Ho Chi Minh City pilots English teaching: What do schools and teachers say?

Students of Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted in a class under the Integrated English Program - Photo: SON NAM

Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, affirmed this at the conference to summarize the 2023-2024 school year and deploy tasks for the 2024-2025 school year, organized by the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City on August 16.

Piloting the use of English as the second language of instruction in the new school year

In 2024, the English test scores of Ho Chi Minh City students in the high school graduation exam continued to lead the country with an average score of 6.73. And in recent years, Ho Chi Minh City has implemented many English programs in primary, secondary and high schools.

Specifically, for the past 10 years, Ho Chi Minh City has been teaching and learning math, science and English integrated with the English Program according to Decision 5695 (Integrated Program) in a series of schools from primary, secondary to high school.

On August 15, the Politburo also announced the conclusion of the implementation of Resolution 29, which requires the education sector to promote international integration in education and training to meet the requirements of improving the quality of human resources to serve the country's development in the new period. Focus on improving foreign language skills of students, gradually making English the second language in schools.

In that context, at the conference, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong requested that Ho Chi Minh City soon have general schools using English as the second language of instruction.

According to Mr. Thuong, Ho Chi Minh City is the economic locomotive of the country and is striving to be at the regional and Asian level. Therefore, the English proficiency of Ho Chi Minh City students must be on par with the region and the world. He suggested that the city set a higher benchmark.

"How can the city have schools using English as a second language the earliest and most in the country, approaching the world's English level?", Mr. Thuong directed.

Mr. Thuong assessed that the city has sufficient basis to implement English as the second language in general schools according to the roadmap because it has pioneered in 10 years of persistent implementation of Project 5695 (teaching math and science in English), implementing socialization of education in teaching English according to the policy of the City People's Council.

In response to this directive, Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City has enough conditions and can implement English as a second language in general schools. Right at the beginning of the next school year, Ho Chi Minh City will select a number of schools to pilot English as a second language.

Good news for students in Ho Chi Minh City

Before the news that Ho Chi Minh City will pilot English as a second language in some public schools, leaders of some high schools assessed this as good news for Ho Chi Minh City students.

"I think parents in some schools in Ho Chi Minh City will highly support this policy. Because they really want their children to study in an environment where English is the second language, there will be many opportunities for their children to develop and integrate.

"In our school, the number of students participating in programs related to the use of English accounts for a high percentage at school," Ms. Tran Thi Hong Thuy, principal of Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, shared.

According to Ms. Thuy, Ho Chi Minh City has many advantages to implement English as a second language in public schools, not only because English has been included in the curriculum since grade 3, but also because the city has long had many effective English teaching programs that are trusted by parents.

On the other hand, the English test results in the city and national exams are outstandingly high, showing the students' readiness in terms of capacity.

Also very pleased with the news that Ho Chi Minh City will pilot using English as a second language in high schools, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tu, principal of the Practicing High School (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education), said that she will receive great support from parents.

"Currently, the socialized English enhancement program at our school receives 100% support from parents and 100% of students participate," said Ms. Tu.

Many advantages

According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - Head of the English Department (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education), Ho Chi Minh City has many advantages in implementing English as the second language of instruction:

1. Position and strategic vision of Ho Chi Minh City: The strategic vision of the city always aims to improve the quality of human resources, creating favorable conditions for global integration. Making English the second language in schools is not only in line with this strategic goal but also an urgent requirement to maintain and promote the position of the city.

2. The education system is quite advanced with a strong drive for innovation: Ho Chi Minh City has long been a pioneer in applying advanced educational methods with a very strong drive for innovation.

The city also has experience in successfully implementing intensive English teaching programs, integrated English... thereby creating a solid foundation for expanding this model and making English the second language in the education system.

3. A team of qualified and experienced teachers: Ho Chi Minh City has a team of English teachers who are well-trained, highly qualified and experienced. Moreover, the city also attracts a large number of foreign teachers, contributing to improving the quality of English teaching in schools.

4. Developed infrastructure and information technology: With advanced facilities and the remarkable development of information technology, schools in the city have the conditions to implement effective foreign language teaching programs.

5. Consensus and support from the community and international organizations: Ho Chi Minh City certainly receives strong support from the community, parents and international organizations in making English the second language in schools. The social potential for foreign language education in Ho Chi Minh City is very strong and abundant.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-thi-diem-dung-tieng-anh-day-hoc-nha-truong-nha-giao-noi-gi-20240817090626439.htm