Speaker
Description
This study explores the career goals and professional development aspirations of pre-service English teachers at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2 (HPU2). It focuses on their future plans, development activities, and the challenges they face in preparing for the teaching profession. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining a questionnaire completed by 84 participants and semi-structured interviews with 10 students. The survey data was analyzed using SPSS 20, while the interview data was examined through thematic analysis. The findings show that most pre-service teachers have a strong desire to become qualified and effective English teachers. Many students hope to improve their language skills, continue their education, and develop important teaching abilities, especially in classroom management. To support these goals, they have participated in different professional development activities, such as attending workshops, doing self-study, joining internships, and learning through online platforms. However, the study also found several challenges that make it harder for students to reach their goals. These challenges include limited access to teaching resources, financial difficulties, time management problems, and lack of strong support from their institutions. The study highlights the need for better curriculum design, more professional development opportunities, and stronger career guidance to support future teachers. These improvements are important for helping students succeed in their professional journeys. The results provide useful recommendations for teacher education programs and offer helpful ideas for policymakers, educators, and universities who want to improve English language teacher training programs in Vietnam.
Keywords: career aspirations, professional development, pre-service teachers, teacher education, challenges, English language teaching, Vietnam.
Biography
Tran Thanh Ngan is a newly graduated English Language Teaching major from Hanoi Pedagogical University 2. She has experience teaching students aged 5 to 14 and has worked as an English teacher at Kyna for Kids and Vuihoc. Her teaching emphasizes building a positive and supportive learning environment where students feel confident to participate, ask questions, and improve their skills.
Tran Thanh Ngan is especially interested in professional development and always seeks opportunities to grow as an educator. She believes that continuous learning helps teachers adapt to students’ diverse needs and improve classroom practices. Her current interests include teacher training, educational technology, and inclusive teaching methods.
As an early-career teacher, she looks forward to connecting with others in the ELT community, exchanging ideas, and learning from experienced colleagues. She is excited to attend the VietTESOL Convention for the first time and engage in meaningful professional learning.
