Doctoral Programme: Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching

Code: 6214 0111

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching

INTRODUCTION

1. Objectives of the Doctoral programme:

The Doctoral programme in Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching  aims at attaining the objectives of the Doctoral degree in accordance with article 2 of the Regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Education, which is "to train scientists who possess high theoretical and practical capacity, creativity and independence in scientific research, ability to discover and solve new issues which are of significance in science and technology, and ability to guide others in doing scientific research."

2. Training duration:

- 3 years for candidate with a master’s degree

- 4 years for candidate with a bachelor’s degree

3. Doctoral candidates: All Vietnamese citizens who satisfy the requirements set in the Regulations by Ministry of Education and Training.

4. Requirements for recruitment

4.1. Qualifications and publications

The candidate must meet one of the following requirements:

- Holding a Master's degree in Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching or in the field close to Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching such as a major in English or International Studies.

- A Bachelor degree in English or English Pedagogy (full-time)

Note:

- Applicants with Master's degree in English or International Studies must attend additional courses in Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching (22 credits).

- Priorities are given to those who have a master’s degree and are working in the Centre and Central Highlands of Vietnam.

4.2. Research topics:

- An essay on research intent, which clearly states the following issues:

- The topic or field of study, reasons for selecting the topic or field of study, objectives and desired results, reasons for choosing the training institution;

- Action plan for conducting the research in each period of the training time;

- Experience, knowledge, understanding as well as the preparation of the candidate for the intended topic or field of study;

- Expected employment after graduation;

- Nominating supervisors.

4.3. Letters of Recommendation

- Two letters of recommendation  from two researchers who hold an academic title, such as professor, associate professor or doctoral degree in the relevant field of study or discipline, or a letter of recommendation from a researcher who holds a scientific title or doctoral degree in the relevant field of study and a letter of recommendation from the head of the institutions where the candidate works.

- Letters of recommendation should include comments and assessments of the candidate's qualities and capacity, namely:

- Moral qualities, especially professional ethics;

- Professional capacity, working methods, research competence;

- Teamwork skills;

- Strengths and weaknesses of the candidate;

- Prospects for professional development;

- Other comments and level of support given to the candidate.

5. Requirements for candidate acceptance

Based on the Regulations by the Ministry of Education and Training and by Hue University, a successful candidate should meet the requirements stated at Section 2.3. In addition, he/she must satisfy the following specific requirements:

- Having at least 01 article directly related to the topic of his/her doctoral thesis, which was published in a scientific journal of the relevant field of study.

- Obtaining a certificate of foreign language, level 3/6 (or equivalent) in one of the languages stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training.

6. Learning outcomes:

+ Knowledge:

- The holder of a doctoral degree in Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching has a deep understanding of certain areas in the science of education.

- Being highly qualified in Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching, practical and able to do research and solve independently theoretical issues and English language teaching practice.

- Gaining necessary knowledge of relevant disciplines such as Language, Culture, English-American Literature, Psychology – Education,  to improve the knowledge of interdisciplinary science, serving for research and teaching activities.

+ Skills: Possessing the ability to carry out international cooperation in the field of research, apply and teach English language as well as join other social activities.

+ Attitude: After completing the programme, doctoral candidates will be good ethical officers who love the fatherland of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, manifesting honesty, passion of the profession, high sense of responsibility in teaching and research.

+ Regarding the position of the candidates after graduation: The holders of the doctoral degree in Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching will be able to work in different fields such as:

- Teaching and researching English in universities, colleges, training institutions, research centres.

- Presiding and participating in scientific research projects, participating in the evaluation of scientific projects at all levels from the central to local related to theories and methodology of English Language Teaching.

- Engaging in social activities related to English.

- Training, instructing graduate students, masters in English generally and specialisation of Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching particularly.

+ Foreign language proficiency: Obtaining the B1-level certificate in French (Russian, Chinese, German) of the Common European Framework (CEF) conferred by Hue University College of Foreign Languages ​​or equivalent foreign language certificates by reputable foreign language testing centres accredited by the Ministry of Education and Training,  valid for the doctoral candidates training.

7. Summary of the training program:

- Total number of credits: 90 credits

- Knowledge structure of the training curriculum framework (for doctoral candidates with relevant master's degree).

- Supplementary knowledge structure in the curriculum (for doctoral candidates who hold   master's degrees in the related fields - English or International Studies)

- Knowledge structure added to the curriculum (for doctoral candidates without a master's degree):

8. List of related and appropriate programmes in line with the proposed training discipline

8.1. For doctoral candidates:

- Appropriate discipline: Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching

- Related discipline: English Linguistics, International Studies.

8.2. For graduate students with a university degree:

- Appropriate discipline: English Language Teaching

9. List of supplemenary subjects

9.1. For candidates who do not hold a master's degree

9.2. For candidates with a close masters degree (English or International Studies)

10. Doctoral level subjects, seminars, and a research proposal

10.1. Doctoral-level subjects:

List of doctoral-level subjects in the specialisation of Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching

10.2. Research Proposal: 04 credits

The research proposal of the reseach situation and issues related to the dissertation requires the doctoral candidates to have the ability to analyze and evaluate the existing works by in-the-country and foreign authors, which are closely related to the dissertation, addressing remarkable issues, pointing out the focused issues need further researching and solving in the dissertation.

10.3. Doctoral seminars

Doctoral candidates must complete 2 seminars (equivalent to 6 / 10 credits) closely related to the disseratation, helping them to solve some theoretical and practical issues of the dissertation.

List of reference doctoral seminars in the doctoral program of Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching.

Research Proposal: An overview of the dissertation

Seminar 1: Methodology

Seminar 2: Results

11. Scientific research and doctoral dissertation

11.1. Scientific research

Scientific research is a specific, compulsory phase for doctoral candidates in the research and development of doctoral dissertation.

For research in the field of education, including Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching, the requisite for doctoral candidates is to master the theoretical system of pedagogy in general and the specialized theory in particular. At the same time, the candidates must master and perform efficiently method of research, have the ability to synthesise and generalise to draw conclusions of research value from the documentation system.

Doctoral candidates must ensure the truthfulness, accuracy and novelty of the scientific research results, and strictly abide by Vietnam and international intellectual property regulations.

11.2. Doctoral dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is a unique and innovative research work in the field of research with theoretical contribution, containing new knowledge or solutions that are valuable in developing, advancing scientific and theoretical knowledge in education, the field of study in particular, or creatively solving issues related to theory and methodology of foreign language teaching ​​in general and English in particular from practical social demands. The doctoral dissertation must fulfill all requirements under Article 30 of the Regulation on doctoral training programme promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Training.