Blind girl achieves 7.5 IELTS

Ma Thi Phuong, 24 years old, a blind girl, is a social work student at the University of Science - Thai Nguyen University, and has just achieved 7.5 IELTS thanks to self-study.

7.5 IELTS girl Ma Thi Phuong also just won first prize at the 3rd National Informatics Competition for the Blind.

Previously, Phuong also realized her dream of reaching out to the world when she received the Erasmus+ Mobility student exchange scholarship at the University of Valladolid, Spain and the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative scholarship at the University of Connecticut, USA in 2024.

Ma Thi Phuong at University of Valladolid, Spain

PHOTO: NVCC

Journey from darkness to the world

The life of the Tay girl, Ma Thi Phuong, took a different and thorny turn right after passing the 10th grade entrance exam. Optic neuromyelitis suddenly struck, causing her vision to rapidly decline, and she could no longer see the light. Having fallen into a crisis and had to postpone her studies for a year, Phuong revived her spirit thanks to her belief in knowledge and curiosity about the world. She returned to school, faced with countless difficulties, but made an effort to teach herself how to use computers and supporting software.

Recently, she and her friend developed the Zablind tool to support the visually impaired in using Zalo, winning first prize at the National Computer Competition for the blind in the software creation category. Realizing that the Zalo platform, popular in Vietnam, lacked shortcuts and was not compatible with screen readers, causing great difficulties for the visually impaired, Phuong and her friend adjusted the Zalo PC interface, added shortcuts and read element labels. This solution has helped visually impaired users reduce barriers, making it much more convenient to communicate, study and work.

Dr. Ta Thi Thao, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Science, Thai Nguyen University, was impressed by Ma Thi Phuong's determination, strong will and unyielding spirit in the face of difficulties. "In addition to studying, Phuong always actively participates in projects to support people with disabilities such as teaching English, providing technical support, helping them access technology and society. This demonstrates Phuong's community mindset and dedication. To me, Phuong is an example of determination, confidence, and aspiration for a meaningful life," Ms. Thao shared.

AI English learning strategy to conquer 7.5 IELTS

Thanks to a disciplined learning method, combined with the effective support of technology, along with necessary adjustments from the examination board for visually impaired candidates, Ma Thi Phuong achieved IELTS 7.5.

The breakthrough in Phuong's learning method is that she turns AI into a personal teacher. For speaking skills, she prepares answers for predicted sets of questions in advance, then asks ChatGPT to suggest more natural expressions or add idioms to make her speech more lively and native-like. She also self-study English through applications and websites such as HelloTalk, Tandem, Airtalk to chat with foreigners, improve her listening and speaking skills, and practice reflexes.

Phuong (far left) won first prize at the National Informatics Competition for the Blind.

PHOTO: NVCC

The biggest challenge for the visually impaired lies in writing skills, especially with visual data. To overcome this, Phuong uses AI to convert chart data into tables or plain text for screen readers to access, and uses tools like Poe or ChatGPT to get detailed feedback on grammar and logic. For listening and reading skills, she prioritizes websites with screen reader-friendly interfaces like mini-IELTS.

Phuong believes: “Visually impaired and disabled people need to proactively find opportunities for themselves. For me, incidents are not the end but the door that opens a new path, because I am the master of my own life."

Sharing her future plans, the 7.5 IELTS girl is working hard to complete her scholarship application for a master's program in public policy. This determination comes from her experience studying abroad, where she saw the difference in professional support services for disabled students compared to the lack in Vietnam. After cultivating her knowledge, Phuong aspires to contribute to the community, participate in policy advocacy and coordinate development projects to promote the integration of disabled people into society, helping them have equal opportunities and not be left behind.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-gai-khiem-thi-dat-75-ielts-185251205080606317.htm