Enhanced English instruction for students needed

Many schools in Dong Nai have implemented stronger English instruction, helping students become more confident and dynamic. However, making English a second language in schools, serving as a foundation for developing a generation of global citizens, remains a formidable challenge.

Teachers from Astra Foreign Language Center in Bien Hoa conduct English lessons for students at Phuoc Tan 3 Secondary School (Phuoc Tan ward). Photo: Cong Nghia

Pham Thi Thanh Ha, Principal of Tran Bien High School (Tam Hiep ward), shared: “For many years, in addition to the regular morning English classes following the general education program, the school has consistently collaborated with an English center to bring in foreign teachers to offer intensive English lessons, focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills for students in need. As a result, the students' overall English proficiency at the school is relatively strong, with many having obtained international English certificates such as IELTS even before the national high school graduation exam, qualifying them for exemption from the English test.

Helping students gain confidence in English

Nguyen Thu Thuy, a student at Tran Bien High School with a passion for learning English, shared: “The number of regular English lessons each week is still limited, so teachers can only focus on relatively basic knowledge and skills. To improve and develop strong abilities in the subject, especially listening and speaking, the best solution is additional practice at a language center. The school’s cooperation in offering intensive classes on campus is quite appropriate, as these classes are organized with a suitable size of 20 students per class and are taught directly by foreign teachers, making them even more effective.”

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thu Trang, a student at Tran Bien High School, shared: “I am striving for the goal of achieving an international English certificate IELTS 6.5 by the end of the upcoming 12th grade. Fortunately, I have been able to combine learning English through the regular curriculum with the intensive program offered right at school, so I don’t need to attend a foreign language center with high costs.”

Trang added: “Learning English at a foreign language center costs about 1.5 million VND per month, while learning enhanced English with foreign teachers at school only costs 600,000 VND for 8 sessions per month. Thus, learning English will not put too much pressure on parents regarding tuition fees.”

According to the Board of Directors of Long Binh Secondary School (Long Binh Ward), incoming 6th-grade students often have limited English skills, but after one to two years of study, most show marked improvement. In recent years, a significant number of 9th-grade students have passed the entrance exams for English-specialized 10th-grade classes at Luong The Vinh High School for the Gifted. In addition, many others have been admitted to public high schools thanks to their strong English scores.

Explaining this reality, some English teachers at the school believed that part of the reason is that the students get to learn additional English skills thanks to the school's cooperation with an outside language center that sends foreign teachers to teach.

Vu Thi Thu Huong, whose child attends Nguyen An Ninh Primary School (Tam Hiep Ward), shared: “In the past, I didn’t have the means to study English myself, but I place great importance on it for my children because English is becoming increasingly widespread and is an essential tool for integration in the future. At school, in addition to regular lessons, I also enrolled my child in enhanced English classes taught by foreign teachers. Compared to tuition at language centers, typically around 1 to 1.2 million VND per month, enhanced English classes at school cost only 300,000 VND per month. This fee is more suitable for our family’s financial situation and still delivers the desired effectiveness overall.”

Practical effectiveness needed

From Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW dated August 12, 2024, of the Politburo, continuing the implementation of Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 4, 2013, of the 11th Central Committee “On fundamentally and comprehensively renovating education and training to meet the requirements of industrialization and modernization in the context of a socialist-oriented market economy and international integration,” to Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025, of the Politburo on breakthrough in education and training development, all emphasize the need to strengthen foreign language teaching and learning, particularly gradually making English the second language in schools. English is the gateway for the young generation of Vietnam to confidently step into the world while also welcoming the quintessence of the world to Vietnam.

Recognizing the significant opportunities brought about by increasingly deep international integration, especially as Dong Nai has been identified as a key growth pole of the country, the province has, for many years, directed the education and training sector and educational institutions to strengthen and improve the quality of English teaching and learning in schools. In early 2023, the Provincial People’s Committee issued Decision No. 721/QD-UBND approving the Project on “Enhancing English Instruction in Schools Across Dong Nai Province from the 2022–2023 Academic Year.” Under this project, in addition to the official English curriculum provided by the Ministry of Education and Training, students can attend supplementary English classes taught by both Vietnamese and foreign teachers.

Indeed, up to now, implementing enhanced English instruction in schools continues to encounter numerous challenges, as it relies heavily on socialized resources, particularly contributions from parents. The principal of a secondary school in Trang Bom commune stated: “At the start of each school year, the school consistently informs parents about the importance of enhancing students’ English skills. Since the budget cannot fully support all educational activities, parental contributions are essential, yet few parents respond. Some English centers have proposed collaboration, but due to insufficient student enrollment, it is not viable to open a class.”

Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director of International Business at Viet My English Center (VMG) located in Tran Bien ward, stated that when the former provinces of Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai were merged into the new Dong Nai province, the center opened a branch in Dong Xoai ward. The primary objective was to collaborate with local schools to bring in foreign teachers to enhance students' English skills. However, nearly two months after reaching out to the schools, the desired results have yet to materialize. The reason is that schools in the former Binh Phuoc province have not previously implemented models for partnering with foreign language centers to bring in foreign teachers for enhanced English instruction. All schools expressed their hope for guidance from the Department of Education and Training to promptly implement the program, contributing to the enhancement of students’ English proficiency.

By Cong Nghia - Translated by Huyen Trang, Minho