Over 200 high school English teachers from across Ho Chi Minh City gathered on Saturday for a specialized workshop aimed at improving the quality of English instruction through a novel approach known as Linearthinking.

The event was organized at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education in District 5 by Ho Chi Minh City Education Magazine, the Southern Center for Education and Training Development under Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, and DOL English, a language learning system known for its focus on logical thinking.

“We are here to explore innovative ways to improve the way English is taught in high schools,” said Ha Dang Nhu Quynh, academic director at DOL English, who led the workshop.

Holding a master’s in English teaching from the University of Nottingham, Quynh is currently pursuing a PhD in education at the University of Reading in the UK.

“With the 2018 National General Education Curriculum in place, teachers are in a critical position to guide their students toward becoming more proficient in English, especially as we aim to make English a second language in Vietnamese schools,” she added.

This initiative follows the Politburo's directive in August 2024 on enhancing students' foreign language skills as part of a broader effort to make English a second language in schools nationwide.

"This is no small task," said Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, vice-director of the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City and principal of the university’s High School for Gifted Students.

“Based on my experience at the High School for Gifted Students, while many students have a strong command of English, not all are proficient, and even some teachers lack the ability to teach the 2018 national curriculum entirely in English.

“This highlights the fact that the path to making English a second language in schools is challenging, even in specialized institutions.”

During her keynote address, Prof. Mai underlined the urgency of collaboration between educators, institutions, and private enterprises to create an environment where English can truly thrive.

“We need to share knowledge, skills, and resources to overcome the obstacles ahead,” she said.

“The rise of artificial intelligence and digital transformation offers us a unique opportunity to bridge generational gaps and eliminate cultural barriers.”

It is an interesting coincidence that both Le Dinh Luc, founder and CEO of DOL English, and speaker Quynh are alumni of the High School for Gifted Students.

Even more remarkable is that neither of them majored in English – Luc specialized in mathematics, whereas Quynh focused on literature.

“The Linearthinking method, developed by the young team at DOL English, is helping many students, and even teachers, quickly and effectively improve their English skills,” Prof. Dr. Mai said.

“This includes a number of students from the High School for Gifted Students and other high schools as well.”

The workshop was attended by high-ranking education officials, including Le Thang Loi, deputy director of the Southern Center for Education and Training Development and Nguyen Bao Quoc, deputy director of the municipal Department of Education and Training.

The presence of educational leaders underscored the government's commitment to supporting teachers as they adapt to new methodologies like Linearthinking.

A key takeaway for many participants was the opportunity to practice and engage with Linearthinking techniques, which include simplifying complex sentence structures, reading connections between ideas, and building coherent English sentences quickly.

For many teachers, the challenge remains how to integrate these new methods into daily classroom activities.

However, optimism was high among attendees, who expressed enthusiasm about the potential of Linearthinking to transform English education in Vietnam.

The workshop concluded with a call to action from Prof. Mai: “Today’s session should inspire us all to create environments where English is not just a subject, but a natural part of our students’ lives.

“Together, we can make this vision a reality.”

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