Hoang Anh Tu and his journey to conquer the English language.

While English remains a challenge for many students, for Hoang Anh Tu, a 7th-grade student at To Hieu Secondary School in Trung Tam Ward, Lao Cai Province, it is the field he has chosen to pursue seriously.

Instead of relying on her natural abilities, Tú gradually built a solid foundation for herself and made her mark with concrete results in exams. That journey began with very simple things and was sustained by daily perseverance.

I met Hoang Anh Tu one early summer afternoon, after a proud introduction from the principal of To Hieu Secondary School in Trung Tam Ward: " Anh Tu is very good at English, especially frequently taking advanced placement exams and achieving many outstanding results."

To improve her English, Tú regularly reads stories and watches videos in English.

Tú's house was in a quiet alley. As I stepped into the yard, the polite little student ran out to greet me. Tú was small in stature, with a gentle face and a friendly smile, but what I remember most is his bright, confident eyes.

In Tú's small, tidy study room, alongside her English textbooks, there's a neatly placed chessboard in the corner. Besides studying foreign languages, she also loves playing chess. After each class, she often spends time playing chess to relax and improve her thinking skills. " Playing chess helps me remember better and think faster. Whenever I feel stressed from studying, I often play a few games of chess to unwind," Tú confided.

Some of the awards Anh Tú has won.

Tú shared that she participated in the 11th Yên Bái Provincial Phù Đổng Sports Festival in 2023 in chess and won first place in standard chess and third place in rapid chess. For her, chess moves are not simply a game but also help to train concentration, memory, and patience – all essential qualities for studying.

Perhaps it's the balance between studying and leisure that helps Tú maintain a relaxed state of mind. She doesn't put too much pressure on herself, but sustains her studies through consistent daily practice.

Anh Tú shared his secret: To learn English well, he spends a lot of time watching videos, listening to music, watching movies, and talking to foreigners in English. In addition, he studies grammar and practices thinking in English.

Listening to become familiar with the language, speaking to correct pronunciation, reading to expand vocabulary, and writing to systematize knowledge—Tu chose to learn all skills equally instead of focusing solely on textbook exercises. As a result, the 7th-grade student always maintained a proactive and confident attitude when communicating in English. What impressed many teachers even more was Tu's frequent participation in advanced-level exams.

Despite being much younger than other contestants, she boldly challenged herself in demanding competitions to gain experience and improve her abilities. In the 2025-2026 school year, Hoang Anh Tu won third prize in the provincial-level English competition for gifted students and a silver medal in the national-level online English Olympiad. Prior to that, she had also achieved good results in several advanced-level English exams.

When asked if he felt pressured competing with older students, the young student confided: "Initially, I was worried, but I think the most important thing is to gain experience and learn more. Competing with older students helps me identify my weaknesses so I can improve."

Sitting next to me during that conversation was Ms. Dao Thi Huong Tra, Tu's mother. She repeatedly mentioned the word "self-discipline" when talking about her son. " He..." "Tu is very self-motivated in her studies. Her parents don't have to remind her much; they mainly just encourage her and create opportunities for her," Ms. Tra shared.

According to Ms. Tra, what the family always tries to ensure for Tu is a relaxed learning environment. Outside of school hours, she still has time to play chess, listen to music, or chat with friends to maintain her mental balance.

Tú's mother has always been a source of encouragement and support throughout her studies.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, an English teacher at To Hieu Secondary School, shared: Tú is a very diligent student with a strong self-study spirit and a serious attitude towards learning. In particular, Tú always proactively seeks out new knowledge, not just studying within the scope of lectures.

Tu is always diligent and active in class at school.

Before parting ways, Tú returned to his familiar study corner, where his English notebook remained open beside his small chessboard. The image of the student with his gentle smile, bright, confident eyes, and focused attention on each lesson will forever remain in our memories.

Certainly, with his relentless efforts and unwavering desire to surpass himself, Hoang Anh Tu will achieve even more success in the future.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/hoang-anh-tu-va-hanh-trinh-chinh-phuc-mon-tieng-anh-post899162.html