What is the future of English?

The conference and exhibition took place from 27-29 October. This was the first time the New Directions East Asia Conference was held in a previous host city. It demonstrated the strength and dynamism of the engagement and cooperation between the British Council and Vietnam on the topic of teaching, learning and assessing English.

Themed The Future of English Language Assessment inEducation Systems and co-organised with the National Foreign Languages Project (NFLP), the conference will focus on the future of assessment as a driver for reform of teaching and learning systems. This year’s conference attracted over 400 delegates from 12 countries.

At the conference, experts shared about the remarkable development and practical experiences in the field of teaching, learning and testing English.

Taking place over two and a half days, the conference officially started with a plenary session on the evening of October 27 in central Hanoi , followed by two days of main conference activities including four plenary sessions, two panel discussions and 35 parallel sessions, nine highlight sessions and a thematic workshop taking place at the British University Vietnam – BUV.

The conference and exhibition created a dynamic space where policy makers, education experts, academics, teachers and those working in the assessment field regionally and internationally could connect and exchange.

At the same time, experts access information about the development of the field of English teaching and testing in the world today.

Ms. Donna McGowan, Director of British Council in Vietnam.

Ms. Donna McGowan, Director of the British Council in Vietnam, shared: “ In Vietnam, language assessment tests have been considered an important part of the education system, following the cooperation between the British Council and the National Foreign Language Project over many years.

We are proud that UK assessment experts have been involved in supporting the development, evaluation and implementation of effective language education policies in Vietnam."

At the Future of English Exhibition, visitors shared their views on the future of English. At the same time, the exhibition displayed and introduced each of the main topics in the book “The Future of English: A Global Perspective”.

The book includes notable contents such as: English in Education, English in the Workplace, and English in Daily Life. The book is the first publication of the global research and connection program initiated by the British Council in 2020.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Heather Forbes, Director of International Examinations, East Asia, British Council said: 'This year's New Directions East Asia conference will explore and understand issues surrounding how English will be envisioned and how English will be used.

The conference also discussed what other skills will become necessary in the rapidly changing digital and media landscape, and how these will need to be developed and assessed in the future.

This year's conference also explored possible changes in English language teaching and learning policy and reform in Vietnam in particular and in the East Asia region more broadly.

In addition, the Future of English exhibition, part of this year's conference, is also a place to share with partners, leaders, teachers and learners around the world about the future of English on a broader, global scale."

Minh Anh

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