Localities urgently deploy
Le Dinh Quoc Trung, a 2nd-grade student at Tho Long Elementary School (Tho Long commune, Thanh Hoa province), can confidently say basic communication sentences in English after 2 years of accessing this foreign language.
Currently, Quoc Trung is studying 3 English lessons/week. In addition to class hours, he is encouraged by his teacher to practice speaking English at home, then film videos for his teacher to edit pronunciation and intonation.
My child is much more confident when speaking English and learning English" - Ms. Cam Van, Quoc Trung's mother, shared.
In Thanh Hoa province, the Project "Making English a second language in schools in the period 2025 - 2035, vision to 2045" has been approved by the City People's Committee.
In the period 2025 - 2030, Thanh Hoa sets a target for 100% of general education institutions in the area to teach compulsory English from grade 1; at least 20% of institutions reach Level 1.5% reach Level 2 and 2% reach Level 3.
Not only Thanh Hoa, making English the second language in schools is a major policy being implemented by localities.
In Hanoi, in July 2026, the city built and completed implementation models; and selected a number of educational institutions representing each level of education, training level and each model for practice, verification, and completion of evaluation criteria and guidance materials.
The expected list includes 20 educational institutions, divided into three deployment models corresponding to three levels: Level 1 (basic, starting), Level 2 (upgraded) and Level 3 (focus, leading).
In Nghe An, the project to make English the second language in schools in the province in the period 2026 - 2035, with a vision to 2045, has been approved. The total cost of implementing the project in the period 2026 - 2035 is expected to be 269.61 billion VND. Of which, the central budget is expected to be 51.36 billion VND; local budget is 188.25 billion VND and 30 billion VND from other legal funding sources. In the period 2026 - 2030, the province sets a target of 100% of general education institutions throughout the province teaching compulsory English from grade 1; 20% of institutions reach level 1, 5% reach level 2 and 2% reach level 3.
Invest in staff, create an environment to use English
To realize this goal, Phan Boi Chau Secondary School (Long Bien ward, Hanoi) invests from the curriculum to the quality of the teaching staff.
Ms. Chu Thi Thu Huong - Principal of the school - said that newly recruited English teachers need to have an IELTS certificate from 7.5 or higher. Up to now, 6 teachers have met the requirements and have been selected by the school.
Among them, 4 teachers have IELTS certificates from 8.0 or higher and have experience in studying and teaching abroad. One teacher is studying for a master's degree at Hanoi National University of Education; one teacher has a master's degree in the UK and two teachers have a master's degree in Australia.
In parallel with that, teachers of other subjects are also encouraged to use part of English in the teaching process, in accordance with the specific characteristics of the subject.
In addition to 3 regular weekly classes organized according to the standards of the Ministry of Education and Training, students are strengthened with an English learning program with foreign teachers.
The school also organizes "Language Day" every Thursday, creating an English communication environment for teachers and students, encouraging students to confidently use foreign languages.
According to Ms. Tran Thi Thuy - Principal of Victoria Thang Long 3 Primary and Secondary School (Phuc Loi ward, Hanoi City), the key for children to use English proficiently is to maintain a long-term, continuous exposure environment.
When there is enough time, students will gradually absorb and form language reflexes naturally, similar to the process of learning their mother tongue.
Therefore, schools can flexibly create real-world playgrounds for students to experience and interact with the language environment. If only learning within the framework of textbook lessons, practical opportunities will be limited. Ms. Thuy believes that it is necessary to change and create opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills to reality and master English.
