Pronunciation is an essential factor in English learning. It affects intelligibility, communicative competence, and confidence, which are the primary factors in English language learning and pronunciation. However, the teaching of pronunciation has consistently been given less priority, especially in EFL contexts where it gets overshadowed by grammar and vocabulary. The current study explores the relationship between the attitudes of English majors towards pronunciation learning at a Vietnamese university, including both internal (learner-related) factors and external (contextual and instructional) factors. Using a quantitative method, information was gathered from 371 university students via a specifically designed questionnaire. Based on the results, most participants positively viewed pronunciation learning. Internal factors, like motivation, self-efficacy, and attitudes of learners, exhibited stronger predictive power compared to external factors, such as quality of instruction and support from the institution. In addition, gender and English proficiency were observed to affect the attitudes, with female students and students of higher proficiency having more positive views. Importantly, both internal and external factors were identified as strong predictors of the pronunciation learning attitudes, thus highlighting the combined effect of psychological and methodological influences. This study enhances the comprehension of the continuous interaction between the psychological and instructional factors, calling attention to the necessity of rethinking the curriculum design, teaching practices, and learner support in the context of EFL pronunciation instruction
AI is transforming English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education by facilitating personalized learning and intelligent tutoring globally. This study examines the readiness and intentions of educators in Thu Dau Mot City, Vietnam, to adopt AI in their EFL classrooms. Through surveys and interviews with 102 teachers and lecturers, results show a high perceived usefulness and intention to integrate AI (M = 4.10). However, challenges remain with moderate ease of use (M = 3.92), low confidence in AI tools (M = 3.68), and limited institutional support (M = 3.45). Qualitative insights indicate a need for systematic training and collaborative environments. The findings emphasize that successful AI adoption relies on institutional investment in training and infrastructure. Without this support, the gap between enthusiasm and actual implementation may hinder AI's transformative potential. Policymakers and educational leaders need to create structured frameworks for effective AI integration in EFL classrooms.
The study investigates the challenges faced by Food Technology students at Thu Dau Mot University in mastering English reading and writing skills. The findings reveal that limited vocabulary and grammar knowledge significantly hinder students' proficiency in these areas. For reading, students struggle with insufficient vocabulary, poor comprehension strategies, and a lack of background knowledge, making it difficult to understand texts, identify main ideas, and interpret references. Similarly, writing is affected by challenges such as improper grammar usage, insufficient vocabulary, awkward phrasing, and issues with sentence construction. Mistakes in punctuation, spelling, and word order further reduce the quality of written work, limiting students’ ability to express ideas clearly and cohesively. These difficulties stem from a combination of linguistic limitations, lack of exposure to English, and insufficient support in structured learning strategies. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these challenges. Proposed solutions include vocabulary enhancement exercises, grammar-focused sessions, structured reading techniques, and writing workshops. Additionally, integrating modern tools like AI-powered learning applications can provide personalized feedback and improve overall proficiency. By adopting these strategies, students can gradually overcome their difficulties, enhancing their reading and writing skills to meet both academic and professional demands. The findings emphasize the importance of consistent practice and tailored learning approaches in language development.
English language proficiency is crucial for academic and professional success, with effective communication skills playing a pivotal role. Collaborative teaching methods, particularly group work, can significantly enhance students' creativity, evaluation, synthesis, analysis, and comparison, as well as problem-solving, essential for developing collaborative abilities. Furthermore, non-English major students often struggle to develop their speaking skills due to limited practice opportunities. This study addresses this challenge by implementing group-work activities in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather data including quantitative data collected through a questionnaire administered to 71 non-major students at Dong Nai Technology University and qualitative data came from semi-structured interviews. The results showed that group work significantly improved students' fluency, coherence, and confidence. Students reported increased motivation and engagement in speaking activities. These findings suggest that group-work activities effectively enhance speaking skills for non-English major students.
In this study, we examine students at Thu Dau Mot University specializing in Food Technology’s speaking and listening skills in English. We conducted a survey on 59 students majoring in Food Technology using the questionnaire approach. Students struggle to develop macro-English abilities like speaking and listening, as seen by their responses. mastering English grammar, vocabulary, and other micro-skills might be challenging. The findings indicate that significant obstacles to learning listening and speaking skills include a lousy sound system, a lack of a communicative context, a limited vocabulary, a lack of cultural understanding, and a fear of making mistakes in communication. The findings also demonstrate that students’ limited exposure to English and weak phonological skills are to blame for their difficulty acquiring pronunciation. Many words are long and complicated, making learning and recalling word parts like verbs, nouns, and adjectives challenging. Many words are also difficult to pronounce. Learning the grammar of verbs and articles is challenging for students. When the challenges are solved, this research aims to effective foreign language learning.
This article presents the results of a study on the current application of Project-based learning (PBL) in the teaching of English productive skills to students at the Foreign Trade University - Ho Chi Minh City Campus and how students can improve them. The research also provides insights into the expectations of students and entrepreneurs on that matter. The research group used the 5-point Likert scale in a questionnaire to collect data from students and interviewed FTU - HCMC’s English teachers and entrepreneurs to give further suggestions. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze whether or not there is a significant difference in students’ English productive skills before and after using PBL in English language learning. This study found a significant difference in speaking skills of FTU - HCMC students before and after participating in PBL activities. The students improved their comprehension, range and the ability to deliver their ideas to the target reader for writing skills. However, no difference was found in their content, cohesion, and accuracy. Interviewed teachers and entrepreneurs supported the implementation of PBL in schools. Overall, PBL is encouraged in the settings of higher education institutions.
An effective teacher plays a crucial role in the process of learning English as a foreign language (EFL) when students’ opportunities to English exposure outside the classroom are limited. The aim of this study was to examine professional characteristics that an effective EFL teacher should have as perceived by Taiwanese university students. A four-section questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument, and the study sample included responses from 68 senior students majoring in EFL. The results show that the three most significant characteristics of an effective teacher of English in the eyes of Taiwanese university students are not related specifically to the teacher’s knowledge of the subject or English proficiency level. Those characteristics can be attributed to any teacher, and they include providing clear grading guidelines, giving clear explanations, and preparing each lesson well. The findings may contribute valid information on college students’ expectations of EFL teachers in the Asian educational context and help make the language learning process more effective.