ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING INTEGRATED WITH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) IN RESPONSE TO STRESS EXPOSURE AT HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

Under the internationalization of education context and globalization, at tertiary level, students benefit from opportunities for academic and professional development. However, they also face pressures ranging from academic burdens to social life, which cause huge stressors. In responding to this challenge, the suggestion from K-12 education, so-called social emotional learning (SEL) can be integrated in higher education due to its effectiveness in self-awareness, social relation and responsible decision. For supporting evidences, a trans-disciplinary study was conducted at National Economics University, where SEL materials were integrated into English lessons of 100 research participants, including those from traditional and partnership programs. This research aimed at equipping students with SEL knowledge to better deal with their stressors. Successfully, after getting the input of SEL intervention, students changed their stress responses from avoidance-oriented to problem- and emotion-oriented. The SEL knowledge should be delivered to students. Especially, this study also provided other recommended SEL integrated approaches for higher education in Vietnam to help students tackling stressors.