ENGLISH PROFICIENCY COMPONENT IN

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER

EDUCATION PROGRAMS
CONTEXT OF VIETNAM

Dr. Nguyen Hong Nhung

University of Languages and International Studies
Vietnam National Unviersity, Hanoi
PRESENTATION AGENDA

Current context of English education in

Vietnam

Review of English language component in

English language teacher education programs
in Vietnam

Experience of the University of Languages

and International Studies, Vietnam National
University.
 ENGLISH EDUCATION AT
SCHOOL LEVEL
English was compulsory from Grade 6 to grade 12 (before 2018)
The New National Curriculum (issued in 2018) describes levels
of English required for school levels.
English becomes compulsory from Year 3 to Year 12 since 2021.
Circular 23-24/2015 on foreign language proficiency level of
foreign language teachers at school levels.
ENGLISH EDUCATION AT HIGHER
EDUCATION LEVEL
Circular 01/2014 issuing 6-level Foreign Language
Competence Framework for Vietnam
Circular 07/2015 on competencies (including English) required
for graduates of higher education levels
‘able to understand key contents of a report/speech; use foreign language to in common professional
activities; write simple report, present ideas related to profession’

- Issuance of Framework for Foreign Language Teacher

Competencies (2019)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
COMPONENT
IN ELT BACHELOR PROGRAMS
ENGLISH EDUCATION IN ELT
PROGRAMS

General guidelines for a four-year initial teacher education program (MOET, 2010)
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TEACHER EDUCATION

Level 5 of Vietnamese Standardized Test of

English Proficiency (2017) - C1 level – CEFR
Different number of credits required by
different universities
KEY INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING LANGUAGE TEACHER
EDUCATION BACHELOR PROGRAMS IN VIETNAM

Region University
South University of Teacher Education, Ho Chi Minh City
Can Tho University
Dong Thap University
Central University of Language Teacher Education, Hue
Vinh University
North University of Teacher Education, Thai Nguyen
University of Teacher Education, Ha Noi
University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam
National University
CREDITS FOR ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN ELT
Universities
PROGRAMS
Credits for English education/ Total credits

1 University of Teacher Education, Ho Chi Minh 34/135

City
2 Can Tho University 24/135

3 Dong Thap University 48/140

4 University of Foreign Languages, Hue 44/141
University
5 Vinh University 42/126

6 University of Teacher Education, Thai Nguyen 40/132

University
7 University of Teacher Education, Ha Noi 39/135

8 University of Languages and International 39/130

Studies (2015-2021)
 Total credits Course Credits

University of Teacher 135 1 Listening-Speaking 1 3

Education, Ho Chi Minh
City 2 Reading-Writing 1 3
3 Listening-Speaking 2 3

4 Reading-Writing 2 3

5 Listening-Speaking 3 3

6 Reading-Writing 3 3
7 Listening-Speaking 4 3
8 Reading-Writing 4 3
Listening-Speaking 5 3
Reading-Writing 5 3
Total 30
 Total credits Course Credits
University of Teacher 135 1 Listening-Speaking 1 3
Education, Ha Noi
2 Reading-Writing 1 3
3 Listening-Speaking 2 3

4 Reading-Writing 2 3

5 Listening-Speaking 3 3

6 Reading-Writing 3 3
7 Listening-Speaking 4 3
8 Reading-Writing 4 3
9 Listening-Speaking 5 3
10 Reading-Writing 5 3
11 Listening-Speaking 6 3
12 Reading-Writing 6 3

Total 36
 Total credits Course Credits

University of Foreign 135 1 Listening 1 2

Languages, Hue University
2 Speaking 1 2
3 Reading 1 2
4 Writing 1 2
5 Listening 2 2
6 Speaking 2 2
7 Reading 2 2
8 Writing 2 2
9 Listening 3 2
10 Speaking 3 2
11 Reading 3 2
12 Writing 3 2
13 Listening 4 2
14 Speaking 4 2
15 Reading 4 2
16 Writing 4 2
17 Translation practice 2
18 Interpretation practice 2
 Total credits Course Credits

University of Foreign 135 Listening 5 2

Languages, Hue University
Speaking 5 2

Reading 5 2

Writing 5 2

Total 44
 Total credits Course Credits
University of Languages 130 1 English 1A 4
and International Studies
(2015 – 2021) 2 English 1B 4
3 English 2A 4

