English in Vietnam

ABSTRACT: Vietnam's linguistic history exemplifies the close relationship between language and politics, with the latter influencing not only the choice of medium of instruction but also the foreign languages studied in Vietnam's schools and tertiary institutions. From 1975 until approximately 1989, the main foreign language was Russian; now it is English. This means that Vietnam, with a population of over 66 million may be added to the Expanding Circle. The ascendancy of English in Vietnam coincides with the decline in power of the rouble‐block countries and has occurred during a period when the Vietnamese government has promoted a freer market economy. As in other norm‐dependent countries, Vietnam's teachers of English attach great status to materials and methods developed by Inner Circle applied linguists, even though these may not be appropriate for Vietnamese conditions. At present, the English curriculum in Vietnamese schools aims primarily at developing reading skills, while at the tertiary level the focus depends on the type and purpose of the institution offering the program. The grammar–translation method is widely used. With the normalization of relations between Vietnam and Inner and Outer Circle countries, it is anticipated that linguists from these areas will have a greater influence than at present on English language teaching in Vietnam.