STUDY ON THE DIFFICULTIES OF THUONGMAI UNIVERSITY’S SENIORS IN THE USE OF ENGLISH IN INTERNATIONAL WORK PLACEMENT AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONSa

1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THUONGMAI UNIVERSITY At first, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my supervisor, thanks for ENGLISH FACULTY your enthusiastic, knowledgeable comments, your hearty support, your guidance and wise supervision helping me in all time of the research and in completing my graduation paper Thank you for your precise advice and profound knowledge and experiences in correcting my work Second, I am glad of giving the warm thank to my group of graduation paper accompanying with me in the hard and meaningful period of time All of you as our GRADUATION PAPER instructor were standing by me and giving me the huge spirit of improving my work completely Third, on survey I would like to give the big thank to all participants who are TOPIC: STUDY ON THE DIFFICULTIES OF THUONGMAI seniors from all faculties of Thuongmai University kindly help me complete my UNIVERSITY’S SENIORS IN THEknowledge USE OFand ENGLISH graduation paper, thank for sharing all your kindness, experiences IN to me INTERNATIONAL WORK PLACEMENT AND PROPOSED Fourth, I wish to send the hearty thank to Thuongmai University that create the usefully potential opportunity for doing graduation paper, furthermore, it is the SOLUTIONS extremely great help for our work Finally, I wish to express all people giving me the great comments in helping Student: Nguyen Thi Hoai me completing my graduation paper Class: K51N2 Thank you! Student Code : 15D170086 Supervisor Hanoi, date 18 month 04 year 2019 : Mrs Pham Thi Phuong Lien Student Nguyen Thi Hoai Ha Noi - 2019 Hanoi - 2019 ABSTRACT Nowadays, in the digital era along with the quickly global integration of most of the countries all over the world, there are many entrepreneurs their international business in others countries Viet Nam with many largely potential factors which meet the requirement as politic, peace, kind people, good climate… However, one of the most vital elements attract foreigners to come here is the active and good human resources Moreover, as this development there is the extremely big need of using English - the global language is bigger and bigger Especially, the international companies were founded in Viet Nam, the need of firms about English skills of human resources is increasingly high besides their working skills As the requirement of society, Thuongmai University’s seniors have gradually taken the proper awareness of English values at international work placement Hence, they plan their learning English schedule to adapt mostly the common needs from all countries That is the reason why I would like to give this study to discover the difficulties of Thuongmai University’s seniors in the use of English at international work placement as well as some proposed solutions which help them get the precise look to work internationally professional TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .i ABSTRACT ii TABLE OF CONTENTS .iii LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii CHAPTER I: OVERVIEW OF STUDY 1 Rationale .1 Overview of the study issue Aims of the study 4 Scope of the study .4 Research methodology Organization of the study CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE VIEW Definition of international work placement 1.1 The definition of domestic working environment 1.2 The definition of international environment 1.3 The value of study at the international work placement 1.3.1 The need of study 1.3.2 The difference between the domestic and international work placement of internship as the seniors of Thuongmai university 11 The methods and the main tools 12 2.1.1 Analytical methods 12 2.1.2 Comparative method 13 2.2 The contents of international environment and its effect on the English skills of Thuongmai university’s senior 14 2.2.1 The movement of foreign firms and groups in Viet Nam .14 2.2.2 The investment of foreigners in Viet Nam 14 CHAPTER 3: THE DIFFICULTIES OF THUONGMAI UNIVERSITY’S SENIOR IN USE OF ENGLISH AT INTERNATIONAL 17 WORK PLACEMENT .17 I Thuongmai University introduction and English Faculty and Thuongmai University’s senior 17 Thuongmai University introduction 17 1.1 Thuongmai University 17 1.2 English Faculty .19 1.3 The overview of all Thuongmai University’s seniors and their Faculty 20 1.3.1 Thuongmai University’s Faculty 20 1.3.2 Thuongmai Univeristy’s seniors 21 Introduction of Unilever and Coca Cola 23 2.1 Unilever 23 2.2 Coca Cola .24 The advantages of the seniors 25 3.1 Firstly, Exposure to Different Cultures 25 3.2 Secondly, notable employers 25 3.3 Thirdly, discovering the world working situations 26 3.4 Fourth, getting the higher step of promotion 26 3.5 Finally, opportunities to develop professionally and personally 26 II The difficulties of Thuongmai University’s senior in the use of English at foreign working environment .26 The survey of Thuongmai University’s seniors in difficulties of English in the use at international work placement .26 1.1 Thuongmai University’s English level of seniors in reality 26 1.1.1 The actual English level of Thuongmai University’s seniors .26 1.1.2 The actual level of Thuongmai University’s seniors 28 1.1.3 How long have Thuongmai University’s seniors been learning English? 