Many experts believe that the decision to remove foreign languages from the compulsory subjects of the high school graduation exam will have a positive impact on the learning and teaching process (illustrative photo).
On November 29, the Ministry of Education and Training "finalized" the high school graduation exam plan from 2025. Accordingly, candidates will take 4 subjects including: 2 compulsory subjects (literature, math) and 2 elective subjects (from foreign languages, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, economic and legal education, information technology, technology). Notably, foreign languages are no longer a compulsory subject as before.
Many opinions say that making foreign languages an elective subject can "eliminate" learning motivation, "prevent" students from integrating internationally and negatively impact the National Foreign Language Project, which has a budget of nearly 10,000 billion VND.
However, many experts believe that these are unfounded views, and believe that not requiring foreign language exams will bring many positive effects to both teachers and students.
Mr. Hoang Anh Khoa, Master of English Teaching, St. Andrews University (UK), is currently the Academic Director of The M-english Home ( Hanoi ).
Teachers and students no longer "study for exams"
Explaining more clearly, an English teaching expert (currently working at colleges and universities in Ho Chi Minh City) said that the high school graduation exam cannot comprehensively assess the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of candidates. Colleges and universities require a certain level of English proficiency in their output standards, consider English subjects when enrolling students or require international English certificates at the entrance.
"Therefore, considering English as an optional subject does not mean that students' English proficiency will decline or 'hinder' their international integration. Reality also proves that the current General Education Program cannot help students become good at English, especially in communication. Only when colleges and universities remove foreign language requirements will it be alarming," the expert commented.
Sharing the same opinion, Master Nguyen Nhat Quang, Head of the Foreign Languages and International Cooperation Department of Nova College (HCMC), said that the high school graduation exam in foreign languages does not help students improve their foreign language skills because it only aims to review what they have learned, mainly grammar and vocabulary.
According to Mr. Quang, the fact that foreign languages are no longer a compulsory subject in high school exams will have a big impact on teaching in the future, but in a more positive direction. Because teachers will be "untied", no longer teaching for exams but teaching to help students meet the requirements of the labor market. In the long term, this will increase the rate of real learning instead of just coping with exams. "But in the short term, students' foreign language skills in grammar and vocabulary will decrease and many exam preparation centers will face difficulties," Mr. Quang predicted.
English teachers attend a professional event held in mid-November 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City to develop pedagogical capacity
Education experts also shared that it is not about forcing students to take exams, but rather how teachers teach so that students love it. Currently, the English teacher community in Vietnam is very large and is constantly updated with advanced teaching methods. "The important thing is whether teachers are willing to change their thinking or not, and this is the important factor that helps students develop their English skills," Mr. Quang raised the issue.
"In general, foreign languages in general and English in particular are necessary skills no matter what job you do. However, learning must come from your own needs to be effective and motivating. And an advanced education is a place that truly empowers learners, not using administrative power to coerce them," Master Quang emphasized.
Opens up many opportunities
Mr. Hoang Anh Khoa, a master of English teaching at St. Andrews University (UK), currently the Academic Director of The M-english Home (HCMC), further analyzed the opportunities that open up for students when foreign languages are no longer a compulsory subject. Accordingly, students who do not have the conditions to develop foreign languages, especially in "lowland areas", can still take the high school graduation exam and study at a higher level with their own strengths.
"Removing a compulsory subject also makes the exam easier and when you go to university, you will have more time to invest in English in a deep and practical way. In general, learning a foreign language is a lifelong task, not just stopping at high school years. And whether or not to study a foreign language is a matter of awareness, not forcing it to be effective," commented an expert who achieved 8.5 IELTS.
Mr. Khoa also commented that "finalizing" the 2+2 option will not lead to the prospect of everyone abandoning foreign languages, but even the opposite. "English teachers will no longer teach tricks to cope and English learners will also proactively strive for their goals. Because learning English is their choice, and the university is also their choice. Everything will be more positive when there is motivation from within," said Mr. Khoa.
Candidates check their answers after finishing the English test of the 2023 high school graduation exam
"Don't panic" is the message that Mr. Dinh Quang Tung, Academic Director of YSchool, sent to teachers and students. According to Mr. Tung, many children have started learning English since kindergarten and their families do not aim for the high school graduation exam, but rather study abroad or take a certificate to enter a domestic university. "Therefore, the need to learn a foreign language will only change if colleges and universities no longer require this ability in the conditions of considering entrance and exit standards," said Mr. Tung.
"Students need to imagine that whether they have the opportunity to integrate internationally or not comes from their own choices, not from any exam. If they do not take the high school graduation exam in English, they have many other options such as international and domestic English certificates to assess their own abilities," Mr. Tung shared.
English will be a tool instead of a subject .
From the perspective of someone who loves English, I think we should not be pessimistic when English is no longer a compulsory subject in the high school graduation exam from 2025. Because English has been and is a tool in today's flat world, not just a subject anymore.
Rural students in An Giang province confidently present in English
In recent years, many parents have focused on investing in foreign languages for their children, especially English. The English proficiency of students in rural and urban areas is no longer too far apart, as evidenced by the fact that many students in rural areas have achieved high results in language speaking competitions or international certification exams.
Recently, I had the opportunity to follow a friend who is an English teacher to attend an English speaking contest with the theme of Vietnamese Teachers' Day in a rural commune in An Giang province. I went from one surprise to another with the English ability of students from surrounding schools - Confidently presenting topics along with the application of smart technology.
Teaching and learning English in Vietnam today mostly only meets the necessary conditions for learners. In general schools - the foundation for forming the most basic things in learning a foreign language - English is often still taught in a conventional way, despite the innovative thinking of Project 2020. From another perspective, the mandatory foreign language criteria and standards required by job requirements have created negative aspects in testing and certification. Are those who get certificates in a hurry to study and take exams confident enough in their foreign language skills? There are many reasons, but one of the most basic reasons is that they study in a hurry, take exams in a hurry, and do not have the conditions to improve their language. Learning a foreign language and getting a certificate is necessary, but how to make learners feel confident with highly reliable certificates is important.
English will be one of the keys to access the source of human knowledge because of its global nature. Teaching and learning must be oriented towards approaching the world outside the pages of books and need to be focused more. Therefore, English becoming an elective subject in the high school graduation exam will create a positive effect on teaching and learning English because teachers will put aside the pressure of scores to focus on positive teaching thinking for their students.
Le Tan Thoi (teacher at Nguyen Dang Son Secondary School, Cho Moi District, An Giang)
How did the students react?
When foreign languages become an optional subject in the high school graduation exam, Lam Vinh Khon, a 9th grade student at Hong Bang Secondary School (HCMC), said that he would have a "lighter burden" because he would not have to "bury his head in studying for the exam". However, according to the male student, English is still a very necessary tool to "access" the future world, so he will continue to practice this ability, especially in a more practical way.
Nguyen Ngoc Bao Hoang, an 11th grade student at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School (HCMC), is concerned about the Ministry of Education and Training's decision. According to Hoang, the exam is an important milestone for students to re-evaluate their English proficiency after many years of studying. "If compulsory exams are eliminated, schools can 'do it' by designing the final exam for grade 12 English as a high school graduation exam," the female student suggested.
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