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A foreign teacher at an English center in Ho Chi Minh City – Photo: MG
The British Council and the ILA (Hanoi Branch) have just submitted a written request to the Ministry of Education and Training to guide the conversion of the IELTS certificate to Vietnam’s 6-level language proficiency framework. These units, when applying for a work permit for foreign English teachers, were rejected because they did not meet the prescribed standards.
Isn’t the IELTS a language proficiency test?
According to Circular 21 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training in 2018 on the regulations on the organization and operation of the foreign language center – computer science, foreign teachers are eligible to teach foreign languages when they meet one of the Standards: possess a university diploma of education in foreign languages or higher; have a university degree in foreign languages or higher and an appropriate foreign language training certificate; Have a university degree or higher, a certificate of proficiency in a foreign language of level 5 or higher according to the 6-level foreign language proficiency framework used for Vietnam or equivalent, and an appropriate certificate of training in a foreign language.
The Circular does not have an annex that specifies which “equivalent” foreign language proficiency certificates include. This leads to many foreigners having foreign language teaching certificates to speakers of other languages, and the IELTS score is still not good enough to teach English in Vietnam.
At the end of November, the British Council prepared an application for a work permit for a Mexican citizen. This person graduated from the university in history, is IELTS 8.0 certified, Cambridge English level 5 certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages (CELTA – recognized by the British government at level 5 in the National Qualifications framework To enroll in CELTA, applicants must have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0).
The staff of this unit contact the comprehensive department of the Hanoi Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to confirm that they can use the IELTS certificate as a certificate of proficiency in a foreign language in accordance with the regulations.
This one-door department replied that the IELTS is just a transcript, not a certificate, and there is no document that stipulates the equivalent of IELTS scores to Vietnam’s 6-level language proficiency framework.
British Council staff keep asking if there are documents that stipulate that IELTS certificates are not accepted for work permit applications from foreign teachers, they get a reply without specific text. about this.
Wait for the text to be synthesized
We contacted the Hanoi Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to further discuss this issue, but received no response. Meanwhile, the representative of the Department of Management of Certifications and Certifications – Department of Quality Management (Ministry of Education and Training) said that they are compiling documents to inform ministry leaders on this issue.
In fact, in some documents, the official regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training have guidelines for converting from IELTS to a 6-level foreign language framework, but they are not exhaustive.
For example, the Department’s Decision 66/2008 stipulates a practical program of continuing education in English with reference to the conversion of the European framework on other international certifications. In which the highest level of the European framework (C2) equals 7.5 IELTS.
For 2014, the circular issued the 6-level foreign language capacity framework for Vietnam with the Vietnamese conversion level and the European reference framework. In which, level 5 is equivalent to C1 and level 6 is C2. According to this nature of conversion, IELTS 7.5 may be equivalent to level 6 of the 6-level competency framework in Vietnam.
However, in fact, there are no documents and regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training that guide in detail in this regard. Some current regulations on enrollment and training for teachers and doctors of the Ministry have English language standards for students.
In particular, the conversion rates from IELTS to the European framework seem to be based on decision 66/2008 when IELTS 4.5 is equivalent to B1, level 3/6 of the Vietnamese framework.
Meanwhile, universities and hospitals now have the equivalent conversion table from IELTS to Vietnam’s 6-level framework using internal schools. Consequently, IELTS 7.5 or higher is equivalent to level 6, even the exit standard in many universities that convert level 6 is C2, which is equivalent to IELTS 6.5-7.0.
Redicilous?
The representative of a foreign language center said that IELTS is a prestigious English certificate recognized by the world, somehow Vietnam is too disciplined when it does not accept the equivalent conversion to the 6-level Vietnamese framework.
“Maybe they have such a high IELTS score, they have a Cambridge English teaching certificate and they still have to take the Vietnamese English proficiency test to be taught? IELTS can be used worldwide, but not used. in Vietnam. Ironically “- one wondered.
Request guidance from the Ministry of Education and Training
The British Council sent a document to the Ministry of Education and Training, requesting a variety of instructions: Can non-native teachers use an IELTS certificate to confirm their command of the language?
How are IELTS results converted to the 6-level Vietnamese language proficiency framework? Do you have a CELTA certificate or a DELTA (Associate’s Degree in English for Speakers of Other Languages) recognized for your linguistic and pedagogical competence at the center? For foreign teachers who are not in Vietnam yet, how can they get Vietnam Level 6 certificate? Can they take the exam online or in another country?
Similarly, the ILA Hanoi branch also requested the Ministry of Education and Training to accept and convert the official documents about the corresponding language proficiency certificate and which country is considered the native language. Foreign language center correctly.