30 1.1.4 The requirement for Thuongmai University’s seniors’ English skills 30 1.1.5 The using English difficulties of Thuongmai University’s seniors .31 2.The plan to take part in the international work placement 33 2.1.The difference between English at University, communication and English at work 34 2.2 English in the international culture 34 CHAPTER 4: THE MEASURES AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS OF THE DIFFICULTIES 37 I The purpose of Thuongmai Univeristy’s seniors .37 Personal development .37 Working development .38 II Measures 40 III Proposed solutions 42 Mind change of Thuongmai University’s seniors and becoming the beginner again 42 Centralization on the major each Thuongmai University’s senior following .42 CONCLUSION 44 REFERENCE APPENDIX LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS THE CHARTS N o Chart Page Chart 2.1.Viet Nam beverage market in 2016 23 Chart 3.1.The interest of Thuongmai University’s seniors about working at international work placement 28 Chart 3.2.Thuongmai University’s seniors estimating their English level 29 Chart 3.3.The weaknesses of English skills of Thuongmai University’s seniors 32 THE TABLES N o Table Page Table 3.1.English level requirement output of Thuongmai University from 2016, K52 on wards 31 Table 3.2.The different accent examples of American and British 35 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS No Abbreviations Meaning TMU Thuongmai University FDI Foreign Direct Investment CPTPP Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans – Pacific Partnership EAEU Eurasia Economic Union FTA Free Trade Agreement CHAPTER I: OVERVIEW OF STUDY Rationale English language is known as the global language and is used in most of all countries all over the world As the statistic of Widipedia, English existed over 1.400 years ago and had been through a long period of time to become the current English With a huge time of use, English lasts and exists in a lot of countries namely England, The British, The United State, Canada, Ireland, … Other than that, there were from 360 to 400 million people speaking English as the primary language, 400 million people speaking English as the second language and 600 – 700 million people learning it as a necessary language in 2006 Nowadays, there are 54 countries us English as the mother tongue, as the primary language in their countries, 27 non-sovereignty countries and a huge amount of other organizations globally The world is separately at this moment as well as the riot and uncertainty is happening in many countries being the reasons why Viet Nam is the great destination for all businessmen in the world as the potential country Other than that, go along with the global integration Viet Nam also has built the infrastructure, the huge buildings, improvement of health, life quality… by itself With all the freedom, independence, happiness of citizen with the stable politics, attractive culture, huge sources, rich materials and a potential development Viet Nam is going to be a promising destination for sure in the near future With all the great benefits which attracts all the good customers and investors to come in Viet Nam Because of all, Viet Nam integrates with the development of the world Nowadays, there are many investors come to Viet Nam and their business in Viet Nam, so that they create office and also attract the Vietnamese employees to work for them who know deeply about Vietnamese life and culture along with help foreigners adapting with this country Overview of the study issue In domestic: English combines with cultures of people and that company are the focus factors at the beginning of the job if you want to settle down there It is not simple but it is the vital part of the work Work is not just a job Work is including people, the mixture of cultures, customs, regions and languages together c Working environment Between Viet Nam working environment and international one, the new generation mostly chooses the international work placement as the great choice to develop and get the higher promotion in their career as well as the desire to open their mind and challenge themselves Thus, to gain that target, they besides learn all the knowledge and English well, TMU’s seniors need to have an overview of working and getting on well with colleagues as well as development all the weak sides of themselves 36 CHAPTER 4: THE MEASURES AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS OF THE DIFFICULTIES I The purpose of Thuongmai Univeristy’s seniors Personal development In the coming years, English skills and working abilities are gradually spreading the digital era and the new, well – educated and creative generations will have to upgrade to meet most of all skills both basic working and soft skills at least To be exact, many of the seniors (not only Thuongmai University’s seniors) lack of personal skills as representation skills, communicating skills, self – solving problems and knowledge and experiences in life Then come amateurs, as seniors have lack of personal development As the Saigontimes.com.vn said, yearly, Viet Nam has around 300.000 Bachelors starting to search for occupations and has up to 60% of them work as not their major Remarkably, all of them are living in the global integration, so that in spite of having not recommended yet the great values of English support to seniors which cannot replace and reject Personal skills play an essential role to each individual life and personal work and English is either Thuongmai University’s seniors have a look of the waves and the trends of the world to guide to suitable aims Thuongmai University respects their students and seniors desiring their own aims, the values of Thuongmai University are guiding, promoting and supporting all of their choice as well as give a call of English values through English course on learning Currently, the level of English skills of Thuongmai Univerity’s seniors is honestly immediate - has a comparison with others We consciously understand the place we are, from that, going with one of the main flows, we have to cultivate our English skills as the indispensable important background of life As analysis, the purpose of many of Thuongmai University’s seniors just only wish to communicate with foreigners in English, not aim to get higher in Academic English and a main part of them often not take part in international English examinations as