4 English 2B 4

5 English 3A 4

6 English 3B 4
7 English 4A 4
8 English 4B 4
9 English 3C 3
10 English 4C 4
Total 39
 ENGLISH PROFICIENCY COMPONENT IN
THE CURRICULA
 Developing 4 skills of English use for communicative purposes

 Starting from low level of English proficiency, A2 (CEFR) or Level

2 (Vietnamese framework)
 Teaching through Year 1 to Year 3

 Targeting the learning outcome of C1 (CEFR) or Level 5

(Vietnamese framework)
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY OF STUDENTS
ENTERING ELT BACHELOR PROGRAMS

 High-school English program is not 4-skill based

 English learning at high school is highly exam-oriented
 Different levels of English proficiency between city and rural areas

(e.g: Hanoi and Lang Son)

 ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
COMPONENT
CASE AT UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, VNU
 UNIVERSITY RECRUITMENT POLICIES
 Early/prioritized recruitment for students with provincial/national
awards in high-school subjects and from gifted-schools
 Students use the results of 3 subjects for entering university (i.e.,
Math, Literature, English)
 University entrance exam/National High-school exam is written-
based
 Institutional policies of early/prioritized recruitment for students
with IELTS, TOEFL, SAT certificate (since 2020)
 Total credits Course Credits
University of Languages 130 1 English 1A 4
and International Studies
2 English 1B 4
(2015 – 2021)
3 English 2A 4

4 English 2B 4

5 English 3A 4

6 English 3B 4
7 English 4A 4
8 English 4B 4
9 English 3C 3
10 English 4C 4
Total 39
 ENGLISH PROFICIENCY COMPONENT IN
THE CURRICULUM
 Developing 4 skills of English use for both social communicative and
academic purposes
 Starting from low level of English proficiency, A2 (CEFR) or Level 2
(Vietnamese framework)
 Teaching through Year 1 to Year 2

 Targeting the learning outcome of C1 (CEFR) or Level 5 (Vietnamese

framework)
 Having double teaching hours compared to the number of credits (some
universities)
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY OF STUDENTS RECRUITED AT ULIS

Type of students 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022

With IELTS (> 7.0) 0/157 25/157 112/180

 WHAT HAPPENED TO ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
COMPONENT IN RECENT YEARS?
 Freshman students with 7.0 IELTS either have a GAP year or jump to Year 2 on entering the
university
In 2020-2021: 25 Year 1 students joining Year 2 students

In 2021-2022: 45 Year 1 students joining Year 2 students and 67 Year 1 students have Gap year.

 Students joining Year 2 having a hard time to register courses for both Year 1 and Year 2 courses

 Students jumping to Year 2 found English proficiency courses ineffective in terms of skill
development (interview results)
 Lecturers found the teaching material inadequate (little focus on academic English compared to
communicative English) (interview results)
 Active learning approaches (project-based, inquiry based, presentation) were seen useful in
developing English language competence (students and lecturers’ interview results)
 CHANGES IN STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
COMPONENT
Total credits Course Credits
University of 132 For Students with Level 3 (B1-CEFR)
Languages and
International Studies 1 English for social purpose 1 3
(2022) 2 English for academic purpose 1 3

3 English for social purpose 2 3

4 English for academic purpose 2 3

5 College Composition 3
6 Public speaking 3
Total 18

Double teaching hours for English courses (social/academic purpose) compared

to the number of credit hours
 CHANGES IN STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
COMPONENT
Total credits Course Credits
University of 132 For Students with Level 4 (B2-CEFR)
Languages and
International Studies 1 English for social purpose 2 3
(2022) 2 English for academic purpose 2 3

3 College Composition 3

4 Public speaking 3

5 English for Contemporary Topics 1 3

6 English for Contemporary Topics 2 3
Total 18

Double teaching hours for English courses (social/academic purpose) compared

to the number of credit hours
 CHANGES IN STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
COMPONENT
Total credits Course Credits
University of 132 For Students with Level 5 (C1-CEFR)
Languages and
International Studies 1 English for Contemporary Topics 1 3
(2022) 2 English for Contemporary Topics 2 3

3 College Composition 3

4 Public speaking 3

5 English for Business Communication 3

6 Language and Media 3
Total 18
CHANGES IN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
COMPONENT
2021 - 2022 Since 2022
Proficiency-based courses Proficiency-based courses

Students are placed randomly in English Content-based courses

proficiency classes Placement test before starting the academic year
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!