English as a second language in schools: Many challenges remain

(NLDO)- Schools face many challenges in terms of teachers, programs, learning materials, and teaching methods in the process of making English a second language.

Speaking at the seminar "The role of English in the rising era" organized by SunUni Academy in collaboration with Thanh Nien Newspaper in Hanoi on the afternoon of November 6, Dr. Nguyen Thuy Hong, former Deputy Director of the Department of Teachers, Ministry of Education and Training, said that Resolution 71 on breakthrough development of education and training aims to make English the second language in schools. The Prime Minister also approved the Project "Making English the second language in schools for the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2045".

Ms. Nguyen Thuy Hong, former Deputy Director of the Department of Teachers, Ministry of Education and Training, discussed at the seminar

This is a suitable policy when Vietnamese education is facing the opportunity to break through and innovate in the context of globalization. This changes the perspective of teaching English in schools, making English a language used in a wider and more popular environment...

Experts say the shift from teaching English as a foreign language to teaching it as a second language creates opportunities for teachers and learners to develop more creativity, but also poses a challenge for schools.

Sharing the same view, Ms. Natalia Sasha Goodwin, Director of the Center for Academic Development, British University Vietnam, in the context of the explosion of artificial intelligence, Vietnamese students must face a strong transformation of knowledge. Communication skills, especially in English, require Vietnamese students to pay attention.

However, Dr. Nguyen Thuy Hong also said that to achieve this goal, schools must face many challenges in terms of teaching staff, information technology application skills; changing testing and assessment methods as well as changing programs, learning materials, teaching methods, etc.

The S80 scholarship is expected to help students improve their English skills.

Also within the framework of the program, the Organizing Committee announced the S80 scholarship program (S80 International Education Scholarship) in 2025 with the theme "Generation S80, rising up with Vietnamese knowledge".

This is a nationwide educational scholarship program implemented by SunUni Academy in collaboration with Thanh Nien Newspaper and strategic partners on the occasion of the important historical milestone of the 80th anniversary of National Day September 2 (1945-2025) and 80 years of Vietnam Education (1945-2025).

The program will award 8,000 scholarships supporting up to 70% of tuition fees for international standard online IELTS and English communication courses with the goal of training 8,000 students to achieve IELTS 8.0, becoming confident global citizens; supporting 8,000 ELSA Business Premium accounts, practicing listening and speaking with AI technology.

In particular, the program will also award 80 full scholarships worth about 7.56 billion VND to children of war invalids, martyrs, meritorious people, wives and children of border and island soldiers; award 80 full scholarships worth about 7.56 billion VND to outstanding students of universities, colleges, junior high schools and high schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City...

Mr. Nguyen Tien Nam, Chairman of SunUni Global Group, expressed his wish to have more partners join hands to bring English closer to students and workers in Vietnam.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tieng-anh-thanh-ngon-ngu-hai-trong-truong-hoc-con-nhieu-thach-thuc-196251106202911747.htm