From which grade in Vietnam is foreign language a compulsory subject?

From which grade in Vietnam is foreign language a compulsory subject?

Based on the General Education Program for English issued with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT:

English is a mandatory subject in the general education program from grade 3 to grade 12. As one of the fundamental subjects in school, English not only helps students form and develop communication skills in English but also contributes to the formation and development of general competencies to live and work more effectively, learn other subjects well, and support lifelong learning.

The English subject provides students with an important international communication tool, facilitating the exchange of information, scientific and technical knowledge, understanding of cultures, thereby contributing to creating mutual understanding among nations, shaping global citizenship awareness, and contributing to the development of individual qualities and capabilities. Through learning English and exploring different cultures, students can better understand and appreciate the language and culture of their own nation.

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Thus, the foreign language subject, specifically English, is a mandatory subject in the general education program from grade 3 to grade 12.

From which grade in Vietnam is foreign language an elective subject?

According to Subsection 1, Section II Official Dispatch 3818/BGDDT-GDTH in 2023:

Content

1. Elective Foreign Language 1 in grade 1 and grade 2.

Based on the needs of students, parents, and the capacity to meet assurance conditions, educational institutions organize the selection of Foreign Language 1 subjects among English, French, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, or German according to the guidance from the Ministry of Education and Training.

When implementing elective Foreign Language 1 in grade 1 and grade 2, care must be taken to ensure continuity with the mandatory foreign language subject from grade 3; the teaching duration should be suitable for the initial familiarization form, not causing overload for students; perform assessment evaluations, focusing on regular assessments to support learning, not using assessment results for grade advancement; elective Foreign Language 1 in grade 1 and grade 2 must be reflected in the school's educational plan as prescribed.

For the English subject, use textbooks from the list approved by the Ministry of Education and Training; for other Foreign Language 1 subjects, educational institutions select materials according to authority and regulations from the Ministry of Education and Training.

Thus, a foreign language is an elective subject in grade 1 and grade 2. Based on the needs of students, parents, and the capacity to meet assurance conditions, educational institutions organize the selection of Foreign Language 1 subjects among English, French, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, or German according to the guidance from the Ministry of Education and Training.

For the English subject, use textbooks from the list approved by the Ministry of Education and Training; for other Foreign Language 1 subjects, educational institutions select materials according to authority and regulations from the Ministry of Education and Training.

From which grade in Vietnam is foreign language a compulsory subject?​ (Image from the Internet)

What foreign language subjects are there in the national high school graduation exams in Vietnam?

Based on Article 3 of the Regulation issued with Circular 15/2020/TT-BGDDT (amended by Clause 1 Article 1 Circular 02/2024/TT-BGDDT), the exam subjects are regulated as follows:

Examination Subjects

Conduct 05 (five) exam subjects, including: 03 (three) independent subjects are Mathematics, Literature, Foreign Languages (English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Korean); 01 (one) combined exam subject of Natural Sciences (abbreviated as NCKT) includes component subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology; 01 (one) combined exam subject of Social Sciences (abbreviated as SS) includes component subjects of History, Geography, and Civic Education for students in the general secondary education program or the component subjects of History, Geography for students in the continuing education program at the high school level.

Thus, the foreign language subjects in the national high school graduation exams are:

- English,

- Russian,

- French,

- Chinese,

- German,

- Japanese,

- Korean.

In which form is a foreign language subject conducted in the national high school graduation exams in Vietnam?

Based on Article 4 of the Regulation issued with Circular 15/2020/TT-BGDDT regulating the exam date, schedule, content, form, and time for each exam subject:

Exam Date, Schedule, Content, Form, and Time for Each Subject

1. Exam date, schedule: Specified in the annual guidance on organizing the national high school graduation exam by the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. Exam content: Content lies within the high school program, mainly grade 12.

3. Exam form: The Mathematics, Foreign Languages, NCKT, and SS exams are conducted in the form of multiple-choice tests (collectively called multiple-choice exams); the Literature exam is conducted in the form of an essay (collectively called essay exams).

4. Exam time for each subject: Literature 120 minutes; Mathematics 90 minutes; Foreign Languages 60 minutes; 50 minutes for each component subject of the NCKT and SS exams.

Thus, the foreign language subject in the national high school graduation exams is conducted in the form of multiple-choice.