The shortage of English teachers is one of the biggest obstacles in implementing the 2018 General Education Program in many provinces and cities. However, in line with the goal of gradually making English the second language in schools, as outlined in Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW of the Politburo , many solutions have been proposed and implemented.
It's not easy, but we have to do it now.
When discussing the requirement to make English the second language in schools, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Marie Curie School ( Hanoi ), said that for more than 10 years, the school has invested heavily in English language education.
The school's students have a higher academic level than the average for public schools, far exceeding the standards set by the Ministry of Education and Training, but they have not yet met the requirement of "English as a second language in the school."
According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khang, this is a major issue, not easy to implement, and cannot be accomplished in a few decades, but we must start now, "gradually making English the second language in schools" as stated in Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW of the Politburo .
Accordingly, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khang suggested that the first step should be to create pilot projects, then expand them, with the general principle being to do it wherever possible, and to encourage major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to take the lead.
These cities also need to "give the green light" to some schools that have the resources to teach certain subjects in English, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. If subjects are taught in English, then they shouldn't be taught in Vietnamese. Exams and tests (entrance exams, graduation exams) should be in the language in which the subjects are taught.
In addition, Mr. Khang also pointed out the need to implement English-language instruction in some university and college-level fields and professions such as information technology, semiconductor technology, maritime, aviation, tourism, and hospitality…
Reportedly, in response to the need to improve the quality of English language teaching, before the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training convened 1,900 teachers to participate in a training course to upgrade their English proficiency to international standards, as part of the national foreign language project.
These are teachers who have met the standards according to the 6-level Vietnamese Foreign Language Proficiency Framework and are currently teaching at the general education, vocational education, and continuing education levels. Over the past period, Hanoi has implemented many solutions to improve the quality of English language teaching, including organizing training courses to upgrade the qualifications of English teachers both domestically and abroad.
Hanoi has implemented various measures to improve the quality of English teachers.
Encourage "pioneers" to take the lead.
According to Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, many countries have successfully implemented bilingual education models, making English the second language in schools.
Based on international experience, according to Mr. Hieu, it is necessary to focus on several solutions such as: building a favorable environment for learning and using English, and encouraging students to use English in daily communication.
Innovate English teaching and learning methods, focusing on developing communication skills and applying English in real-world situations. Improve the quality of English teachers and teachers of other subjects who have English proficiency, meeting the requirements of teaching in an internationally integrated environment.
Strengthen international cooperation in the field of English language education, learning from the advanced experiences of countries that have successfully developed English as a second language teaching programs in schools and countries with developed education systems.
Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized that the Ministry of Education and Training will advise the Government to soon issue a national-level plan to make English the second language in schools.
These solutions include those related to resources, policy mechanisms, teacher training and development, and creating opportunities for native-speaking teachers to collaborate and work in Vietnam.
"We need five main pillars—government management, scientists and experts, trainers, schools, and businesses—to participate and contribute ideas to implement this national project."
In my opinion, this project can be completed by 2025, clearly defining the roadmap and implementation solutions. We need to implement solutions synchronously, identifying immediate, long-term, and breakthrough solutions. This approach should be comprehensive but also identify breakthrough solutions, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach; solutions should be implemented where conditions are suitable.
"We encourage localities with the necessary conditions, such as Ho Chi Minh City, to take the lead in guiding and directing effective English teaching and learning," Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/dua-tieng-anh-thanh-ngon-ngu-thu-hai-trong-truong-hoc-khong-dan-hang-ngang-thuc-hien-20241023111756942.htm
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