The little girl on the remote island is good at English.

Overcoming geographical barriers and learning difficulties, Vu Ngoc Gia Han, a 4th-grade student at Tho Chau Primary and Secondary School in the Tho Chau Special Zone, has achieved many outstanding results in provincial and national English competitions.

Persistently learn English.

Vu Ngoc Gia Han won first prize in the provincial-level English public speaking competition (elementary school category), 2025-2026 school year, organized by the Department of Education and Training, with her presentation about her hometown, Tho Chau. The moment her name was announced, the petite, dark-skinned, bright-eyed student confidently stepped onto the stage to receive her award.

Student Vu Ngoc Gia Han during class. Photo: BICH TUYEN

Mr. Huynh Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training, said: “Despite living in a remote coastal and island area with difficult learning conditions, Gia Han has strived to overcome difficulties, diligently studying and practicing to improve her English skills. At the competition, Gia Han confidently performed excellently, speaking fluently, with a rich vocabulary, accurate pronunciation, and answering the judges' questions very well.”

Gia Han began her journey of self-learning English when she was five and a half years old. More than a year later, Gia Han could communicate in English daily. Trying her hand at various English competitions, in first grade, Gia Han won an honorable mention at the national English Champion competition, further boosting her confidence and motivation to improve her English skills every day.

Gia Han not only views English as a subject but also as her second language. To date, Gia Han is fluent in English in daily communication. Thanks to recording videos of herself speaking and giving presentations in English every day, Gia Han has excellent presentation skills with a rich vocabulary and a confident demeanor. Gia Han is participating in the "Vietnamese Children Reaching Out to the World " competition in 2026 organized by the Central Youth Union Council and has been selected for the semi-finals (provincial level).

Not only is Gia Han excellent in English, but she also achieves outstanding academic results in all subjects, actively participating in competitions, contests, and movements. In the 2025-2026 school year, Gia Han won third prize at the provincial level in the English Olympiad (IOE); she will continue to participate in the national round of the IOE competition and the Violympic Vietnamese Math competition. Gia Han shared: "Every day, outside of class time, I study on my own according to a schedule, and I get to play freely, so I don't feel any pressure."

According to Ms. Vo Thanh Kieu, a 4th-grade teacher at Tho Chau Primary and Secondary School, Gia Han is very well-behaved, diligent, has excellent academic achievements, is always sociable, helps her classmates improve, and actively participates in school and local activities and movements. Dang Nhu Quynh, who has been in the same class as Gia Han since childhood, shared: “Gia Han is very cheerful and very good at studying, especially English. Whenever I ask her for help with my homework, she is very enthusiastic, helping me to learn better.”

A mother's journey

The moment her daughter's name was called and she stepped onto the stage to receive first prize at the provincial English public speaking competition, Ms. Ta Thi Hong Kieu was moved to tears. To help Gia Han achieve this success, Ms. Kieu had steadfastly overcome many difficulties with all her love and faith in her daughter.

Ms. Kieu was born and raised in Hanoi. After graduating from a teacher training university, she came to Tho Chau Island to teach in 2014. Having been attached to the remote island for over 10 years, Ms. Kieu got married, had children, and considers Tho Chau her second home. Concerned about her children's disadvantaged educational circumstances, Ms. Kieu utilized the internet to help them learn English from a young age. Initially, she joined self-study groups on Facebook, accessing an American English program, and was able to watch video lectures and read books shared by group members completely free of charge.

According to Ms. Ha Thi Oanh, Vice Principal in charge of Tho Chau Primary and Secondary School, Gia Han is very well-behaved, diligent, has excellent academic achievements, and actively participates in school and local activities and movements. “The school commends and gives gifts to encourage Gia Han, spreading her example to motivate all students in the school to strive and compete for academic excellence. Gia Han's achievements are proof that with the care and support of parents and effective learning methods, even in difficult conditions, students can still achieve high results,” Ms. Oanh shared.

BICH TUYEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/co-be-o-dao-xa-hoc-gioi-tieng-anh-a481528.html