Contents

I. Introduction...........................................................................................2
1. Objectives of training English major in Thuyloi University.........2
2. The importance of learning multiple languages at Thuyloi
University...............................................................................................2
3. Curriculum for english major:.........................................................2
4. Statement of the study.......................................................................3
5. Aim of the study.................................................................................3
II. Literature review.................................................................................3
1. Learning multiple languages............................................................3
2. Solution...............................................................................................5
I. Introduction
1. Objectives of training English major in Thuyloi University
English is currently getting more and more widely used over the
world.Keeping up with the trend, Thuy loi university opened a major in
English in 2021.The English major's educational goal is to provide
students with high-level professional knowledge and abilities.
Additionally, it aids students in developing their political and moral
character, as well as their work a formal manner. In addition, students
who learn English are able to function well in English-speaking
professional domains, increasing job opportunities and fulfilling societal
demands. Finally, during the process of global integration, students can
easily integrate into the economy.
2. The importance of learning multiple languages at Thuyloi
University
With the English subject's distinct educational objective, it is rapidly
becoming clearer that learning and speaking different languages in
college is crucial. For university students, learning various languages can
provide a number of advantages. Learning various languages will assist
you accomplish the objectives of your program; for instance, learning
Chinese or Japanese as a second required foreign language. Additionally,
it aids students in developing their critical thinking abilities and
expanding their knowledge. Learning other languages paves the way for a
student to pursue research in a range of subject areas and gives them a
better awareness of various cultures, traditions, and styles. by studying
several languages, one might learn various customs. It may promote
awareness to cultural differences and an appreciation of variety..
University graduates' professional opportunities can be considerably
increased by multilingualism. Particularly in the current global economy,
multinational firms and international organizations favor people who
speak multiple languages.Students who speak several languages will find
it easier to interact with locals and navigate foreign environments. It may
also offer up opportunities for overseas internships and study abroad
courses.
3. Curriculum for english major:
Thuyloi University started introduced English teaching program and
enrolling students in 2021. In addition to general education such as:
political subjects and communication skills, students must receive
professional education: core subjects and core units. Introduction to
English Phonetics and Phonology, British-American Country Study are
two examples of core units. Moreover, students also study selective units:
English for Economics and Business Communication, English for
Finance and Banking, etc. English linguistics at Thuyloi University
consists of two specialisms: "Translation and Interpretation" (TI) and
"Administration and Communication"(AC). For TI students, they have
compulsory units related to interpreting, translating and even the art of
speaking public. As for AC students, they study about project
management, event management or human resources management,etc.
Although studying different subjects, all English majored students must
complete 140 credits to receive a full-time bachelor degree.
Along with teaching students to master aspects of English, Thuyloi
University also teaches students a third language. English majored under-
graduates at Thuyloi university, they are given the choice of the third
language they will learn to be Korean, Japanese, or Chinese. Third
language makes up four credits in the training program. Students learn
two third language modules in their third and fourth semester. The output
of third language is not a certificate, students only need to complete all
modules of the university.
4. Statement of the study
For English major students at Thuyloi university, in addition to English –
foreign language they have learnt for many years, they have to acquire a
new language (third language) as a beginner. Third language - a non-
native one is acquired by learners who have studied two other
languages(Cenoz, J. ,2003). This may make them face challenges in
learning in multiple aspects. Therefore, reseachers made a decision to
study about difficulties learning multiple foreign languages experiencing
by English majored undergraduates at Thuyloi University.
5. Aim of the study
This study is conducted to examine the difficulties when learning
multiple languages experiencing by English majored under-graduates at
Thuyloi University and feasible solutions will be given to them.

