Editorial · March 6, 2014
Six Level Language Framework: What Vietnam Changed
Six level language framework: that is the new national scale Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training has set for every foreign language taught in the school system. It is called the Six-Level Foreign Language Competence Framework for Vietnam. Circular 01/2014/TT-BGDDT adopts it. The ministry issued the circular on January 24, 2014, and it takes effect on March 16, 2014.
What the circular does
The circular gives schools, colleges and universities one shared yardstick. Before it, each course could describe "good English" in its own words. Once the circular takes effect on March 16, a course, a teacher or a test in the national education system can say "Level 3" and mean the same thing.
The framework covers every foreign language taught in the national education system, not only English. It also gives training centers and learners a common target to plan toward.
Several named parties must apply it. These include the heads of universities and colleges, the education departments in each province, and foreign language training institutions.
Sources: Circular 01/2014/TT-BGDDT, Ministry of Education and Training, issued January 24, 2014
The six levels at a glance
The levels run from 1 to 6. Each pair forms one stage. Here are the stages in plain words.
- Elementary, levels 1 and 2. You use familiar phrases, introduce yourself and handle simple, routine exchanges.
- Intermediate, levels 3 and 4. You follow the main points of clear speech and texts. At level 4 you also follow technical talk in your own field and speak fluently with native speakers.
- Advanced, levels 5 and 6. You understand long, demanding texts and implied meaning. At level 6 you understand almost everything with ease and express fine shades of meaning.
Sources: Circular 01/2014/TT-BGDDT, Ministry of Education and Training, issued January 24, 2014
How the levels map to CEFR
The Vietnamese scale lines up with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, known as CEFR. The match is one to one. Level 1 is A1. Level 2 is A2. Level 3 is B1. Level 4 is B2. Level 5 is C1. Level 6 is C2.
The Council of Europe groups its own six levels in three bands. A1 and A2 are the Basic User. B1 and B2 are the Independent User. C1 and C2 are the Proficient User. The Vietnamese stages follow the same pairs, so the two systems read the same way.
This link matters for people who study abroad or work with foreign firms. A certificate that states a CEFR level can be read against the Vietnamese level next to it.
Sources: Circular 01/2014/TT-BGDDT, Ministry of Education and Training, issued January 24, 2014; Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2001), global scale
How to read a level on a certificate
Use these steps when a candidate or a course shows you a language certificate.
- Find the level on the paper. It may say a Vietnamese level, a CEFR letter, or a test score.
- If you see a CEFR letter, convert it with the pairs above. B1 means level 3.
- If you see only a score, ask which test it is and which level the test provider says it matches.
- Check the test date and the name of the issuer. A level is a snapshot, not a lifetime title.
Do not guess a level from a school name or a course title. Ask for the written result. If the paper is unclear, a short call to the issuer settles it in minutes. Keep a copy of the answer with the file.
Sources: Circular 01/2014/TT-BGDDT, Ministry of Education and Training, issued January 24, 2014; Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2001), global scale
What learners and employers can do now
Learners can pick a target level and plan toward it. A learner at level 2 who needs level 4 for work knows there are two steps to climb. Courses that state their exit level make this planning easier.
Employers can write job notices in the same terms. "English at level 4" is clearer than "good English". It also makes interviews and tests easier to compare from one candidate to the next.
The circular takes effect on March 16, 2014, so the next ten days are a good time to check how your course or hiring notice describes language skills. Where it uses loose words, replace them with a level.
Sources: Circular 01/2014/TT-BGDDT, Ministry of Education and Training, issued January 24, 2014