ENGLISH POWER IN
VIETNAM
ASSIGNMENT 2- EDU4EGC
THI KIM HANG PHAM
18849612
11/2/17
ASSIGNMENT 2
Topic: To what extent, and in what ways, is the English language implicated in relationships
of power and access to educational, professional and economic opportunity in your country?
Do you consider this to be a mostly positive or negative situation? Give examples to support
your answer.
Introduction
English is considered as a global language as well as lingua franca in the world. The power of
English and its position is increasing dramatically in all spheres of the society, politics, economy
and education. In many countries, English, which is considered as a foreign, additional or second
language, plays a particularly important role in the context that it belongs to. According to
Phillipson (2008), English can be described as a lingua economica, lingua emotiva, lingua
academica, or a lingua cultura. In Vietnam, English has been recognized for a short time since
“Doi moi” policy was launched and conducted in 1986. English has created the positive
opportunities for Vietnamese in the process of globalization, educationalization and
commercialization. In general, English proficiency has been enhanced in the Vietnam’s context to
promote several meanings and implications of English in terms of the educational, professional
and economic opportunity.
Educational opportunity
English has consolidated its position in education and generated opportunities for educational
development. Foremost, the advance in the language as well as English teaching and learning is
probably the most important
contribution of English, which illustrates the rapid increase of
English power in Vietnam. Beginning as an elective subject for primary students from Grade 3,
English was supported insignificantly by both schools and parents. However, acknowledging about
the importance of English in the individuals and society in the era of globalization, concernment
of parents and educators about English has increased. Consequently, in the period of 2010–2011,
a pilot program of English as a compulsory subject starting from Grade 3 was implemented and
obtained noticeable success (Nguyen, 2011). Following that, almost the junior secondary schools
throughout the country offer English language studies in the teaching and learning curriculum
(Nguyen, 2005). Especially, the “National Foreign Language 2020 Project” implemented by
Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in 2008 demonstrated that English
probably contributes its great potential in the substantial development of the nation. Therefore,
ensuring sufficient English literacy for those who complete the secondary school will be the
priority of MOET by 2020. Together with this initiative, there are many strategies and campaigns
relating to the introduction of English at an earlier age, frequent English practice, textbook
modification and pedagogical programs have been conducted (Dang, Nguyen & Le, 2013, p. 53).
Currently, English has been taught not only in the public schools but also private institutions and
language centers. The widespread of English is believed as a “trend” of learning foreign language
across Vietnam, especially in the metropolitan and urban areas. It is likely that English proficiency
among Vietnamese is still a controversial issue because of the significant influence of the grammar
approach and translation method. However, the grammar approach in teaching and learning
English has been replaced flexibly in order to ensure that English learner can use English more
naturally and confidently in the academic and general environment. It seems to be that English is
an imperial language among other foreign languages in Vietnam. English potential has determined
the power, access and success in the “English industry”. Anyway, English in education is also an
industry that bring financial benefits for the educators. For instance, there is a difference between
tuition for extra English classes and other classes such as mathematics. If the tuition for a math
class is 500 thousand, that of an English class will be around 700 thousand Vietnam Dong per
month. Also, it is priced the tuition by the level of English proficiency requirement and outcome.
Indeed, the more demand of the English learner is, the more benefits of the English industry is.
In addition, English power is also in relationship and correlation with the development of other
educational majors. English as a “lingua academica” is a new notion describing the participation
of English in the academic environment in Vietnam. Educational internationalization is associated
with the international standards systems (King, 2011) and the widespread of the borrowing policy
(Rizvi & Lingard, 2010) that regulate the activities of educational institutions. English is employed
to serve the purpose of defining and describing academic notion, phenomenon and formulation.
Therefore, the use of English in Vietnamese document in the health, computer or even economic
science is nothing extraordinary. In particular, instead of using Vietnamese meaning, some authors
will use the word “paradigm” to describe accurately the meaning of the worldview that the
researcher exploit to conduct a study. English documents, research, materials reading reference
and textbooks have become a part of higher education. Normally, language in research
publications, at international conferences, and as a medium for content learning in higher education
is English. Sometimes, research is published in bilingual with the participation of English and
Vietnamese. In a further aspect, English has capacity for the connection of Vietnamese research
with the global research community. English plays a bridging role in transferring the information
from the input language to the output language. These knowledge, then will be used in studying
and researching as the major or supplemental references because it can be said that almost
knowledge in the Vietnamese curriculum is based on the global knowledge horizon.
Professional opportunity
English acquisition and proficiency has become an advantage and requirement for the professional
opportunity and promotion prospect among Vietnamese workers. McKay (2002, p.24; cited in
Fang, 2011, p.377) emphasized that “the spread of English is … a complex process brought about
both by those who actively promote the language and those who consciously choose to learn it”,
and she further explains that many individuals learn English in order to claim access to such things
as scientific and technological information, global economic trade, and higher education, the
majority of which are English-based in the fast-globalized world.