IELTS, TOEIC, … yet, excluding English Faculty mostly 37 It is known naturally that English in the use of communications is extremely important, however, English conversation is not enough for personal life and more than that it is the massively international working environment As seen, English conversation oftentimes is some small talks or ordinary communication so that we can use English as the most common tool to contact with the partners and additionally, body language is a supported way as others To be more exact, conversation is simpler than English academic at working, as the result, we cannot focus on English as the communicating function usage English needs appreciated in the position of the vital soft skill value in life Working development a From 1990s back The generation back, it was unnecessary that English used in life as well as working placement Most of the companies in Viet Nam were from local people and English was often underestimated as well When the domestic companies were largely conspicuous in the local market and the foreign investors did not mostly pour much money into Viet Nam yet, English was not essential at that point The firms largely produced to serve citizens and manufactured to be based on local customer’s needs Predictably, the huge amount of people did not have the correct look for English position at that moment Whereby, a big part of staff concentrated on their focus major development and English might not see as the importantly supplemented tool for occupations It is said that more than a half people who were at university and on working learning English rarely and hardly to understand that kind of language Besides that, English was known as one of the forced subjects at high school, university or any education background many years ago in Viet Nam which students had to follow Because of them, all students followed and studied without the highly judicious awareness of English position in private life and at professional work b At the present In the digital era and according to the global integration, English is gradually spreading and becoming one of the most important tools at international work 38 placement English is extremely famous and known as the very global language and people from this country to others mostly use this as taking it for granted In private life it is a lively proof for the necessary value of English, however, at professionally international working environment it is more and more especial and irreplaceable although entrepreneurs their business with the local areas from time to time Nowadays, English takes a higher step and plays a vitally huge role in Viet Nam in particular and the world in general Altogether, all companies have an objective overview in assessment of English values to their own companies Moreover, they have currently invested teaching English language, improving the English skills of their employees and cultivating the high quality human resource for them company up till now Known as the new generation in the global integration, all Universities, colleges and any education backgrounds’ seniors, especially Thuongmai University’s seniors as mentioned, must be self – image about their own English level and have suitable the high awareness of English position and place in the world and at society Having the wise recognition of this issue, Thuongmai University’s seniors are step by step training more and more in English and reaching the aims as following English is the tool for both life and job, in addition to being significant at international work placement so that seniors will have to upgrade and develop promptly themselves as naturally c In the coming years With the aim of being self – developed and professional, Thuongmai University’s seniors need to put the stern rules for themselves and English in both learning and job have to put on top of the must – study things to focus on at the present Along with the development of society media as well as technical tools to support to the learning of students and all people favorably, even a person who are learning English – however, be busy and cannot join in any English school classes in the daytime or the English night classes, still might participate the online English classes via a telephone or computer 39 English has been predictable as important as the second language in Viet Nam up till now and will be taken it for granted in the coming years Whereas, Thuongmai University’s students and seniors are focus, need to access carefully and judge the right way they are following along with English position to meet the prompt changes and opportunities of the world in the promising years II.Measures Currently, it has been through the development the world via hard historic stages, the trend which the countries and areas all over the world are following is the integration This kind of global development brings many benefits to each country namely promoting local and foreign trade, getting on well with others countries and create the strong ties among countries, exchanging cultures, languages, lifestyle, knowledge and experience,… from those, learning the suitable things and throwing out the backward ideas and living way On the other hand, the language difference is the difficulty in communicating among them and it is required that the most common global language need given to help most of countries be able to contact with others and that is the reason why English is seen as the global language SPEAKING SPEAKING WRITING WRITING ENGLISH AT ENGLISH AT WORK READING READING 40 LISTENING LISTENING Chart4.1.The English skills at international work placement of staff To meet the needs of most of firms, Thuongmai University’s seniors have to notice English skills as in chart 4.1 mentioned Comparison with communicating skills in English the speaker has to focus on speaking and listening most Nevertheless, at international