Design and Implementation of Empower English Program Online (EEPO) for Students and Learners of Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport

Abstract

Technology and computers have affected teaching and learning English in tertiary education worldwide. It is seen as an important resource for instruction in foreign language teaching. There is a wide use of its ability to create online environments in which students can take the benefits from them. The Department of Foreign Languages (DFL) ??of Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport (UT-HCMC) recognizes the importance and the effectiveness of online English learning in the information technology era. Just a networked computer or smart phone, a headset and a course account, students can learn English anytime, anywhere. Online English learning can match different learning styles and use different activities. Currently, the Department is using the Social Learning software of Knowledge Transmission Publisher, with the simple content, high cost and the relatively low level compared to the required learning outcomes stipulated by Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). The DFL wishes to build our own online English program to overcome the above disadvantages. Thus, this research paper explores teachers’ and students’ viewpoints on the present online program which has been used for the UT-HCMC students for the past 5 years- The Online Connected Program (OCP). The analysis of the responses to the questionnaires for teachers and students provides us with their perspectives as well as the difficulties they face when using OCP. The teachers’ and students’ suggestions are also collected. The findings obtained from this study will be used as the basis for designing a self-study online curriculum in the near future as a supplementary teaching adapted for both UT-HCMC students’ needs and UT-HCMC teachers’ expectations. The researchers present some conclusions supported by quotations from the previous papers in an attempt to draw the research theory and practice.