2.1.1 Teaching and Learning English at Primary Schools in Vietnam
Teaching and learning English at primary level have attracted great interest from schools, parents, managers and educational strategic planners as well.
According to Trinh Quoc Thai (2005), primary students in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City have started to learn English since 1990s at English centers or clubs.
In 1996, MOET issued an official document that permits some primary schools to teach English as an elective subject with 2 periods per week.
In 2000, some Departments of Education and Training gradually considered English as a main subject by publishing the guidance document concerning teaching English at primary schools and opening training courses on teaching methodology for teachers. In 2003, MOET officially issued the English primary curriculum beginning with grade 3 with 2 periods per week.
From the year 2010-2011, MOET launched the pilot teaching program for third grade according to 2020 National Foreign Project at 92 primary schools nationwide. English is taught 3 periods a week. The curriculum covers 4 skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), in which particular emphasis is laid on listening and speaking at the early stage.
2.1.2 The National Foreign Language 2020 Project
MOET is currently launching the Project entitled “Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System, Period 2008-2020” which was approved by the Prime Minister on September 2008 (For more detail, see
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Appendix 5). The National Foreign Language (NFL) 2020 Project specifies the goals of teaching and learning English within the national education system and identifies seven tasks at both macro and micro level for implementing the project in three different phases (2008-2010, 2011-2015 and 2016-2020) at a projected cost of 9,378 billion VND.
The main goals of the project include increasing the use of foreign languages, mainly English in teaching and the foreign language competence amongst Vietnamese young people: so that “… by 2020 most Vietnamese youth whoever graduate from vocational schools, colleges and universities gain the capacity to use a foreign language independently. This will enable them to be more confident communication, further their chance to study and work in an integrated and multicultural environment with variety of languages. This goal also makes language an advantage for Vietnamese people, serving the cause of industrialization and modernization for the country”. (For more detail, see Appendix 5)
In order to achieve these goals, ten specific tasks have been designed.
Centrally important to the tasks are making of language programs compiled with the 10-year National Curriculum for English from primary, lower secondary to upper secondary schools which will be launched nationwide from the year 2011- 2012. The completion of the textbook writing, the procedures of assessment and training courses on teaching methodology for teachers and the upgrading of teaching and learning facilities, etc.
2.1.3 The Pilot English Curriculum for Vietnamese Primary Schools
The Pilot English Curriculum for Vietnamese Primary Schools is designed and developed with the whole time of 420 periods, from grade 3 to grade 5, 140 periods for grade 3, 140 periods for grade 4 and 140 periods for grade 5. In regard to principles of curriculum design and development, after finishing the curriculum, students will be able to reach A1 level as specified in the CFFR.
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Specifically, students can understand and use daily expressions and simple phrases to meet communicative need. They can know how to introduce themselves and others, know how to ask and answer questions about personal information and will be able to carry out simple conversations in English.
Specific goals of the curriculum are to help primary students form and develop English communicative competence through 4 skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), in which, speaking and listening are given priority.
Students show their basic knowledge of English including vocabulary, phonetic, grammar, and understanding of English-speaking country‟s people and culture.
The curriculum equips students with positive attitude towards learning English, which boots knowledge and love for their language and culture, forms strategies to learn English effectively and provides a basis for studying another language in the future. Students‟ study results are shown in 2 forms of testing: continuous and periodic. Basing on the facts of communicative competence students have achieved in their learning process. The forms of testing also rely on teachers‟
observation and feedback during the school year. Testing is various, both written test and oral test, and is a combination of 4 language skills.
2.1.4 Tiếng Anh 3 - Tập 1
The textbook Tiếng Anh 3 - Tập 1 is the first of the three-level English course books for Vietnamese primary school pupils learning English as a foreign language (EFL). The teaching contents for each unit are summarized in a book map which is provided on the first page of the textbook. It is accompanied with an audio CD, student‟s workbook and teacher‟s manual.
The book follows a systematic, cyclical and theme-based syllabus, approved by the Ministry of Education and Training in August, 2010, which takes a thorough development of skills, but gives particular emphasis to listening and speaking at the early stage. The textbook reflects the carefully sequenced pedagogy of warm-up, presentation, practice, application and assessment to develop language
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and developmental skills through two macro themes - Me and My Friends, Me and My School.
There are ten teaching units and two review units. Each teaching unit covers a topic (see table) and is structured into different sections: Look, Listen and Repeat, Point and Say, let’s Talk, Listen and Tick, Let’s Write, Let’s Sing, Listen and Number, Read and Complete, Read and Match, Read and Write, Let’s Chant and Project. Ten units richly illustrated, cross-curricular and theme-based units focus on offering pupils motivation, memorable lessons and a joyful learning experience of English. Clear lessons follow a logical progression and include a wide range of learning styles with activities that help pupils develop coordination, critical thinking, pre-language skills as they learn to speak and understand English.
Singing activities, total physical response (TPR) chants, and exciting games reinforce previously learnt vocabulary, motivate pupils and help them build confidence in communicating in English. There is a glossary at the end of the textbook. The glossary contains Vietnamese translation for each word.
2.1.5 Family and Friends - Grade 3
The Family and Friends - Grade 3 set has been used in a number of primary schools in Vietnam since mid 1990s. Currently, there are three different versions of Family and Friends in use. The first version compiled by Oxford University Press is a seven-level primary series which offers teachers a package of integrated print and digital resources. It combines a phonics programme, skills training and a fast-paced language syllabus with comprehensive testing material and civic education. The second version is Family and Friends (American English) which is a six-level primary course offering an exceptionally strong skill-training programme covering language, phonics and civic education. The last version and also the one I evaluate and compare with Tiếng Anh 3 - Tập 1 is a three-level primary course which is said to be designed in accordance with the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training‟s primary curriculum. It
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comprises Family and Friends - Grade 3, Family and Friends - Grade 4, Family and Friends - Grade 5. Family and Friends - Grade 3 contains 9 units. After every three units, there is one review unit. Each unit is organized by a set pattern of different components including Listen, Point and Repeat, Listen and Chant, Listen and Read, Ask and Answer, Listen and Tick, Match, Write, etc… The teaching contents for each unit are summarized in a book map which is provided on the first page of the textbook. It is accompanied by a Student MultiROM, Student‟s Workbook, and Teacher‟s book, Audio Class CDs, Digital Class Resources and a Website. It provides exceptional strong skills training with extra classroom activities in the Photocopy Masters Book, a unique phonics programme, and plenty of practice for the Cambridge Young learners English Tests. There is a glossary at the end of the textbook.