working environment all people use English is just not only for communicating but is also for working professional and being in charge of responsibly creating profits for company Thus, English cannot stop at the basic level It means that if TMU’s seniors desire to work in international company they force to learning academic English fluently as one of their focus major Today, together with the development of science and technology, having useful and convenient methods helping people learning English easier and this is created main ways: face – to – face English classes and online English classes which makes flexibly with all people would like to be the English learner Some measures recommended: ● Face – to – face English class This is the traditional method and excessively useful in learning, this method still has a high effect on learning and teaching not only English language over the years ● Online English class It is highly accessed in recent years with the modern technology and new methods which help to attract the attention of English learners This is the interestingly regular and helpful way for learners, especially, with people who are lack of face – to – face English contact with native English speakers What’s more, it is the simple way to set aside money and time, notably objects are on busy working ● Self – taught method There is the method depending on face – to – face and online learning measures The English classes have the impact on the learners from outside, to memorize and understand one language people must know deeply it from inside This is actually the selective summarization the knowledge from both these methods In addition, the online methods are so-called namely Youtube, Facebook, Google, learning English Apps and websites,… where have a ton of background English knowledge and Academic English as well to push the learners at the increasingly professional level if they give it a big shot and open their minds 41 Hence, Thuongmai University’s seniors need heedfully their English level and are aware that where are the English weaknesses and concurrently fix them III Proposed solutions Mind change of Thuongmai University’s seniors and becoming the beginner again Time flies promptly so that Thuongmai University’s seniors cannot hold the inactive and out – of – date thoughts The first step as well as the most importantly deep step is to pinpoint the tremendous magnitude of English at your current job or your future work at international work placement where you are targeting English is as other languages in the world, people cannot learn it a day or two, it requires your great persistence and the big invest time and the focus mind into studying With the Thuongmai University’s seniors who are the beginners or lost English root people, it is recommended that some very stages are followed compulsorily ● Grammar and vocabulary as well as we cannot neglect the pronunciation of English (the pronunciation should be corrected by native English speakers as proposed) ● In conjunction with those, practicing the listening skill and speaking skill first to improve your English communicating skills with people and English representation in front of the crowd One way to help seniors amend swiftly is the English dictation ● One by one, therefore after basic English, the Thuongmai University’s seniors will be able to take the higher and deeper English level as the Academic English and go further The reading and writing skills will be focused as much important as speaking and listening skills Seniors can start reading the newspapers, stories, songs… from simple ones to delicate ones, each and every stage of them Centralization on the major each Thuongmai University’s senior following The international companies in Viet Nam have a variety of products and different fields, in an effort to work at the international company you are ambitious, cultivating specialized vocabulary and English are indispensable In this recommendation for the upper – immediate and high level, it is given 42 that the professions what need to use English at work have to be notably Standing on the Thuongmai University’s senior position, they are the potential human resources for a lot of companies as well as international ones so good English skills are not enough for the work position As mentioned, good soft skills, professional working skills, good in English use are on top of the requests, however, English needs focusing on their major and their international working field of each company For instance, your major is law at Thuongmai University at this point You just only have about some months left and are good at English skills, soft skills, team work skill and good knowledge of law Apparently, Thuongmai University will teach you and focus on the English in the law field the most Whereby, the more you take the specialized vocabulary you give your attention to, the more professional you get at your work in the international work placement Besides English you have learnt at University, you can open your mind via reading and listening news and getting knowledge by technology tools as Youtube, Websites, online English pages… which help you understand thoroughly the fields you aim at 43 44 CONCLUSION In the global integration, countries can vulnerable their business transnational and prompt Hence, there is the huge amount of the foreign firms investing in Viet Nam as the potential land With the open door policy of Viet Nam, the stable politic, a potential market and actively abundant human resources which are attracting the international investors coming English is currently known as the language of the whole world so that the needs of companies with human resources good at English are increasing high year over year Most of the countries their international business by using English language as the most important language tool in the lands they invest Vietnamese is