International Conference in TESOL ENGLISH FOR ALL “Innovation in English Language Education in Vietnam: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions Hue, 15 September, 2010 Nguyen Ngoc Hung National Foregn Languages 2020 Project, MOET nnhung@moet.edu.vn

A. Challenges 1. Foreign langauges are taught as a subject at schools and colleges (98% study English, 2% for Russian, Chinese, French, German and Japanese). 2. Students can not communicate or use English in their study after 7 years at school and 2 more years at college 3. Teachers at both primary and secondary need improvement in language proficiency and teaching methodologies (62,000 secondary English teachers plus 24,000 for primary education from grade 3. 4. Classrooms are over crowded (45 or 50 sts/class)

A. Challenges 5. Centrally dictated textbooks, strict control of syllabus 6. Equipments are available with no or limited software 7. No English libraries at schools 8. Teaching and learning are geared toward exams with main focus on grammar and translation 9. No professional organizations to advise government and provide professional supports for teachers 10. Teachers’ salery is too low (500.000 VND per month after paying insurence for primary teachers) 11. Working and learning environment, recruitment and employment policies neglect requirements for language ability.

B. Opportunities 1. Strong commitment from Ministries, Government and highly demanded by industries, students and parents 2. Teachers and students are aware of the importance of English for professional developnent and carrer 3. English is of ASEAN Community, higher education mobility, for trade and business after Vietnam joined the WTO 4. Government’s new investment in the National Foreign Language Project from 2008-2020 5. Speedy development of technology: free broadband connection for all schools, 1 million low coast laptops for students

B. Opportunities 6. WikiCALL, British Council’ English website, U.S English portal, commercial software, cable TV 7. New government regulations for PPP open up possibility for good projects 8. Strong international cooperations and partnerships with international organizations (scholarships, teacher development and training, specialists etc. 9. Adoption of CEFR with 6 levels of proficiency and “can do” statements 10. Future English tests or assessment will be on all 4 skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) 11. New investment in National Teacher Development Centre, teacher training colleges and universities

The NFL 2020 Project Decision 1400/QĐ-TTg dated 30 September, 2008 of the Prime Minister on the Approval of the Project entitled “Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System, Period 2008-2020” Goal: “... by 2020 most Vietnamese students graduating from secondary, vocational schools, colleges and universities will be able to use a foreign language confidently in their daily communication, their study and work in an integrated, multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment, making foreign languages a comparative advantage of development for Vietnamese people in the the cause of industrialization and modernization for the country”.

Tasks 1. Establish Vietnam’s language proficiency framework consisting of 6 levels to be compatible with the Common European Framework of Reference 2. Implement new compulsory English programs at schools: Primary school level 1 (A1) lower secondary school level 2 (A2); upper secondary school, college and university at level 3 (B1). 3. Encourage schools to develop bi-lingual programs 4. Introduce a second foreign language to schools from grade 6 to grade 12 at level 2 (A2) (French, Chinese, Japanese, Germany ... 5. Teach Maths and science in English at upper secondary schools.

Tasks 6. Implement new language program for college and university students at level 3 (B1) upon graduation. 7. Students from English programs at (three-year colleges) must reach level 4 upon graduation and four-year universities level 5 (C1). 8. Core, specialization and elective courses at national and regional, priortised universities and programs are taught in English in final years at universities. 9. Apply the same standards and proficiency levels for the non-formal education system. 10. Renovate methods of assessment and testing (4 skills).

Project Schedule 1. Develop new curriculum and text books for schools Phase 1: 2008 – 2010: 1. Develop new curriculum and text books for schools 2. Evaluate teachers’ proficiency and their training needs 3. 2010 All provinces and cities shall complete their plan of the ten-year implementation of the Decision. 4. 2010 Issue guidelines on working environment that facilitates frequent and effective use of foreign languages. 5. Attract overseas Vietnamese and volunteer teachers from abroad. 6. Start teaching all advanced programs at universities in English;

Project Schedule Phase 2: 2011 - 2015: 1. Continue with the recruitment, training, upgrading of language proficiency for language teachers at different level; 2. Provide equipment for schools and key colleges and universities; 3. Launch the ten-year language program for schools; 4. Implement intensive language training program for IT, banking, finance, tourism and business areas at universities; 5. Implement the teaching of Maths and science in English at 30% of upper secondary schools in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hue, HCM city and other areas. 6. Parts of courses in the senior years at national universities, regional universities and other key universities will be offered in English, starting with about 20% students.

C. Major Solutions 1. Teachers development is the key to the success of the Project: a. Develop “Language Teachers Professional Qualification Framework and Benchmarks” b. Develop National Teacher Development Centers and invest in teacher training colleges and universities c. Develop new Teacher Development Programs for Primary English teachers d. Renovate Teacher Training Programs at all teacher training colleges and universities e. Send 200 teachers for PhD training overseas, 7,000-10,000 language teachers for Post Graduate Diplomas and/or Master degree, 5,000 subject teachers from universities for 20 week training overseas. f. Train and retrain 5,000 to 8,000 English teachers annually g. Organize study visits for school masters, key English teachers to other countries.

C. Major Solutions 2. Three Curricula at work a. Voluntary program for Primary schools b. Compulsory programs for primary, lower and upper secondary schools c. Intensive program at Primary, LS and US VIETNAM’S FOREIGN LANGUAGE [English] 2020 INITIATIVES initiatives (based on Decision 1400) are: DRAFTING FL teacher credential policies, national FL teacher standards REVIEWING NETEC curriculum review CONDUCTING standards-based teacher development (the plan to, need for research in provinces/ needs analysis) PILOTING regional resource center DEVELOPING regional resource centers DESIGNING & CONDUCTING standards-based teacher development & TE curriculum OTHER INITIATIVES include textbook development, broadcasting and webcasts of English teacher development and English teaching resources, and national and regional English speaking contests. .

