News & Events

TRA VINH, 12.3.2014 – Tra Vinh University (TVU) recently announced the appointment of two new leadership positions and the creation of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, effective March 1, 2014.

The new Faculty was detached from the Faculty of Economics, Law and Foreign Languages to establish itself as an independent faculty.

“The establishment of the Faculty of Foreign Languages represents the growth in the professionally qualified faculty members,’ said TVU Vice-Rector Le Van Don. “The appointments will play a crucial role in the development of the new Faculty and in educating our students at TVU.”

“The new Faculty reflects the University’s commitment to foreign languages education, especially the English language, which today has become the global language,” added Mr Le Van Don.

TVU Management Board also announced the appointments of Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Nam as the new Dean, and Dr Ho Dac Tuc as new Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, effective immediately.

Both Phuong Nam and Tuc had served as deputy deans of the Faculty of Economics, Law and Foreign Languages since early 2013.

The announcement was made by Vice Rector Le Van Don and Deputy Head of Administration Department Ms Tran Kim Anh.

Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Nam has authored book and co-authored several scholarly articles.

 

She obtained a Master of Arts in TESOL from the University of Canberra followed by a Ph.D. in the English Language and Literature from the University of Amsterdam.

Her research interests include language acquisition, writing across cultures, and literary engagement.

Dr. Phuong Nam received the The Netherlands Nuffic Fellowship in 2008 and as a senior scholar in 2012. She also received the Mekong 1000 Project Scholarship for the period of 2008-2012, and the Vietnam Young Academics Award for 2003-2004.

In her new role, Dr Phuong Nam’s responsibilities will include overseeing and moving key faculty initiatives forward (strategic plan, accreditation, staff development), while maintaining her responsibility as head of English Department.

Over the past years the Department of Foreign Languages (now Faculty of Foreign Languages) has steadily risen in its significance at TVU as the University pursues its national standing as a qualified English testing center recognised by international language testing body Cambridge Assessment.

“While still relatively small in size, the percentage of our internationally qualified faculty members would rank TVU among the nation’s top English faculties,” Dr Phuong Nam said. “Our new faculty remains committed to quality teaching and scholarship with the pursuit of knowledge and real-life skills as its primary mission.”

Dr Ho Dac Tuc comes to TVU after more than 20 years serving both in the public and private sectors in Australia and Southeast Asian Nations.

“TVU is fortunate to welcome such an impressive deputy dean,” said Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Nam. “Dr Ho Dac Tuc has distinguished himself throughout his academic career not only as distinguished author but also as a teacher and mentor committed to educational excellence.”

Tuc has published widely both in English and Vietnamese.

Prior to joining the University in early 2013, he held leadership positions in academic relations and development at The International School Ho Chi Minh City and British International School.

He had previously served as team leader of the World Bank’s Vietnam Higher Education Project in Ha Noi.

Over the past two decades he has served in the Australia’s Victorian Government, taught language-related subjects at Deakin University (Australia), and a research associate at Monash University Department of Linguistics.

 “The establishment of the Faculty underscores how the University has expanded its faculty members over the years to include internationally recognised experts in their fields,” said Dr Ho Dac Tuc.

“The faculty now has over 20 full-time faculty members who bring together expertise from many English speaking countries.”

“We are young and creative, like our students. But our faculty members are diverse,” Tuc added.

Tuchas been instrumental in initiating the TVU green campus project that involves the collaboration of Swinburne University of Technology.

 
ABOUT TRA VINH UNIVERSITY & FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Tra Vinh University (TVU) is a public university located in the city of Tra Vinh, a beautiful green city of trees, rice fields, canals, creeks and rivers in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. TVU has grown from Tra Vinh Community College and earned the university status in 2006. More than 20,000 students are currently enrolled in TVU’s 12 faculties. The newly established Faculty of Foreign Languages currently offers accredited English undergraduate degrees as well as minor in English to over 8,000 students from around the Mekong Delta.

News by Faculty of Foreign Languages

TRA VINH 15.9.2013 – Tra Vinh University is proud to announce that it is Vietnam’s newest Cambridge-ESOL exam centre.

“We are very pleased to announce that Tra Vinh University has recently been fully approved as a Cambridge ESOL Exam Centre,” says Dr Pham Tiet Khanh, Rector of Tra Vinh University and President of Vietnam Association of Community Colleges.

