EFRC 2026 - Cooperation for development towards training lecturers for the goal of making English the second language in schools
Annually, the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City organizes the ‘EF Research Camp’ (EFRC) program to provide the Faculty staff with an opportunity to relax after a year of hard work, and most importantly, a chance to review everything accomplished during the past time to establish effective scientific research orientations serving the improvement of training quality. Notably, every EFRC event features the presence of strategic academic partners who participate in knowledge training and experience sharing for mutual development. This year, EFRC 2026 is honored to have the accompaniment of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, An Giang University, a long-standing unit with prestige in academics and scientific research under Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
Training on orientation for developing task clusters, task chains & scientific and technological tasks
At this year's EFRC, the staff of the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature were updated with knowledge and information on training and scientific research tasks for sustainable development in the new situation through a seminar titled "Orientation for developing task clusters, task chains and scientific and technological tasks at the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature", chaired by Dr. Nguyen Dang Nguyen - Dean, and Dr. Vo Thi Nu Anh - Vice Dean. The training session focused on clarifying the scientific research orientation of the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature and classifying scientific and technological tasks according to new regulations to implement that orientation. The key point to clarify is how to promote internal resources and leverage external resources for mutual development, including issues related to criteria for project leaders and implementation personnel. It is clear that student and graduate student research cannot be left out of this cooperation journey. M.A. Pham Thai Bao Ngoc and M.A. Tran Trung Nguyen, with years of experience working with student scientific research, shared about the current status of student research evaluation and provided eloquent evidence of the relentless efforts of the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature in building a methodical and sustainable scientific research ecosystem.
Dr. Vo Thi Nu Anh sharing about scientific and technological tasks according to new regulations
Dr. Cao Thi Phuong Dung - Head of the English Language major contributing opinions
The specialization group of Linguistics & TESOL discussing
The specialization group of British - American Culture & Literature discussing
The specialization group of English Translation - Interpretation discussing
M.A. Pham Thai Bao Ngoc sharing about the role of student scientific research
Training on research cooperation in the field of English Linguistics applied to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
The highlight of EFRC 2026 was a series of multi-dimensional academic reports, exploring topics of applying English linguistics to intercultural translation, intercultural communication teaching, English writing assessment, etc., in the AI era, especially the trend of using Chat GPT in English lesson design and revisiting the role of Extensive Reading in teaching and learning English for students, proving the irreplaceable role of humans in the goal of making English the second language in schools.
Dr. Phan Thi Thanh Huyen, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, An Giang University, giving the opening speech
Report 1 - "English-Vietnamese gastronomy slogan translation: An analysis from the perspective of cultural linguistics" - presented by Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu Ngoc, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, analyzed cultural schemas, cultural genres, and cultural metaphors in English slogans advertising in the food and beverage industry, emphasizing the presence of cultural imprints in English-language media and advertising products, thereby proposing English-Vietnamese translation strategies suitable for local cultural contexts. The delegates exchanged ideas lively on how to handle the boundaries of semantic differences between Eastern and Western cultures.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu Ngoc, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities presenting
Report 2 – "Bridging Cultures through Interactive Learning: Practical Activities for Teaching Intercultural Communication" - presented by M.A. Ly Thi Minh Trang, Faculty of Foreign Languages, An Giang University, shared methods for teaching intercultural communication through practical interactive class activities such as workshops, role-playing, project work, and technology application (Nearpod, Kahoot, ...), helping to improve students' critical thinking and teamwork skills. Participants further exchanged experiences on designing activities to engage non-English major students.
M.A. Ly Thi Minh Trang, Faculty of Foreign Languages, An Giang University presenting
Report 3 – "Fair Assessment of AI-Assisted Student Writing" - presented by Dr. Tran Thi Minh Phuong, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, raised the issue of examining and assessing students' writing competence 'fairly' in the era when artificial intelligence tools are strongly supporting learners' assignment processes. Lecturers discussed lively about the boundary between valid AI application and academic misconduct, along with new grading criteria.
Dr. Tran Thi Minh Phuong, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities presenting
Report 4 – "Designing a text-driven, task-based lesson with Chat GPT" - presented by Ph.D. Candidate Huynh Truong Sang, Faculty of Foreign Languages, An Giang University, guided a specific process of using Chat GPT to generate ideas, prepare teaching materials, and develop lesson plans according to the Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) method. The hall discussed lively on how to optimize prompts so that Chat GPT provides accurate teaching materials suitable for students' proficiency, especially while ensuring the integration of content and language according to the spirit of the CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) method as requested by the Ministry of Education and Training.
Ph.D. Candidate Huynh Truong Sang, Faculty of Foreign Languages, An Giang University presenting
Report 5 – "Implementing Extensive Reading in ESL-oriented classrooms" - presented by M.A. Nguyen Tran Mai Tram and M.A. Nguyen Long Thanh, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, introduced the method of implementing "Extensive Reading" activities in English-as-a-second-language-oriented classrooms, aimed at encouraging and motivating active learning for learners of English reading skills, improving vocabulary, and optimizing reading comprehension skills. Delegates discussed reading culture, ways to maintain reading habits and perseverance, how to select effective resource materials, etc., in the era of digital transformation and the strong development of AI.
M.A. Nguyen Tran Mai Tram and M.A. Nguyen Long Thanh, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities presenting
With mutual understanding and sharing many common points in academics and scientific research, the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature – University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Faculty of Foreign Languages, An Giang University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the exchange between lecturers of the two faculties with the message ‘Partnership & Professionalism’, marking an important milestone in the partnership, opening up many opportunities for research cooperation, academic exchange, and curriculum development between the two units in the coming time. Let us work together to exploit all resources to implement the ‘chains-clusters’ in the plan of executing the tasks assigned by Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
Some other photos
