VietNamNet Bridge - It is unclear if teaching English to preschool children has been prohibited or permitted. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) says ‘yes’ sometimes, and then says ‘no’ at other times.

Should preschool children learn foreign languages?

According to Chung Bich Phuong, deputy head of HCM City’s Tan Phu district’s education sub-department, only two preschools in the district have offered English-language teaching over the last 10 years. 

Meanwhile, other schools do not offer classes because they are not sure if English teaching at preschools is allowed.

While MOET’s regulations remain unclear, experts continue to argue about whether preschool children should be taught English.

Le Thi Lien Hoan, former senior official of the HCM City Education and Training Department, said in the past experts disagreed on teaching foreign languages to preschool children, believing that the children need to spend money to learn their mother tongue.

However, scientists recently proved that learning foreign languages at preschool age would not affect children’s intellectual development, and would improve their concentration. 

The learning of foreign languages would also help children better speak their mother tongue and express their ideas. 

Many benefits have been found in children’s bilingual learning, including better social communication skills and better pronunciation.

The time up to six years old is the best period for children to learn two languages at the same time.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung from the HCM City University of Education, there are three major English teaching methods 1) learning the mother tongue first and then learning English 2) learning English before learning Vietnamese and 3) learning both languages at the same time.

She said that no matter which method is chosen, children should learn English as soon as possible.

Preschools in HCM City, however, have been following their own ways in teaching English.

In most cases, preschools sign contracts with foreign-language centers on teaching English to children as an extracurricular activity. 

The schools do not have specific requirements about the English teaching curriculum, except that the centers and the teachers must be qualified.

Twenty out of 21 preschools in district 3 organize English teaching, and they have signed contracts with many different foreign language centers. 

Hoa Mai Nursery School, for example, cooperates with Sai Gon Aston International English Center. 

Meanwhile, Tuoi Tho 7 cooperates with CEC, and Tan Binh district’s Nursery School chose Poly’s program.

Since there is no guidance from MOET, schools are unsure about how to organize the teaching. 

The headmaster of a preschool in district 7 said the teaching lasted only one year before it was stopped because of many problems, including a lack of teachers.

NLD