Using English as a medium of instruction in higher education in Vietnam: a case study of a physics degree program

In response to globalization as well as regionalization, the government of Vietnam has officially adopted English-medium instruction (EMI) at selected universities since 2014. This study examines an EMI degree program – which was among the pilot programs of EMI at that time – in a Physics Department at a university in Vietnam. Using questionnaires, interviews and classroom observation, it investigates teachers’ and students’ perceptions of the program’s practicality, including how these perceptions are reflected in their teaching and learning practices, as well as factors influencing their teaching and learning processes. The preliminary results indicate that despite the fact that the current EMI program has been operating for more than ten years, there is still room for improvement in its teaching and learning processes.