Most students have to take extra English classes

The statistics were released by the Institute for Economic Information and Development which carried out a survey of 600 first- and fourth-year students at three schools – the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vinh University and the HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

When asked to assess their foreign language skills, 57.5 percent of students gave themselves ‘B1’, the minimum level for non-foreign language majors to finish school. Only 5.8 percent of students thought they were in ‘B2’, i.e they could use foreign languages fluently. 

Notably, 17 percent of students were still in ‘A1’ and 19.2 percent in ‘A2’, which means that after one to three years at university, they still had foreign language skills equal to high school graduates.

The survey also found that 89 percent of students have to take extra English classes to improve their English skills, because English lessons at school do not have enough practice time. 

More than 42 percent of students said they were going to English centers or extra classes organized by teachers from their schools, and 34.3 percent take extra lessons via internet, TV or radio. 

Le Phuong Hoa, head of the research team, said that approaching English lessons via internet is much easier now with the popularity of internet.

More than 94 percent of fourth-year students choose various non-school English programs, which shows that curricular English lessons cannot satisfy students’ expectations, especially fourth-year students, who have to make intensive preparations to finish school. 

More than 30 percent of students said English lessons at school can satisfy the standards set by schools for graduates. But 41.6 percent of students said they need to improve English skills to be able to find good jobs.

Interviewed students said the standards for English skills set by schools and employers are not the same. While it takes 3.3 years to satisfy the requirements set by employers, it would take 2.9 years to satisfy the requirements by schools. Only 38 percent of students said they will be able to satisfy employers’ requirements as well, and requirements of jobs.

While universities set high requirements for graduates, they do not pay appropriate attention to the teaching of foreign languages. Only 48.3 percent of students said they would be able to graduate from school if they studied English only at school.

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