A seminar on English teaching by TOEIC standard was held in Hanoi on January 11 by the Vietnam General Department of Vocational Training under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education of Indonesia.

The seminar provided a good opportunity for both sides to share experience in English languge training at their vocational schools and discuss the advantages and disavantages of building training programmes for teachers and students to help them increase their English skills.

TOEIC is an English language test designed specifically to measure the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment. Currently, corporations and companies use TOEIC to document progress in English training programmes, recruit and promote employees, and put standard measurements in place across locations.

Head of the Vietnam General Department of Vocational Training Nguyen Tien Dung said that standardising English teaching by TOEIC standard will help Vietnam and Indonesia boost teacher exchanges and vocational training programmes at their vocational schools.

Dr Nguyen The Bao, Rector of the Viet My Vocational School in HCM City said that his school has applied TOEIC since 2003 which is considered an effective and professional English teaching method.

Trainees credited with TOEIC standard can meet all requirements set by domestic and foreign companies, said Mr Bao.

The use of TOEIC as a measurement of English level will help vocational shools improve the quality of training programmes and sharpen the international competiveness of the domestic workforce in the current integration process.