VietTESOL International Convention 2025

Recently, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has been the topic discussed at a lot academic forums. SEL is generally defined as a process that helps individuals develop the skills to understand and manage their emotions, build positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and achieve positive outcomes (CASEL, 2020). Research has proved that SEL helps improve students’ academic performance, enhance their well-being, promote stronger relationships, and achieve greater success in life (Tran et. al. 2024). Currently, SEL is incorporated into the curriculum through activities and lessons (Coli et. al., 2024). Research has shown that SEL can also be integrated into various subjects. This study was carried out at a university in Ha Noi, Vietnam. The subjects were 65 first-year English-majored students, and the researcher as the teacher who worked with these students. The study aims to (a) introduce how SEL can be integrated into the course College Writing and (b) explore both students’ and the teacher’s feedback on the effectiveness of this SEL integration. The teacher observed her students during the process, and students were asked to write their reflections at the end of the course on the effectiveness of SEL integration. The findings have revealed that both students and the teacher found this integration benefited students considerably. SEL skills integration enhanced students’ ability to stay focused, learn and manage their time efficiently. In addition, they also learned to manage their stress and build resilience when working together. SEL integration in completing the final assignment for the course promoted students’ empathy, communication, and collaboration.
Keywords: Social Emotional Learning (SEL)