CHAPTER 2: THE CONTEXT OF TEACHING ENGLISH TO
2.1. English instruction to primary children in Vietnam
2.1.1. Policy
In terms of policy, there is a strong political will for English language teaching in Vietnam.
On September 30 th , 2008 the Decision No 1400/QĐ-TTg was issued approving the project on foreign language teaching and learning in the national education system for the 2008-2020 period. This is the first official involvement of Primary Education in the teaching of foreign language in Vietnam. According to this Decision, English is introduced at primary level from Grade 3 with the target by 2018 English will be taught to 100% of primary children. After 10 years English is taught as pilot subject at primary schools, on December 22 nd 2017, the Decision 2080/QĐ-TTg was issued with the aim to adjust and further the project for the 2017 – 2025 period. Following that, English will be optional subject for students from grade 1, 2 and by the year 2025, 100% students of grade 3 will learn it as a compulsory subject follow the 10 year curriculum and gradually to upper grade.
The Ministry of Education and Training issued Decision No 50/2003/QĐ- BGD&ĐT dated November 30 th 2003 providing guidance on full-day teaching in which English is an optional subject with 2 periods per week, starting from Grade 3. Then, the Decision on the curriculum 3321/QĐ-BGDĐT mainly on the pre period of considering English as the compulsory subject at primary schools was launched. The objectives are specified as follow:
+ Forming basic English communicative skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing for students to communicate in English at schools, at home and in familiar social environment; of which, the former two skills are better focused.
(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province
+ Provide students with fundamental knowledge of English to gain primary understanding of the country, people and culture of some English speaking country.
+ Building students’ positive attitude to English, better understanding and love for Vietnamese through learning English. Furthermore, students’
intelligence, personality and learning method have also been gradually formed.
(National curriculum 2003)
The needed conditions to get the target as above are: English is taught with enough 4 periods per week and there are English specialists in every Education and training Division in Districts.
2.1.2. Implementation
Currently, English language teaching at primary level has been actively implemented.
- English is a subject from grade 3 with the time allocation from two periods to 4 periods per week depends on the condition of school’s facilities and number of English teachers at the school. English is an optional subject in grade 1, 2.
- In Ho Chi Minh City, an Intensive Program has been piloted with 8 periods per week at Grade 1 since 1998. (Nguyen Ho Thuy Anh, 2007)
It is a fact that English education at primary level has been implementing for over a decade but it is still not become a compulsory subject.
2.1.3. The way forward
MOET has just announced the programmers for Primary English.
According to this, in the school year 2020-2021 English will be compulsory subject from grade 3. Students will learn all 4 English communicative skills with 4 periods per week to achieve the aims and by the end of primary level students will get A1 level in ALTE. From 1 to 2, English will be optional subject and students will learn 2 periods per week.
Primary teachers will be required to reach standard of qualification e.g.
TKT Certificate.
(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province(LUAN.VAN.THAC.SI).The.Chanllenges.of.teaching.English.at.Primary.Schools.A.Survey.in.One.Province