the national language of Viet Nam However, along with the globalization and the big awareness of English values, Vietnamese people gradually cultivate English skills to meet to the international working environment Thuongmai University, one of top five universities in Viet Nam, which specializes in training business, accounting, audit, management and economy in Viet Nam by Ministry of Education and Training on universities evaluation program, have the correct look in the English evaluation at work placement in coming years and from that, they have built the suitable English courses to match for each major of students as well as for these seniors With the topic “A study on the difficulties of Thuongmai University’s senior in the use of English in the international work placement and the proposed solutions”, I would like to give the proper awareness of the English values to Thuongmai University’s seniors in the international working environment and simultaneously putting out the difficulties in their English learning and some proposed solutions to help them have the steady and the great next step for their own noble career From actual situations and the difficulties of Thuongmai University’s senior in the use of English in the international work placement at foreign firms, the study pointed out the focus difficulties of Thuongmai University’s senior when learning and using English at international work environment articulately and the proposed solutions are mentioned in time with the purpose of helping Thuongmai 45 University’s senior has the impersonal recognition to the English position and its massive values at their near future working placement also the rapid globalization of domestic and international companies on their business and the changes of companies’ need with their human resources Nowadays, the more active and potential new human resources are connecting with others and the countries outside, the more professional they are at work, not only domestic environment With the precise awareness of difficulties in English Thuongmai University’s seniors are meeting accurately and in hope to improve fast from now on, it is believed that they will be able to get increasingly high English level as well as overcoming all the English difficulties at international working environment 46 REFERENCE Wikipedia, English language Vneconomy.vn (2019), Viet Nam attracting over 35 billion USD about FDI in 2018 (2018) http://vneconomy.vn/viet-nam-hut-hon-35-ty-usd-von-fdi-nam-201820181225153418621.htm Wikidedia Thuongmai Unversity (2019) The general introduction of Thuongmai University (2016) https://tmu.edu.vn/vi/gioi-thieu/gioi-thieu-chung-ve-dai-hoc-thuong-mai/gioithieu-chung-ve-dai-hoc-thuong-mai-1.html (2019) Dantri.com, at the first time given the notification of 49 universities ranking in Viet Nam (2017) https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc-khuyen-hoc/lan-dau-tien-cong-bo-xep-hang-49truong-dai-hoc-viet-nam-20170906205621301.htm (2019) Reference, what is analytical research? https://www.reference.com/business-finance/analytical-research94534a536bf46028 (2019) Thwrink, Analytical method http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/AnalyticalMethod.htm (2019) Nigel Gilbert, Comparative research methods http://sru.soc.surrey.ac.uk/SRU13.html (2019) Wikipedia, Unilever (2019) 10 The introduction of Unilever Viet Nam https://www.unilever.com.vn/about/who-we-are/introduction-to-unilever/ (2019) 11 Academia, Coca – Cola Viet Nam Alalysis https://www.academia.edu/5617737/COCA_COLA_VIETNAM_ANALYSIS (2019) APPENDIX On survey, I would like to a research for the real international working environment with the topic “ A study on the difficulties of Thuongmai University’s seniors in the use of English in international work placement and proposed solutions” and I would like to give a big thank for your help Question 1: Which faculty are you studying at Thuongmai University? Question 2: How long have you been learning English? a Less than years b from to 10 years c more than 10 years Question 3: Which level you think you are at? a Perfect in English communication and academic b Fluency in using English communication c Good at English Academic d Not good much at English use e Being incomprehensible Question 4: Have you ever joined in any English examination to get international English Certificate (IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL…), please give the score in details? Question 5: How is your using - English need approximately? a No need b Need c Need very much Question 6: Have you ever worked in the international work placement? a Yes b Not yet Question 7: Do you like working in the international work placement? a Yes b No Question 8: Have you ever intended to apply at the international work placement? a Yes b No c Not yet Question 9: (For people working at international work placement) what kinds of English skills you think to need most at your work? (possibly more than responds) a Speaking b Listening c Writing d Reading Question 10: What kind of English skill are your weaknesses the most, special at your work? a Speaking b Listening c Writing d Reading e Difference Question 11: Do you think you need to improve your English skills at the moment, please give some plains or proposed solution? ... difficulties of Thuongmai University’s senior in the use of English at foreign working environment .26 The survey of Thuongmai University’s seniors in difficulties of English in the use at international. .. methodology 5.1 Theory We use all the theories involved in English and the values of it in use and put it in action The theories of senior situations and the way they use English and a research in the studies... is the difficulties in the use of English in the international work placement I use the statistics and figures of companies in Viet Nam doing the international business Besides that, I also use