Building English as a Second Language from the Preschool Years: The Hoa Phượng Preschool Experience

Thạc sĩ Nguyễn Thị Phương Mai - Bộ môn Ngoại ngữ

Introduction
In today's globalised world, English has become an essential tool for communication, learning, and international collaboration. Recognising its importance, the Vietnamese Government issued Decision No. 2371/QĐ-TTg (27 October 2025), which sets out the vision of gradually developing English as a second language in schools by 2035, with a vision towards 2045. Research consistently shows that the preschool years are the most favourable period for second-language acquisition. Children aged five to six learn naturally through listening, imitation, interaction, and play rather than through explicit grammar instruction. Therefore, achieving the goals of Decision No. 2371 begins with creating rich, meaningful English experiences in early childhood.
At Hoa Phượng Preschool of Bac Ninh Teacher Training College, we embrace this vision by creating a joyful, child-centred learning environment where English is used as a natural means of communication.

Our Approach

At Hoa Phượng Preschool, English is not treated as an isolated subject. Instead, our programme combines an English-rich environment, the My Little Fun curriculum, play-based learning, teacher expertise, and strong home–school partnerships to help children develop confidence, curiosity, and communicative competence.

Creating an English-Rich Environment

English is embedded into greetings, routines, songs, stories, games, classroom displays, and everyday interactions. Frequent exposure helps children acquire language naturally while building confidence.

Learning with My Little Fun

Our English programme is built around My Little Fun 3, an engaging course for five- and six-year-olds. Through songs, chants, stories, role-play, crafts, and games, children develop listening and speaking skills in meaningful contexts. The programme covers familiar themes including My Body, My Family, My Home, Food and Drinks, Animals, Colours and Shapes, Toys, Clothes, Weather and Seasons, and Transportation, allowing children to connect English with their everyday lives.

Each unit combines language learning with meaningful activities that encourage children to observe, explore, communicate, and collaborate. Rather than memorising vocabulary in isolation, children use English in authentic situations through play and interaction.

Following a child-centred and play-based approach, My Little Fun 3 also supports children's cognitive, social-emotional, creative, and physical development. By fostering curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning, the course provides a strong foundation for lifelong English learning.

 Learning Through Play

Play is at the heart of early childhood education. Music, movement, storytelling, arts and crafts, science exploration, and imaginative play provide authentic opportunities for children to use English while developing creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Here are some designed activites for the topics of Toys; Transportation and Animals

1. Topic: Toys

Activity 1: Mystery Toy Bag

Objective: Identify and describe toys using simple language.

Materials: A cloth bag and several toy objects (ball, teddy bear, robot, doll, car, kite, blocks).

How to play:

• One child reaches into the bag without looking.
• The child feels the toy and guesses:
  • "Is it a teddy bear?"
  • "I think it's a robot."
• The class answers:
  • "Yes, it is!"
  • "No, it isn't!"
• The child takes it out and says:
  • "It's a teddy bear."

Language

• What's this?
• It's a...
• Is it a...?
• Yes, it is./No, it isn't.