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Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 17. Number 3, September 2026 Pp.364-378
English Department, Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies,
Vietnam
ESP Department, Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies,
Vietnam
As part of the extended National Foreign Languages Project (2008–2035), Vietnam has adopted the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as a top-down strategy to enhance the quality of English teaching and learning. This study examines how English teachers responded to this curriculum reform at a Vietnamese university. Using a mixed-methods sequential design, the study collected data through questionnaires with 36 EFL teachers and in-depth interviews with 8. The findings reveal that while teachers are making various efforts to adapt to the CEFR-aligned curriculum, most changes remain limited to coping techniques. Instead of helping students attain the required level of language proficiency, teachers primarily adopt strategies designed to help students pass the compulsory CEFR-aligned exams, viewing this as a necessary teaching adjustment. At the grassroots level, the teachers who have not yet gained ownership of the change and who lack institutional support continue to rely primarily on short-term, situational strategies rather than sustainable approaches to improving students’ overall language proficiency. Based on the findings, the article provides implications and recommendations for using the CEFR to set learning outcomes and reform language curriculum, ensuring it serves as a tool for meaningful language development rather than merely an assessment benchmark.
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Dr. Pham Thi Hong Nhung is a senior lecturer of Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam (HUFLIS). She obtained an MA and a PhD in Applied linguistics from the University of Queensland, Australia. Pham has 28 –year experience of teaching and training in-service English language teachers. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9621-8482
Dr. Le Thi Thanh Hai is a senior lecturer at Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Vietnam. She has been teaching English for 25 years and participated in different projects on developing training curriculum for in-service English language teachers.
ORCID: https://orcid.org://0009-0005-1852-6830