Strategic vision and breakthrough in English teaching in Ho Chi Minh City

GD&TĐ - Not only stopping at learning foreign languages, primary school students in Ho Chi Minh City also have access to Math and Science knowledge in English.

Pioneering steps

During more than half a century of construction and development, Ho Chi Minh City education has repeatedly created a “pioneering mark” in the country. One of the most prominent marks is the strategic orientation in teaching and learning foreign languages, especially the introduction of English and English subjects into general schools from a very early age.

At the 50th anniversary celebration of the Ho Chi Minh City Education and Training sector on November 20, Permanent Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City education has "5 bright spots", the most prominent of which is the early, methodical and pioneering preparation for the goal of making English the second language in schools.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City does not only stop at teaching English, but also teaches Math and Science in English; organizes a series of playgrounds, competitions, and international exchange activities to help students practice and apply English in an academic and integration context.

"Ho Chi Minh City's education system is 'behind but ahead', in which the implementation of Project 5695 'Teaching and learning Math, Science and English integrating English and Vietnamese programs' is considered the clearest proof of the city's 10-year vision. This is also the driving force for Ho Chi Minh City to continue moving towards a bigger goal: Making English the second language in schools, in line with the orientation of the Politburo and the Project 'Making English the second language in schools in the period 2025 - 2035, with a vision to 2045' of the Prime Minister", Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong assessed.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong spoke at the 50th Anniversary Ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training.

Since 1998, when the national general education program still taught English from grade 6, Ho Chi Minh City was the first locality in the country to implement an English enhancement program for primary school, starting with 60 students. This step was considered "a decade ahead" of the national average.

Not stopping there, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City continued to advise on the development and implementation of Project 5695. When approved in 2014, the Project was implemented in 18 primary schools with 600 students participating. EMG Education was the accompanying unit from the beginning with the role of developing the curriculum framework and implementing teaching.

This is the first time in the country that public primary school students have been taught English, Maths and Science by native teachers, following the UK curriculum, and 100% of integrated lessons are taught by native teachers. The application of the CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) method - teaching integrated content and language - is considered a big difference, helping students not only learn language but also think and acquire scientific knowledge in that language.

The effectiveness of "4 houses" cooperation

The integrated English program is a testament to the “four-house” cooperation model: the manager, the school, the business (the trusted unit participating in teaching and implementing the program) and the learner (parents). In particular, the systematic and regular coordination between the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City and EMG Education in managing, training and implementing the program plays a key role.

One of the core factors contributing to the success of the program is the systematic and scientific coordination mechanism between the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City and EMG Education. Right from the first days of implementation, the entire content and implementation progress were reviewed, agreed upon and continuously adjusted by both sides through professional conferences.

After more than a decade of implementation, the integrated English program has spread widely, with more than 160 schools in 20 districts (formerly Ho Chi Minh City) and attracted over 30,000 students to participate. This is a sustainable educational model, suitable for Vietnam's conditions and meeting the trend of international integration. The results are clearly demonstrated through students' achievements in international exams: the program not only focuses on knowledge but also sets clear output standards, meeting the requirements of prestigious international certificates such as Pearson Edexcel, PEIC, ACT...

The Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City regularly organizes professional conferences to effectively implement the Integrated English program. Pictured is the 2022 professional conference.

Students studying the integrated program framework between Vietnamese and British international general education programs in Math, English and Science not only become good at English communication but also develop logical thinking and high-level language practice skills, important skills for future integration.

This is the “sweet fruit” that Project 5695 brings: A generation of students who are both academically minded and proficient in problem-solving skills in English, ready to step out into the world.

Over the past 10 years, the learning results of students in the integrated English program are also clear evidence: Students taking the Pearson Edexcel certificate exam achieved an average Pass level in three subjects: English - Math - Science, with the passing rate in primary school being 86%, secondary school 92% and high school 96%. Not only stopping at the assessment, many students have achieved excellent results in international Math and Science exams, including 5 students with the highest scores in the world. The Pearson Edexcel Examination Board has awarded 119 Excellence Awards to students in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Nguyen Bao Quoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that students participating in the program are not only good at communicating in English but also proficient in academic English, especially in scientific contexts, in line with the goals of the CLIL model.

When the 2018 General Education Program was implemented, the content of the integrated English program was also updated synchronously, helping to reduce the workload for students while still maintaining the advantages of the British and Vietnamese program frameworks. The management and development of foreign teachers was organized seriously, ensuring that teachers had in-depth expertise, understood the CLIL method and coordinated effectively with Vietnamese teachers.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/tam-nhin-chien-luoc-va-buoc-dot-pha-trong-day-hoc-tieng-anh-tai-tphcm-post758272.html