VietTESOL International Convention 2026

The context of globalization requires Vietnamese higher education to undergo substantial transformation, as reflected in Decision No. 2371/QĐ-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on the implementation of English as a second language in schools for the 2025-2035 period. In response to this macro-level policy, Thanh Dong University has launched an institutional project emphasizing a shift from the mindset of “learning for testing” to “learning for use,” with the objective of delivering 30% - 50% of specialized courses in English. However, the transition to this model poses significant challenges regarding the academic language proficiency of both lecturers and students. This paper proposes the application of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) as a theoretical and methodological framework to address these challenges. The study demonstrates that the implementation of the SFL-based Teaching-Learning Cycle can assist learners in mastering the linguistic features of specialized discourse, particularly nominalization, while simultaneously fostering a substantive “English ecosystem” within the university environment. The findings are expected to provide a feasible pedagogical pathway that bridges national language policy and micro-level instructional practices in higher education institutions.