Enhancing Legal English Education: Insights from a Collaborative Talk Between Professor Marian Dent and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

On June 7, 2024, a significant talk took place, featuring Professor Marian Dent, a Senior English Language Specialist from the U.S. Department of State, and representatives from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV). This event is part of the Regional English Language Office Hanoi - U.S. Embassy's ongoing efforts to support legal English teaching and learning at universities in Vietnam.

The meeting were joined by: 

• Professor Marian Dent: Senior English Language Specialist, U.S. Department of State
• Ms. Nguyen Do Ngan Giang: Lecturer at the English Faculty, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
• Mr. Tran Huu Duy Minh: Vice Dean of the International Law Faculty, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam 

During this opportunity, Professor Dent shared her extensive experience from teaching LLM programs in Russia. She emphasized the importance of tailoring English language education to meet the specific needs of law students. She discussed the needs assessment she conducted in Vietnam and other countries, highlighting the unique requirements and challenges faced by university law students in different regions. Her insights underscored the necessity of a contextualized approach to curriculum development.

Ms. Nguyen Do Ngan Giang and Mr. Tran Huu Duy Minh shared the challenges and experiences encountered in teaching English to law students at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. They detailed the specific demands of their students, including the need for specialized vocabulary and comprehension of complex legal texts in English.

The representatives also discussed the strategies and methodologies they have employed to overcome these challenges and enhance the learning experience for their students.

Both parties agreed on the importance of developing a curriculum that addresses the unique needs of law students, incorporating specialized legal terminology and practical applications. The exchange highlighted the value of collaboration between international specialists and local educators to share best practices and improve teaching methodologies. The discussion emphasized the need for ongoing needs assessments to adapt to the evolving demands of law students and ensure the relevance of the English language programs.

The talk concluded with a mutual commitment to continue sharing knowledge and experiences, aiming to enhance the quality of English language education for law students both in Vietnam and globally.