Speaker
Description
As it is currently observed, numerous Vietnamese universities are obliged to transition from the EFL approach to the ESL one because of the ever-growing need for English in international communication and employment purposes; yet, the actual establishment of the English-speaking environment seems problematic. Indeed, at HUFLIT, although students specialize in English language studies, they continue using Vietnamese in lessons and during interaction between them, which restricts their opportunities for practicing real communication. This paper seeks to find out the key obstacles preventing the establishment of an ESL environment at HUFLIT and to discuss the impact these challenges have on students' use of English. In the current research, a mixed-methodological approach is utilized, including both a survey carried out among 100 students and structured interviews with three students. The obtained findings reveal that students experience difficulties, which are associated with the loss of confidence, fear of making mistakes, lack of practice, and widespread usage of Vietnamese at lessons. Thus, it is crucial to promote the implementation of English-speaking practices and to create supportive learning environments to foster ESL development.
Keywords: ESL environment, barriers, English use, HUFLIT, Vietnamese students, mixed methods
