The Impacts of Foreign Language Anxiety on Students in English-Medium Instruction Classes in the Central Region Universities, Vietnam

This study investigates the anxiety frequency of students in English-medium instruction classes and its relationship with gender and English performance. The questionnaire was administered to 300 students in three universities in Central Vietnam. The follow-up interviews and classroom observations were conducted to obtain more insights into the research problems. The results revealed that the EMI students had moderate levels of anxiety. The most provoking causes of students’ anxiety were worries about making mistakes, inconfidence during speaking tasks and fears of negative judgment from peers and teachers. The analyses of the variables related to foreign language anxiety revealed a significant negative correlation between students’ foreign language anxiety levels and their English competence. No statistically significant relationship was found between male and female students. The study provides several pedagogical insights for curriculum designers, educators and teachers to improve the quality of English-medium instruction courses in the Vietnamese context

Applying flipgrid-based portfolio to improve Vietnamese EFL high school students’ speaking scores

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the application of electronic teaching tools has emerged as more crucial than ever. This research was aimed at investigating the impacts of Flipgrid-based portfolio on EFL high school students’ speaking scores and their attitude toward the use of this e-portfolio. The study involved 86 EFL high school students in Vietnam, who were divided into control and experimental groups. The data were collected from a pre-test, a post-test, a questionnaire, and interviews. The results showed that Flipgrid-based portfolio significantly improved students’ speaking performances in terms of pronunciation and fluency. Moreover, all the participants in the experimental group expressed a positive attitude toward the use of this online platform despite some mention of shortcomings. On the basis of the findings, a number of pedagogical recommendations are suggested with the hope of pushing the effective use of e-portfolio in English-language teaching and learning in EFL contexts

Determinants Influencing Accounting Quality of Transportation Service Firms

The study aimed to determine what determinants influencing the accounting of transportation service firms working the area of Da Nang of Vietnam. A study model was developed, investigated and analyzed with the involvement of 250 transportation service firms in Da Nang. The results show five determinants influencing the accounting works including industry characteristics; legal guidance; material facilities for accounting; interest in accounting of business owners; accountants’ qualifications. Among them, the two most important determinants influencing the quality of the accounting were legal guidance and interest in accounting of business owners. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made to improve the quality of accounting of transportation service firms. Keywords: Determinants, accounting, transportation services DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-4-08 Publication date: February 29th 202

A Research on the Quality of Public Transportation Services by Bus in Vietnam

This study was conducted to assess the status of the quality of public passenger transport services by bus in Hanoi. Data were collected from regular passengers using buses as a means of transportation in the city, including passengers standing at stations, waiting shelters and on vehicles to make trips and students of some universities who use buses as a means of transportation. We employ descriptive statistics and hierarchical analysis to learn about the topic of research. The results indicate that the quality of public transport services by buses in Hanoi, which was judged by passengers quite well. In particular, the safety level, convenience, security and hygiene is up to 70%, which was higher than the highest quality level. Quality of fast level and reliability are low. Keywords: quality of services, public passenger transport, buses, Vietnam. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-13-04 Publication date:July 31st 201

Data Structure Model on the Quality of Public Passenger Transport Services by Bus in Vietnam

The system of managing public passenger transport services (PPTS) by bus is a complex system, involving infrastructure, facilities, management and service communication activities between passengers and transport systems. In particular, quality information is the most important factor, providing necessary data for analysis, setting out measures to improve quality to meet the needs of passengers and meet the requirements of related parties. According to the peculiarity of the service, this study selects a database structure model to guide the process of computerizing the management of quality of PPTS by bus in urban areas in Vietnam. The results show that four database systems reflecting the quality information of the infrastructure, means of transport, transport operation and passenger service and each database system is structured by components that ensure proper implementation of QM process according to the continuous quality improvement cycle. The components of each database system are dispersed according to the scope of management to ensure the consistency for the quality management process and facilitate the collection, processing and distribution of information of related parties. Keywords: Quality, transport services, public passengers, Vietnam. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-10-13 Publication date:May 31st 201

Environmental Health Risk Assessment of Dioxin Exposure through Foods in a Dioxin Hot Spot—Bien Hoa City, Vietnam

This study used the Australian Environmental Health Risk Assessment Framework to assess the human health risk of dioxin exposure through foods for local residents in two wards of Bien Hoa City, Vietnam. These wards are known hot-spots for dioxin and a range of stakeholders from central government to local levels were involved in this process. Publications on dioxin characteristics and toxicity were reviewed and dioxin concentrations in local soil, mud, foods, milk and blood samples were used as data for this risk assessment. A food frequency survey of 400 randomly selected households in these wards was conducted to provide data for exposure assessment. Results showed that local residents who had consumed locally cultivated foods, especially fresh water fish and bottom-feeding fish, free-ranging chicken, duck, and beef were at a very high risk, with their daily dioxin intake far exceeding the tolerable daily intake recommended by the WHO. Based on the results of this assessment, a multifaceted risk management program was developed and has been recognized as the first public health program ever to have been implemented in Vietnam to reduce the risks of dioxin exposure at dioxin hot-spots

The influence of human genetic variation on early transcriptional responses and protective immunity following immunization with Rotarix vaccine in infants in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam : a study protocol for an open single-arm interventional trial [awaiting peer review]

Background: Rotavirus (RoV) remains the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and children aged under five years in both high- and low-middle-income countries (LMICs). In LMICs, RoV infections are associated with substantial mortality. Two RoV vaccines (Rotarix and Rotateq) are widely available for use in infants, both of which have been shown to be highly efficacious in Europe and North America. However, for unknown reasons, these RoV vaccines have markedly lower efficacy in LMICs. We hypothesize that poor RoV vaccine efficacy across in certain regions may be associated with genetic heritability or gene expression in the human host. Methods/design: We designed an open-label single-arm interventional trial with the Rotarix RoV vaccine to identify genetic and transcriptomic markers associated with generating a protective immune response against RoV. Overall, 1,000 infants will be recruited prior to Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccinations at two months of age and vaccinated with oral Rotarix vaccine at two and three months, after which the infants will be followed-up for diarrheal disease until 18 months of age. Blood sampling for genetics, transcriptomics, and immunological analysis will be conducted before each Rotarix vaccination, 2-3 days post-vaccination, and at each follow-up visit (i.e. 6, 12 and 18 months of age). Stool samples will be collected during each diarrheal episode to identify RoV infection. The primary outcome will be Rotarix vaccine failure events (i.e. symptomatic RoV infection despite vaccination), secondary outcomes will be antibody responses and genotypic characterization of the infection virus in Rotarix failure events. Discussion: This study will be the largest and best powered study of its kind to be conducted to date in infants, and will be critical for our understanding of RoV immunity, human genetics in the Vietnam population, and mechanisms determining RoV vaccine-mediated protection. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03587389. Registered on 16 July 2018