English as a Second Language in Schools: A Big, Challenging Goal

TP - The Head of the National Foreign Language Project Management Board, Ministry of Education and Training, said that making English the language of communication and teaching in schools is a big and challenging goal.

Ms. Le Thi Truong, a teacher at Van Thang Primary School, shares the model of English becoming the second language in rural primary education . Photo: NGHIEM HUE

The policy of making English the second language in schools poses a great challenge to the education sector. English is not only included in foreign language lessons but must be “embedded” in all subjects. English is present in all activities in the school environment.

Nearly 90% of teachers meet standards

The Ministry of Education and Training is developing a national project “Making English the second language in schools for the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2045”. This year is also the final year of the project on teaching and learning foreign languages ​​in the national education system for the period 2017-2025.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Huu, Head of the National Foreign Language Project Management Board, Ministry of Education and Training, said that after the project implementation period, the use of foreign languages ​​by teaching staff, students and pupils has increased in study and research. The number of pupils and students with foreign language proficiency to study abroad and receive scholarships from foreign universities has increased. The rate of students familiar with English in grades 1-2 increased from 43% in 2020 to 69% in 2024. The rate of preschool students familiar with the English program has gradually increased to 28.5% to date. The rate of students with international foreign language certificates for graduation and admission has increased steadily every year, of which English has increased by 11-14%. The rate of foreign language teachers meeting foreign language proficiency standards has increased by 22% (from 66% in 2018 to 88% in 2025). The rate of students studying English for 10 years under the 2018 General Education Program reached over 99% (of which primary school students from grades 3-5 reached 100%).

However, the implementation of the project also revealed limitations such as: the practical foreign language proficiency of students and teachers has not met expectations; teaching is still more about "learning foreign languages" than "learning languages"; policies for foreign language teachers and socialization in this field have not received due attention. The foreign language proficiency of students has not met requirements...

The project has supported the locality, but in remote areas, there are still many difficulties for teachers and learners. These are also the low-lying areas in teaching and learning foreign languages ​​in recent times.

Many shortcomings in practice

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thi Hong Nhung, Principal of the University of Foreign Languages ​​( Hue University), shared that some teachers who participated in the training course had to struggle for 7-8 years to meet the standards. That journey was a terrible pressure for them. Ms. Nhung said that when the test and assessment of foreign language teachers' qualifications were implemented, teachers and managers were confused. When the results were available, teachers were not accepted directly but sent back to the school. The schools publicly announced the identities of teachers who had not met the standards.

From that situation, teachers go to class every day to teach students with the "label" of not meeting the standards. That information is even repeated at school meetings. When it comes to training, it is also intensive, teachers study during the summer and on the weekends. During the recent standard-raising period, these teachers feel a lot of pressure.

“A teacher told me that a colleague had achieved C1 standard but the test results of the students were lower than the class she taught. That was the motivation for her to continue studying and teaching to improve the standards,” said Ms. Nhung. Some teachers applied the same method they taught their students, which was to accept that they were weaker in order to have the courage to overcome. “Teachers said that they were “in pain” when they went through the past period,” said Ms. Nhung.

According to the University of Foreign Languages ​​(Hanoi National University), out of 1,000 new students majoring in English and English Pedagogy, 700 students achieved the C1 output standard (level 5), 250 students achieved B2 (level 4), and only 50 students achieved B1 (level 3). The foreign language proficiency of Vietnamese students at the university entrance level is largely due to parents' investment in their children to study at foreign language centers. Before 2025, when foreign languages ​​are a compulsory subject, the foreign language score distribution clearly shows this with two peaks.

Ms. Nhung believes that teachers are really traumatized. Sharing these things is not to justify teachers but to gain experience for the next stage, when English becomes the second language in schools. At that time, teachers of all subjects must be trained and fostered.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Huu said that making English the second language in schools means making it the language of communication and teaching in schools. Not only that, the bigger goal is that all teachers can teach in English. Dr. Mai Huu admitted that this is a challenge: “Learning English alone is difficult, not to mention applying English to teaching all other subjects in schools. Many schools and localities are very deprived, but still make efforts to implement the policy of making English the second language in schools, this is very valuable and for the common goal of education”.

As a manager, Ms. Huu believes that in order to implement this major policy, more investment in facilities and equipment support from units and organizations is needed. She hopes that units will join hands so that local educational institutions can overcome difficulties and meet the set goals of integrating English into many subjects.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/tieng-anh-thanh-ngon-ngu-thu-2-trong-truong-hoc-muc-tieu-lon-day-thach-thuc-post1780080.tpo