In Vietnam, almost companies and organizations highly appreciate candidates who master in
foreign language, especially English. In the recruiting information, English is one of the most
importance requirements besides experiences, educational background and personality. For
example, the salary and position may be different for those who has limited and proficient English
skills. With the equivalent ability and experience, the employee with excellent English may be
appointed to manager position while the one with lower English level is just normal staff.
Consequently, the salary is concurrently unequal. In some circumstances, competitiveness among
candidates is determined by English proficiency; therefore, almost applicants make best efforts to
acquire English in order to apply for a job after graduating. For them, English is believed as “the
end and the means” of job hunting and promoting. In the context of globalization, the flow of
capital and investment to developing countries has increased incredibly and Vietnam is not an
exception. English is prerequisite for employment in the foreign and international companies or
manufactories. Parents are willing to invest money in their children’ English learning to ensure
that they can have a better future when working for a foreign company. The trend of studying
abroad to obtain higher level of knowledge and English is becoming more popular. It has positive
impacts on the English learner because career opportunities will be opened in a wider scope that
they can decide to work in an international environment or even establish their own business with
the advantage of English and knowledge accumulated. However, this is also one of the reasons of
the brain-drain phenomenon in Vietnam.
The scope of job opportunities in different spheres is probably bigger for English masters. It is a
fact that many students in Vietnam have excellent study achievement and theoretical knowledge
but limited experience and practice; therefore, many companies are willing to training new
applicants as long as they have English proficiency. English has significant role in both individual
and collective goals with respect to professional and social success, despite the fact that the
majority of the world is non-English speaking and that those who do and have such concerns for
professional and social success are the affluent ones (Phillipson, 2001).
Generally, English is not the only language to promote professional opportunities; however, it
assisted effectively to create opportunities for the workers in their professional and for those who
are still hunting a job. In Vietnam, English may be a foreign language, but it is a linguistic imperial
among other non-native languages. English understanding has generated the competitiveness
among applicants; therefore, language skills, specially English ability will be improved and
perfected, which lead to the increase the number of labor with high quality and level for human
resource.
Economic opportunity
English is defined as an important element of the economic development in business, advertising,
commerce and trading in Vietnam. In the global context, English is “the language of imperialism,
consumerism, marketing, Hollywood, multinationals, war and oppression as well as of
opportunity, science, social movements, peace processes, human rights and intercultural
exchanges (Guilherme & Manuela, 2007, p.74)”. English is recognized as an effective tool for
improving and developing the national economy in the globalization era (Baldauf & Nguyen,
2012; Ferguson, 2006). In china, the neighbor country of Vietnam, the instrumental role of English
is performed in the visual channels and political aspects for the purposes of economic
development, modernization and internationalization (Pan & Seargeant, 2012, p.66). Similarly, the
primary purpose of increasing the power of English in Vietnam is enhancing and promoting the
economic development based on the available resources through partner establishment,
advertising, commercialization and tourism.
Such an event and network require common linguistic tools to allow for wider communication
despite the possibility of using various other languages in smaller groups or in regional and local
meetings (Guilherme & Manuela, 2007, p.75). In Vietnam, the use of English is not only to serve
big events but also small and medium conferences and meeting. Although English fluency is still
a limitation of Vietnamese speakers, the acknowledge about English importance in the business
discussion and negotiation has raised. This improvement has contributed to build and widen
business relationship with foreign companies and groups, which then in turn, creates opportunities
for co-operating with potential partners, widening and integrating into the global market. Basically,
English is only a tool for communication but without this tool, it is hard for Vietnam to connect
with the global economy. For example, with the support of English, Viet Nam has deeper
integration into the global economy, especially via such a comprehensive free trade agreement as
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) or the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC). English is also applied in advertising and enhance marketing, which brings the rapid
development for this industry. The purpose of advertising is to impart a message and introduce the
product to the consumers. Advertising in English and bilingual of English- Vietnamese has brought
it to a bigger consumer network. Also, it allows national advertising to integrate and exchange
with the area advertising achievement. Advertising is also a strategy to introduce Vietnamese
economic potentials to attract FDI (foreign direct investment) to Vietnam. In the commerce,
import and export of Vietnam exploit English to purchase with foreign partners. These partners
are the key factors determine the success and development of Vietnam’s commerce. Tourism with
the support of English as a lingua franca between foreign visitors and local people has increased
the income and number of tourists visiting Vietnam annually. What will happen if there is no
understanding people with different cultural and language background? The value of tourism will
be limited and cannot be fully exploited. English in almost panels and tourism’s advertisements is
a performance of its power.
Conclusion
English access and its power has increased in the Vietnam context in almost aspects of education,
professionals and economy. In general, English as a foreign language has positive impacts on the
development of the educational system, professional opportunities and economic prospect. These
contribution is probably continuous in the future; however, opportunities and challenges always
accompany with each other; therefore, English improvement in education will determine the
success in the other sectors.
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