“The University is not only committed to providing our students with the very best

academic programs and facilities but also recognises the need to offer the community in Tra Vinh province a wider range and choice of quality English programs.

The University is now authorised to run ESOL preparation classes and examinations for all candidates, which help to raise the standard of English in Tra Vinh,” Dr Pham Tiet Khanh adds.

Tra Vinh University has effectively used the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for language learning, teaching and assessment from the academic year 2012-2013.

All Cambridge English exams are aligned with the levels described by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Cambridge ESOL was involved in the development of this standard.

Cambridge ESOL is a department of the 800 year-old University of Cambridge.

All of its examinations are the most valuable range of English qualifications in the world.

Dr Pham Tiet Khanh attributes this phenomenal achievement to the University’s focus on quality in every aspect of its academic operation and relationships, facility improvements, and the University’s core values including community-based quality learning opportunity.

Tra Vinh University now receives support from Cambridge ESOL in a number of ways, including having access to Cambridge ESOL publications, exam instructions booklets, handbooks, and training materials.

Tra Vinh University will shortly offer a wide range of examination courses for students of all ages and abilities, namely the Key English Test (KET), the Preliminary English Test (PET), First Certificate in English (FCE), and the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE).

These certificates are truly international certificates and valid for life.

Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Nam, Head of Tra Vinh University’s Department of Foreign Languages, says: "We went through a rigorous approval process to achieve our University of Cambridge ESOL Examination Centre status.

We are delighted that we have responded to community needs by providing accreditated qualifications to all candidates in the Mekong Delta region.”

Tra Vinh University proposes to organise in collaboration with Cambridge ESOL a series of seminars on the CEFR standard, aiming at contributing to the knowledge and understanding of language teaching and assessment for the University’s lecturers.          

“Cambridge ESOL has confidence in Tra Vinh University’s strong reputation and academic quality. The University will greatly contribute to the growth of Cambridge ESOL centres in Tra Vinh province and throughout of Vietnam,” Cambridge ESOL says in an official letter to the Rector of Tra Vinh University.

News by Foreign Languages Faculty

TRA VINH, 17.12.2013 – With the familiar sound of “Until You”, the airy duet between unlikely pairing of English lecturer Benjamin David Kahn and second-year English student Duong San was all the rage on Tra Vinh University’s campus 1 in the night of December 16.

After a modern dance performance of “My heart goes shalala lala, shalala in the morning” by year-3 English students, the duet rocked the live audienceof more than 300 students, parents and faculty members with their amazing voices singing “Feels like nobody ever loved me until you loved me.”

“’Get-Together’ is an annual student fun activity of the English Club on the campus of Tra Vinh University in the Christmas time.

It has become a time and place to get together with students and staff to explore all of the uses of the English language,” said Thach Thi Dan, Tra Vinh University’s Vice Rector in her opening speech of the Get-Together event.

This special 10th anniversary of the English Club kicked off with a cool contemporary dance “Baby one more time” performed by Year-3 English students of TVU Foreign Languages Department, followed by more than ten entertainment scenes featuring music, plays, fanciful costumes procession, and dances.

This year's Get-Together theme - "Flames of Hope" - spotlights the importance of creative thinking and a joy of learning for TVU students. The theme was featured in the play “Cinderella” fantastically performed by students alongside visiting lecturers from the U.S.

“We are excited that our students have the opportunity to learn and work with prestigious English teachers from all over the world,” said Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Nam, Deputy Dean and Head of Foreign Languages Department. “The work teachers and students from the Department of Foreign Languages have done is very impressive, for this I thank them all and wish them well for the forthcoming year.”

The English Club’s “Flames of Hope” was not complete without the beloved Christmas carol “Christmas Mash-up” mixed with dance beats by a group of Filipino students, who are currently studying at TVU. The enthusiasm and spirit of the performers touched the hearts of everyone present! Together they soon had the crowd clapping, hissing and calling out their exciting.

Members of the Club all gave this year’s Get-Together a truly unique blend of culture, music, and entertainment flavor. It was altogether an inspired and mesmerising show.

Last night’s stunning experience was the result of a month’s hard work by teams of students and faculty members in the Department of Foreign Languages. They all really made a fine impression in the light of a full moon over the campus.

News by Foreign Languages Faculty