According to Nguyen Phuong Lan, General Director of EMG Education, in the context of globalization and growing demands for comprehensive education, equipping preschool children with foundational skills, particularly language ability, has become essential.
Introducing English to young learners from an early age not only lays a solid foundation for future language learning but also aligns with the national roadmap to gradually establish English as a second language in schools, as directed in Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW (August 12, 2024) of the Politburo.
Alongside this, the rapid advancement of technology and digital transformation has created favorable conditions for English exposure and for evaluating preschoolers’ early English skills (ages 3 - 6).
Ho Chi Minh City preschoolers took part in an English survey conducted with EMG’s assessment tools
In response to these needs, EMG Education has developed and implemented innovative models, notably the Immersive Preschool Program and the English Milestone Tracker for children aged 3–6. These solutions are designed to be developmentally appropriate, leveraging digital tools to support teaching and align with current educational reforms.
The Immersive Preschool Program provides a comprehensive platform to assist teachers in introducing English to children. The accompanying assessment toolkit is designed to be light, engaging, and age-appropriate, meeting curriculum requirements while enhancing the sustainability of English learning at the preschool level in Ho Chi Minh City.
“Our EMG Immersive Learning platform focuses on developing listening and speaking skills through interactive and engaging activities such as videos, visuals, songs, and recordings. This approach helps create familiarity, connection, and excitement for children,” Ms. Lan emphasized.
The program spans 35 weeks each academic year, covering three age groups: 3 - 4, 4 - 5, and 5 - 6 years old. Each year includes eight themes tailored to children’s psychological and developmental characteristics, with special emphasis on Vietnamese cultural traditions such as Tet (Lunar New Year), Mid-Autumn Festival, and Christmas.
The thematic structure progresses from simple concepts relating to self and family (ages 3 - 4) to broader topics about society and the environment (ages 4 - 6).
The EMG Early Years English Milestone Tracker is built on the Global Scale of English (GSE Pre-Primary) developed by Pearson, a leading global education provider.
The toolkit is designed to gauge children’s basic English exposure, provide individualized feedback, and help schools adjust teaching methods and learning pathways. It also aims to nurture children’s interest in English and build their confidence in using the language.
Notably, the toolkit was appraised and approved by the Ministry of Education and Training under Decision No. 2088/QĐ-BGDĐT (July 21, 2025).
Assessments are conducted in multiple formats, including observation, situational conversation, and interactive games with visual aids. All activities are carried out on tablets, enhancing digital integration, streamlining data collection, and ensuring accurate and objective results.
During the 2024–2025 pilot phase, EMG Education partnered with 27 preschools to evaluate 1,745 children across all three age groups. The results showed strong engagement from children and positive feedback from school leaders, teachers, and parents, affirming the toolkit’s child-centered and user-friendly design.
Participating preschools received detailed reports outlining children’s performance, offering an overall picture to support quality assurance, adjustments, and future planning for English exposure activities.
According to Luong Thi Hong Diep, Head of the Preschool Education Division of Ho Chi Minh City DoET, the application of technology and digital transformation is enhancing English teaching quality in preschools, supporting teachers in meeting the goals of the national Preschool Education Program, and gradually realizing the roadmap for English to become a second language in schools under Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW and Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo.
Source: Sai Gon Giai Phong
