ABSTRACT

This timely volume opens a window on issues related to English language education in Vietnam. The authors consider that teacher quality is the key factor to be considered if the national English language curriculum outcomes are to be achievable. Aiming to shed light on key issues recently observed in the Vietnamese landscape of English language education, it examines the complexity of the institutionalization of the standardized English proficiency policy, which has been in force since 2008. That policy uses the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) as the model to set the standards and levels of proficiency for teachers, learners and state employees.

The book presents both the theoretical and practical aspects of the standardization movement in English language education. The contents comprise a series of extended research-based chapters written by experts of language-in-education policy and planning in and about Vietnam from a range of perspectives including teachers, English language curriculum developers, teacher educators and researchers. The rich coverage of the book includes current discussion on English language education in Vietnam ranging from policy to practice, making it highly relevant to English teachers, teacher educators, and scholars, in Vietnam and worldwide, who aspire to broaden their horizons and professionalism.

chapter 1|16 pages

English language teaching in Vietnam

Aspirations, realities, and challenges

chapter 3|18 pages

Risk, uncertainty, and vulnerability

Primary teachers’ emotional experiences of English language policy implementation

chapter 7|18 pages

University lecturers’ perceived challenges in EMI

Implications for teacher professional development

chapter 9|16 pages

An evaluation of the intercultural orientation of secondary English textbooks in Vietnam

How well are students prepared to communicate in global contexts?

chapter 10|18 pages

English as a lingua franca for Vietnam

Current issues and future directions

chapter 11|13 pages

Building teacher capacity for ELT in Vietnam

Ways forward