C. Major Solutions 3. Digital Textbooks (2 steps) VIETNAM’S FOREIGN LANGUAGE [English] 2020 INITIATIVES initiatives (based on Decision 1400) are: DRAFTING FL teacher credential policies, national FL teacher standards REVIEWING NETEC curriculum review CONDUCTING standards-based teacher development (the plan to, need for research in provinces/ needs analysis) PILOTING regional resource center DEVELOPING regional resource centers DESIGNING & CONDUCTING standards-based teacher development & TE curriculum OTHER INITIATIVES include textbook development, broadcasting and webcasts of English teacher development and English teaching resources, and national and regional English speaking contests. .

C. Major Solutions 4. Incentives and policies: a. Review, amend, revise mechanism, regulation and policy to encourage the teaching and learning of foreign languages in the national education system. b. Revise policies on investment for language training institutions; equipment c. Increase pay for teachers; d. Issue regulations on the teaching and learning, testing and evaluation; language certification and degrees; encourage the establishment of qualified foreign language training centers and institutions.

C. Major Solutions 5. International Cooperation: a. Mobilize more foreign investment into the teaching and learning foreign language b. Encourage education institutions to establish international partnership with foreign institutions and set up exchange programs for teachers and students. c. Develop policies to promote international cooperation to attract overseas Vietnamese teachers and foreign experts to teach in Vietnam. d. Promote educational exchange, scholarship programs for both teachers and students

C. Major Solutions 6. Create language environment: a. Create favorable environment English learning for young people b. Promote social awareness, especially of young generation, on the importance of English c. Develop LLL environment for language learners; d. Make foreign language a requirement in recruitment process for governmental officials; e. Introduce quality TV and radio programs, websites, wikicall, newspapers, magazines, music and art performances and English language competitions; f. Establishment of VIETESOL, English clubs.

62,000 + 24,000 ELTs Primary, Secondary Mater Trainers, volunteers, specialists Provincial DOETS, TTUs & TTCs Teacher Development Centers Develop 8 Resource Centers (ERRCs) to address the national English goal of producing high quality English language teachers. Centers will partner with major teacher training colleges and universities in the 64 provinces in order to increase English language teaching capacity at the provincial level. As capacity is built, the provincial universities will in turn serve to address the majority of the 62,000 teachers. “Vietnam’s flagship TTUs (Cau Giay, Hue, DaNang, Can Tho, and another in HN and HCMC) will be charged with developing components of this teacher development. For instance, one or two may specialize in creating, gathering, or adapting online proficiency resources for teachers to use; another one or two may specialize in creating online proficiency assessments. “ (March 2010, ULIS collaboration meeting) Teacher Standards, programs & Government Policies Expert Working Group PMU Steering Committee Decision 1400

1. Thái Nguyên Uni 2. Quảng Ninh TTC 3.Tây Bắc Uni 4.HFLTC-VNU Giang Hà Cao Bằng Lai Châu Lào Cai Tuyên Quang Bắc Cạn Yên Bái Lạng Sơn Điện Biên Thái Nguyên Phú Thọ 1. Thái Nguyên Uni Bắc Giang Sơn La Bình Hòa Nội Hà Hải Phòng 2. Quảng Ninh TTC Thái Bình Nam Định Thanh Hóa 3.Tây Bắc Uni Nghệ An 4.HFLTC-VNU Tĩnh Hà 5. Hà Nội Uni Bình Quảng 6.Hải Dương TTC Quảng Trị Thừa Thiên Huế 7. Vinh TTU Đà Nẵng Quảng Nam 8. Huế Uni Quảng Ngãi Kon Tum 9. Đà Nẵng Uni Bình Định Gia Lai 10. Quy Nhơn Uni Phú Yên 11.Đà Lạt Uni Đắc Lắc Khánh Hòa 12.Tây Nguyên Uni Nông Đắc Bình Phước Lâm Đồng Ninh Thuận 13. HCM City TTU Bình Thuận Đồng Tháp TP.HCM Bà Rịa-Vũng Tau 14. Cần Thơ Uni Phú Quốc Bến Tre 15. Đồng Tháp Uni Kiên Giang Cần Thơ Trà Vinh Sóc Trăng Bạc Liêu Cà Mau

ĐÀ NẴNG UNI 2000GV 18 institutions = 360GV Thái Nguyên Uni Quảng Ninh College Huế Uni Vinh Uni Tây Bắc Uni ( HFLTC-VNU) HFLC - VNU Hà Nội TTU Hà Nội Uni Hưng Yên TTTU Đà Nẵng Uni Quy Nhơn Uni Đà Lạt Uni Tây Nguyên Uni TTTU HCM City TTU HCM City Cần Thơ Uni Đồng Tháp Uni 8 GV * 18 colleges and universities = 144 GV Train key teachers for Experimental Primary Schools near the institutions 18 institutions = 360GV Train Primary E teachers for schools 2000GV Train 600 E teachers for Lower Secondary schools

Students Study Record Informed teaching and guidence Teacher Face to face Personalisationextension, & pairwork, groupwork General record Self study record Students Courseware Tự học & tự luyện Study Record & Inteligent teachers Administration Better preparation= Better results

Study anywhere Teachers At school On vacation At home Study off-line All Study Records synched via Internet Study off-line Teachers Monitor, guide students

THANK YOU KÍNH CHÚC SỨC KHỎE QUÝ VỊ ĐẠI BIỂU

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