Issues and Challenges in Using ICT for Teaching English in Vietnam

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to understand the issues and challenges of language teachers when using ICT to teach English to students in Vietnam. The study examined 20 primary school teachers from 4 different provinces in Vietnam to investigate the issues and challenges they faced in the process of using ICT in their English teaching. Data collected from surveys, observation and reflection notes were analysed using Activity Theory (AT) as a framework to unpack the processes, tensions, and complexities involved when teachers use technology to mediate the teaching and learning of English in their schools. The results indicated that teaching English in Vietnam using ICT had a variety of issues and challenges including lack of ICT competence, lack of ICT facilities, oversized classes, heavy teaching load, lack of technical support, and lack of support from relevant authorities. Consequently, relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam (MOET), relevant authorities, the Rectors of the school and the language teachers themselves can consider concrete mitigating steps to overcome those issues and challenges.