Gradually making English the second language in schools
English is one of the 7 foreign languages taught in schools in Vietnam and is the foreign language chosen by the number of students, the number of schools teaching classes accounts for the majority, and is widely used in and outside schools.
According to Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong, with the goal of educating students to become global citizens, making English the second language in schools is an extremely important task, affecting the whole country and many generations of Vietnamese people.
The Permanent Deputy Minister emphasized the view: Previously, teaching and learning foreign languages often focused on grammar and words, not paying much attention to communication. With the National Project to make English the second language in schools for the period 2025 - 2035, with a vision to 2045, the Ministry of Education and Training hopes to develop communication skills of students both in school and in society, creating an ecosystem for foreign language development".
From the perspective of the leading pedagogical training unit in the country, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duc Son - Principal of Hanoi National University of Education - emphasized the viewpoint: "Following and improving the qualifications of the teaching staff is a prerequisite to implement the project".
Therefore, in recent years, the school has organized pedagogical internships for students at international or bilingual schools, organized specialized English clubs, seminars, and thematic seminars with the participation of international lecturers. At the same time, a pilot program was implemented to send students to study some equivalent subjects abroad in the form of exchange. Admissions are increased every year and output is tightened.
On the side of the Ministry of Education and Training, as a State management agency, the ministry requested higher education institutions and teacher training institutions to proactively build teams, facilities, and develop programs to implement the Project. Along with that, proactively coordinate with the Departments of Education and Training to order teacher training and fostering to meet practical needs. From theoretical and practical experiences, higher education institutions can advise the Ministry of Education and Training to issue effective policies in the coming time.
Expanding job opportunities for students
At the university level, it is considered that making English the second language in schools brings many opportunities for learners, especially after graduation, many educational institutions are currently promoting joint programs with leading universities in the world, international certificate orientation programs.
For example, with the DDP (Dual Degree Programme) - Training linkage for each side of the Bacelor's degree level between the Academy of Finance and the University of Greenwich, after 4 years of graduation, students not only have all 4 majors: Finance, Banking, Accounting, Auditing but are also confident with IELTS 6.0 and 9 F subjects recognized by ACCA.
Therefore, the rate of graduates with jobs in previous years reached over 98%, of which about 10% worked in state agencies; about 35% worked in the Big 4 accounting and if including the Big 4 banks and corporations and general companies, this figure reached nearly 65%.
" Job opportunities for graduates of this program are very open. After 4 years, student luggage is much " heavier" than that of students in the standard training system" - Ms. Huyen said.
At the Institute of Advanced, High-Quality Training & POHE (National Economics University), in addition to making English the second language in teaching, the unit also expands cooperation so that students can practice foreign language skills and be exposed to the cultures of countries around the world.
The National Economics University has signed many agreements with major universities to provide opportunities for students. For example, students who are able to exchange a semester at foreign universities affiliated with the school are converted to school credits. At the same time, transfer programs help students study and receive full-time degrees from partner universities. Students with specialized English proficiency at an in-depth level will have high opportunities to work with international businesses and organizations. Many students after graduation also study abroad in postgraduate programs" - Dr. Vu Van Ngoc - Director of the Institute of Advanced, High-Quality & POHE Training, National Economics University - shared and said that this helps students grasp the domestic and international labor market, thereby expanding job opportunities for students after graduation.
In addition, the Institute of Advanced, High-Quality Training & POHE also invites lecturers from major universities in the United States, the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, etc. to teach. This is an opportunity for students to access knowledge and cultures of developed countries, have practical experience, and increase opportunities to seek job or study abroad opportunities after graduation.
