Recognizing the increasing interest by Vietnamese parents for their preschool children to get acquainted with English language from early age, in 2022, the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training approved 39 sets of English language books to be used in preschools, kindergartens (in MOET’s Circular No. 50/2022). According to Dr. Nguyen Ba Minh, director of the ministry’s Department of Pre-school Education: “Teaching English at preschools is completely voluntary. For schools qualified in terms of facilities, teachers with parents’ support can organize English classes for children as a way of getting acquainted with the English language”.

According to the Ministry’s Circular No 50, after completing English classes, preschool children should understand a number of familiar words, phrases and sentences, understand and perform short, simple and familiar requests, understand and respond nonverbally or briefly in simple communication situations or in games, and understand the content of comic books.

With more Vietnamese preschool teachers wishing to have the ability to lead activities in their classroom in English, in 2023, KidsOnline, the Vietnam Association for Non-Public Preschool Education (VANPPE) worked with Fluent Education, an  Australian training organization with unique experience in providing teachers’ training to Vietnamese teachers, to develop the first online learning program “English for Vietnamese for Pre-school Teachers”. Watch the welcome video by Lyn Scott, author and lead trainer in this program here and view the program outline here.

Training and English courses developed by Fluent Education are truly “by teachers and for teachers”. These courses provide practice exercises, instructional videos, webinars and resources that empower teachers to study English and teaching skills at their own pace.

The English for Vietnamese for Pre-school Teachers program developers worked closely with experienced preschool teachers in Australia and Vietnam, to develop this unique program for Vietnamese preschool teachers. All learning activities in this program are engaging and practice-focused. Courses include Vietnamese translation, so they are suitable for teachers with any level of English proficiency.

Since October 2023 when this online program was launched, teachers from Merry Star, DCA kindergartens and other kindergartens have creatively blending this online learning activities with offline group discussions, for a more hands-on outcome of learning. Watch them sharing their learning experience here.

Fluent Education has generously offered VANPPE members and KidsOnline’s partner kindergartens full tuition fee waiver for the 1^st course (Welcome to the Classroom) and 50% tuition fee discount for the 2^nd course (Crafts, Songs and Games) to all Vietnamese preschool teachers during the school year 2023-2024. For fee waiver and discount vouchers, please contact VANPPE at: banthuky@mamnonvietnam.vn.