Speakers
Description
Vietnam's National Plan 2025–2035 repositions English as a second language and a strategic driver of economic competitiveness, yet military training environments remain a significant gap in the blended learning literature. This paper presents the design and implementation of a locally networked blended learning framework at the Naval Technical College, a military institution preparing navigation, marine engineering, and naval electrical specialists for the Vietnam People's Navy. Unlike civilian settings, the College operates under strict information security protocols that prohibit external internet connectivity, making cloud-based educational technology solutions institutionally inapplicable. Grounded in learner agency theory and offline-first instructional design principles, the framework integrates an offline Moodle-based learning management system, purpose-built Maritime English content aligned with International Maritime Organization and watchkeeping standards, and a locally deployed artificial intelligence language assistant — all within a closed local network. The framework was implemented across two to three parallel classes spanning multiple technical specializations. Pre- and post-test results, system activity logs, and learner surveys collectively indicate measurable gains in English proficiency, a notable increase in voluntary out-of-class self-study, and consistently positive learner feedback. These outcomes challenge the assumption that security-driven constraints inevitably restrict learner autonomy, demonstrating instead that a deliberately designed offline architecture can cultivate self-directed learning habits. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for adapting this model to other security-sensitive or low-connectivity educational contexts, contributing to the broader conversation on equitable and context-responsive English language teaching in Vietnam.
Biography
Võ Thanh Long is a young lecturer of Russian at the Naval Technical College, Vietnam People's Navy, where he has taught foreign languages at the naval technical level for four years. He holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University, Moscow) and a Bachelor's degree in Russian Linguistics from the Military Science Academy of Vietnam. His professional interests sit at the intersection of language education, educational technology, and military training contexts, with a particular focus on designing accessible and context-responsive learning environments for specialised learners. The present study grows directly from his classroom practice at the Naval Technical College, where he has been developing and refining blended learning solutions tailored to the institution's unique security and connectivity constraints.
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