With its flexible online learning format, allowing participants to study anytime and anywhere, the initiative has attracted strong participation from teachers and education staff. More importantly, it is encouraging educators to take greater ownership of their professional development, gradually strengthening their English proficiency to meet the demands of educational reform and international integration.

Responding to the campaign, Tạ Thị Tính, a teacher at Pom Lót Secondary School in Sam Mứn commune, has devoted between 40 and 60 minutes each day to studying on the online platform. After completing the initial proficiency assessment, she was provided with a personalized learning pathway focusing on listening, pronunciation and communication skills. The ability to study anytime using either a smartphone or a computer has enabled her to fit learning into her daily schedule, steadily improve her English proficiency, and gain new teaching tools and methods that she can apply both in the classroom and in her own professional development.

Tạ Thị Tính shared: “I find the program highly practical because the learning content is diverse and closely aligned with the core skills that English teachers need to strengthen regularly, including listening, speaking, pronunciation and vocabulary development. What I appreciate most is the personalized learning pathway and the immediate feedback after each lesson, which helps me identify areas that need improvement. The program has also introduced me to a wide range of authentic learning materials, communicative teaching activities and digital resources that I can incorporate into my lessons.”

The “National English self-learning month for teachers 2026” runs from 13 July to 22 August 2026. Delivered through the FSEL online learning platform, the program uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess participants’ initial proficiency, create personalized learning pathways and monitor each teacher’s progress. Teachers registered for accounts and completed placement tests between 13 and 20 July before continuing their learning and participating in online challenges through 22 August. A closing ceremony honoring outstanding individuals and organizations is scheduled for 18 September 2026.

One distinctive feature of the initiative is that it is open to teachers of all subjects and educational levels, rather than being limited to English teachers. This represents a concrete step toward implementing the Project on making English a second language in schools for the 2025-2035 period, with a vision to 2045, approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 2371/QD-TTg dated 27 October 2025. The project aims to create an educational environment where English is regularly and effectively used in teaching, communication, research and school activities. Strengthening teachers’ English proficiency is therefore regarded as one of the fundamental requirements for achieving this objective.

At a time when global knowledge is evolving rapidly, English has become an essential tool that enables teachers to access international educational resources, make use of digital learning platforms, exchange professional expertise and keep pace with modern teaching methods. As English proficiency improves across the teaching workforce, the language will gradually extend beyond being a standalone subject to become a practical medium supporting professional activities and knowledge sharing throughout schools. This will also provide the foundation for building an English-using educational ecosystem capable of meeting the demands of educational reform and international integration.

In Điện Biên province, the program has received an enthusiastic response from educators since its launch. To date, 6,841 teachers have registered to participate, 5,402 have completed the initial proficiency assessment, 5,192 are actively studying on the online platform, and 113 have already completed the course. These figures reflect the strong commitment of the province’s teaching workforce to continuous professional development and language improvement as the education sector accelerates digital transformation and international integration.

More importantly, the value of the program lies not in its one-month duration or in the number of completed courses, but in its role in fostering a culture of lifelong, self-directed learning among teachers. What began as a nationwide campaign is gradually motivating educators to make English learning a regular habit, enabling them to continuously update their knowledge, innovate their teaching practices and adapt to the evolving needs of education.

Cù Huy Hoàn, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training, said: “After the English self-learning month concludes, the Department will continue working with universities and relevant departments under the Ministry of Education and Training to introduce guided English self-learning software and applications for teachers. Our goal is to encourage teachers to improve their English proficiency without creating unnecessary pressure to meet specific benchmarks or exit standards, allowing them to participate in self-directed learning with confidence and peace of mind.”

Ultimately, what the education sector hopes to achieve extends far beyond the number of participating teachers or the lessons completed on a digital platform. Its broader objective is to cultivate a lasting culture of self-learning and continuous professional development among educators. Sustained through digital learning platforms and long-term commitment, this spirit of lifelong learning will become a powerful driver for enhancing the quality of the teaching workforce and meeting the requirements of comprehensive educational reform.