With the changes of competition form in Vietnam National High School Graduation Exam, there are ongoing controversy whether it is the worse choice to urge students to select English as a compulsory subject or not. From my perspectives, forcing all students to join the English examination can bring more drawbacks than benefits due to the following reasons.
Undoubtedly, English-an international language- plays an crucial role in international integration and strengthening relationships between countries in the world in many fields such as economics, politics, trade and so on. Should students register for subjects that include English in pursuit of university admission and graduation, they will likely have more opportunities to enter a variety of universities. In Vietnam, recently, A large number of students have rushed to take the IELTS test, spending a lot of effort and time on this subject because they know the importance of this foreign language in real life. The better we are at English, the more we can communicate with the majority of the world’s population and work with multinational companies. Therefore, receiving high monthly salaries and great careers is achievable.
Nevertheless, imposing English as a mandatory subject can lead to educational inequity. Nobody want to be forced to do what they don’t like and English is not exceptional. It is clear to assume that students can learn English by rote as they don’t have any liking for taking English exam. This can be attributed to their bad performances in National High School Exam,which is hard for them to utilize the results for attending their dreamt universities. Another significant drawback is that enforcing English as a compulsory subject undermines the respect for individual preferences.. By mandating English, we run the risk of homogenizing the curriculum to such an extent that it stifles the exploration of students’ unique capabilities in other disciplines. For instance, a student with a penchant for the arts or sciences may feel constrained, as their talents are overshadowed by an enforced standard. Thus, while proficiency in English may be beneficial in a globalized world, the approach of making it mandatory for all students can be counterproductive in cultivating an inclusive educational environment.
In conclusion, while there are certain advantages to promoting English language skills, the disadvantages of enforcing it as a compulsory subject for the National high school graduation examination significantly outweigh the positives. Thus, a more nuanced approach that values personal preference would be far more conducive to achieving a holistic educational experience.