Speaker
Description
As Vietnam continues to reposition English from a foreign language to a second language, schools face the challenge of creating meaningful opportunities for students to use English beyond the classroom. While many initiatives focus primarily on English lessons, fewer studies have examined how a whole-school approach can contribute to the development of a second-language environment in primary education.
This case study reports on the implementation of a year-long school-wide initiative at a private primary school in Hanoi, Vietnam, involving approximately 360 students and the collaboration of English teachers, homeroom teachers, specialist teachers, school leaders, and non-teaching staff. The initiative aimed to transform English from a classroom subject into a language embedded in everyday school life through four key strategies: (1) creating a visible English-rich environment across the campus, (2) integrating English into school-wide events and communications, (3) implementing the “Wild About English” project, and (4) promoting cross-department collaboration through teacher training and shared language practices.
Data were collected from school records, project documentation, observations, and a school-wide student survey. Preliminary findings indicate increased opportunities for authentic English use across the school. Prior to the initiative, no structured English activities were conducted outside English lessons; following implementation, at least one school-wide English activity was organized weekly. Survey findings suggest that approximately 64% of students regularly participated in English Friday activities, while around 92% reported increased confidence when using English in school contexts. Initial evidence also points to growing engagement from both teaching and non-teaching staff in supporting English use throughout the school environment.
The study highlights the potential of a whole-school approach to fostering a sustainable English-speaking ecosystem and offers practical insights for schools seeking to reposition English from a subject of study to a language of everyday communication.
Biography
Ngoc Vu is an English teacher and academic coordinator at Vietnam-Australia School Hanoi (VAS Hanoi), Vietnam. With over 10 years of experience in primary English language education, Ngoc has been involved in curriculum development, teacher training, and school-wide English language initiatives. Professional interests include creating authentic language-learning environments for young learners, project-based learning, English language policy implementation in schools, and whole-school approaches to language development.
During the 2025–2026 academic year, Ngoc led and coordinated the Wild About English initiative, a school-wide project designed to promote the use of English beyond the classroom through collaboration among teachers, school leaders, non-teaching staff, students, and parents. Current work focuses on exploring how schools can reposition English from a foreign language subject to a language of everyday communication within the school community.
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