EFL Teachers’ Cognitions and Practices of Professional Development in The Context of Curriculum Reform in Vietnam

EFL Teachers’ Cognitions and Practices of Professional Development in The Context of Curriculum Reform in Vietnam

Lam Son Hai* lamsonhai2025@gmail.com PhD candidate at Can Tho University, Can Tho City, (Vietnam)
Le Xuan Mai School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University Can Tho City, (Vietnam)
Trinh Quoc Lap School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University Can Tho City, (Vietnam)
Summary: 
In the context of global integration, Vietnam has implemented significant reforms in its English language teaching (ELT) to adopt modern teaching methods and improve learners’ communicative competence. The effectiveness of these reforms largely depends on teachers’ ability to adapt their teaching practices. This paper reviews EFL teachers’ cognitions and practices of professional development in the context of curriculum reforms in Vietnam. Adopting a systematic review approach, the study utilizes keyword-based searches across major academic databases (such as ERIC, JSTOR, Google Scholar and EBSCO). The study selects 21 academic papers which were peer-reviewed, conducted in the context of Vietnam and published from 2017 to 2024 across various journals and international conference proceedings. The findings from these studies are analysed and synthesized in terms of teachers’ perceptions, the use of innovative teaching methods, integration of information and communication technologies (ICT), and assessment practices. Results indicate a complex relationship between teachers’ beliefs and their teaching practices, showing both alignment and discrepancies. Overall, the findings highlight the need for professional development programs that address teachers’ specific needs and challenges, aiming to bridge the gap between educational policy and what actually takes place in the classroom.
Keywords: 
Cognitions
curriculum reforms
EFL teachers
practices
professional development
Vietnam.
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