II. Literature review

1. Learning multiple languages
Learning two foreign languages can be daunting, but it has several
benefits.
There are numerous benefits to learning multiple languages. Here are
some of the most important ones: According to a study by Bialystok et al.
(2012)(1), bilinguals demonstrated better cognitive control, which can be
beneficial in academic and professional settings. Besides, knowing two
foreign languages can be a valuable asset in the job market in today's
globalized world. Employers often seek employees who can
communicate in multiple languages, especially those in international
industries.
However, there are also several contributing factors that can make it
difficult for English major undergraduate students to learn multiple
foreign languages such as confusion and mixing languages.
The research findings were interpreted to mean that there is only so much
space or capacity available in our brains for language; therefore if we
divide that space between two languages, neither will develop properly
and intellectual confusion will result in confusion. bilingualism causes
confusion in thinking, emotional insecurity, and school failures. Also, the
similarity of form, spoken or written, between words may result in
confusion between the two words, in comprehension and in production.
Many pairs/groups of words with multiple meanings and different affixes.
When learners only learn one meaning of a word, put in another case they
will have difficulty translating. How to remember which words to use?
Take the first letter of each word as your cue.
Learning multiple foreign languages can be a challenging task, and there
are several factors that can contribute to these difficulties. Many studies
reveal more of the factors that can influence the learning of multiple
foreign languages: first, the mother tongue or first language of the learner
can influence the learning of foreign languages. Some languages have the
same structures and vocabulary, making them easier to learn, while others
can be quite different. For instance, French speakers will be completely
different in structure from Chinese, making it difficult for them.
Manrique (2013) stated that mispronunciation and grammatical errors are
the most common types of interference between the mother tongue and
the target language.
The environment in which language learning takes place can also be a
factor. If the learner is immersed in a culture where a foreign language is
spoken and has many opportunities to practice, it can be easier to learn.
However, if the learner does not have access to native speakers or has
limited exposure to the language, acquiring the language can be more
difficult. The conditions under which the language is learned can also
play a role. For example, if the learner is learning multiple languages
simultaneously or close together, it can be more challenging to
distinguish between the different languages and avoid confusion.
Additionally, if the learner is under stress or pressure, this can negatively
impact language learning. The learning conditions in which a person
studies a foreign language can also contribute to the difficulty of learning
multiple languages. For example, if learners are required to learn several
languages simultaneously, they may struggle to keep them all straight.
Additionally, if learners are forced to learn in a way that does not suit
their learning style or if they do not have enough time to practice, they
may find it difficult to progress.
Finally, regarding vocabulary and grammar, a language contains many
tens of thousands of words, the majority of these words have multiple
meanings, so it is hard to teach and learn via a method of direct teaching.
Moreover, for each word ultimately seven types of information has to be
learned: phonological and orthographic, syntactic, morphological,
pragmatic, articulatory, idiomatic, and semantic information (Schreuder,
1987), (Annette M. B. de Groot and Janet G. van Hell, 2015). Because of
it, the students always feel learning English and Chinese vocabularies is
too difficult to understand and remember.
2. Solution
Learning a new language can be challenging, but with the right strategies
and approach, students can increase their learning productivity and
achieve their language learning goals. What follow is some solutions
given in many studies divided into two major parts: teaching method,
autodidactic method, technology method.
First and foremost is teaching method. The educator must cultivate the
ability to see themselves clearly and objective through reflection and self-
analysis in an age of rapid technological advance. Because the news is
constantly updated, so the teacher should keep up with current events
especially usage of information technology in teaching foreign language.
If the teacher does not update their knowledge gradually, it quickly
becomes obsolete, especially in the social sector. Through the Internet
comprise such services as social media sites, websites, radio and
television; the teacher can use massive amounts of data to study and read
constantly. More and more, these teachers build their own personal
learning network and connect with other teachers around the world to
share what they know and help others learn (Couros, 2008). As teacher
play a vital role in the intellectual growth of students, improving their
teaching skills should be at the top of an educator’s priority list. Poor
teaching skills can have far-reaching effects in their lives since the
students’ awareness of the classroom experience relies greatly on the
schoolteacher’s performance. Beside, the rapid development of
technology has forced teachers to master and ultilize technology to align
with the learners. Teachers who integrate technology in their learning
activities will make learning activities more enjoyable. Students
understand learning materials better, which ultimately improve the
quality of learning outcomes (Shirley, 2018), (Emilda Sulasmi, 2022). So,
teachers should do high-tech devices.
The second is autodidactic method. Vocabulary is an integral part of
learning foreign language but it is so hard to remember the new words as
stated above. Because of this matter researchers investigated to increase
student's learning through visual element. According Nelson (1976), the
typical finding that pictures are easier to remember than their verbal
labels, the pictorial superiority effect, may be accounted for in terms of
the relative distinctiveness of their visual features. So the learner should
learn new words through films, videos, photos to retain and understand
new vocabulary. Using visual aids is a great way to memorize
vocabularies. Furthermore, a dictionary is one of the most important tools
when students learn foreign language. Based on Dr. Ece SARIGUL
(2016), it is obvious that the dictionary can be an extremely useful
learning resource, especially as it makes the learner more independent of
the teacher. If the students learn how to use a dictionary effectively, then
the dictionary can be a very helpful resource for their studies. The learner
can use dictionary to learn the pronunciation, different meaning and
example sentence in which the word used.