Training program promotes logical English learning method for Ho Chi Minh City teachers

Hosted at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, the training session titled 'Enhancing English Teaching and Learning through Linearthinking' was organized by the Center for Information and Educational Programs, under the municipal Department of Education and Training, in collaboration with the English education system DOL English.

Vo Thien Cang, director of the Center for Information and Educational Programs, highlighted the importance of innovation in English teaching methods.

"Today's workshop brings together a wide range of English teachers from elementary and middle schools across the city," he said.

"Some are highly experienced, while others are just starting out. I believe the Linearthinking method shared by our speaker from DOL English offers a practical solution to some of the challenges we face in teaching English at the elementary and middle school levels."

Cang noted that the Linearthinking method has already been presented at hundreds of high schools and universities nationwide, including top-tier institutions such as Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.

He added that the method's credibility is reinforced by the background of its developers, many of whom are alumni of the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City's High School for the Gifted, a leading institution in academic achievement and research.

At the event, Ha Dang Nhu Quynh, a doctoral researcher in education and academic director at DOL English, shared insights into the core elements of the Linearthinking method.

Quynh, who scored a perfect 9.0 on the IELTS and was the salutatorian of the English faculty at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education in 2018, emphasized the method's focus on logical thinking rather than memorization.

"Linearthinking helps elementary and middle students learn English through structured reasoning," she said.

"The method trains students in various cognitive processes like system thinking, simplification, connection-building, and concretization – all foundational skills necessary to acquire any language."

According to Quynh, this method enables learners to move away from fragmented study of vocabulary and grammar.

Instead, it teaches them to build logical links between language elements, helping them process information more effectively across listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

This, she said, allows students to learn faster, retain knowledge longer, and avoid the frustration of feeling stuck in their language studies.

The session also touched on the controversial topic of children preparing for the IELTS exam at an early age.

Some educators and parents have raised concerns about the pressure and difficulty, especially in reading comprehension, for students in grades one through nine.

Addressing these concerns, Quynh clarified that IELTS should be seen as a language proficiency test, not a curriculum.

"If students do not have a strong foundation in English and an effective method of learning, studying for the IELTS too early might not only be unproductive but could also discourage them," she said.

However, she advocated for early academic orientation in English learning – a goal that Linearthinking supports.

For example, if students are trained in simplification and connection thinking skills while reading, they will not need to understand every single word in a passage.

Instead, they can identify main and supporting ideas, infer meanings from context, and gain a better overall grasp of the material.

"These are skills even adult learners struggle with when studying for IELTS," she noted.

The training concluded with optimism that the Linearthinking approach, supported by feedback from educators, will continue evolving as a helpful resource in Vietnam's ongoing efforts to strengthen English education in schools.