool for "accessing" the future world, so he will continue to improve his English skills, especially in a more practical way.

Nguyen Ngoc Bao Hoang, an 11th-grade student at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School (Ho Chi Minh City), expressed her concerns about the Ministry of Education and Training's decision. According to Hoang, the exam is a crucial milestone for students to assess their English proficiency after years of studying. "If the mandatory exam is abolished, schools could 'do it instead' by designing a final exam for 12th-grade English similar to a high school graduation exam," the student suggested.

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