Students practice interviewing with a character who achieved 9.0 IELTS Speaking

On the afternoon of December 3, Hoa Sen University students had a special lesson when they directly practiced interviews with Mr. Cao Nhut Minh Thuan, who achieved 9.0 IELTS Speaking and spent many years studying and doing research abroad.

Classroom scene at Tuoi Tre Newspaper. After studying theory, students will practice with speakers and guests invited by the lecturer to interact - Photo: QUANG DINH

The class is part of a collaboration between Hoa Sen University and Tuoi Tre newspaper to create a realistic working environment for students. During the class at Tuoi Tre newspaper, the lecturer invited a special character to help students practice the subject and learn practical knowledge and skills from the guest.

To remember, must study many times

Mr. Cao Nhut Minh Thuan graduated with a BA in Anthropology in the United States and a MSc in Brain and Cognition in Spain. Notably, Mr. Thuan achieved 9.0 IELTS in 3 skills (listening, speaking, reading).

In addition, Mr. Thuan has many field experiences in the field of primate research in the Amazon rainforest (Ecuador), Sri Lanka and recently a project in Cuc Phuong National Park. The long trips and difficult movements give him the ability to observe, adapt and work in a pressured environment.

Returning to Vietnam, Minh Thuan chose teaching English as a stable career path combined with professional knowledge. His background in anthropology and neuroscience helped him build a teaching method based on how people actually learn and remember.

Mr. Minh Thuan - Photo: QUANG DINH

During the conversation, Mr. Minh Thuan shared about the best method of learning English, the most important of which is practice. “One thing should be learned many times,” he said. He often applies the “anatomy” method.

According to him, when learning vocabulary, learners should not just stop at memorizing the surface meaning, but need to dig deeper into the context and nuances. “You have to understand in what circumstances the word is used, whether it has a positive or negative connotation, whether it is used to praise or criticize. In each different context, does the same word retain its meaning or change depending on how it is understood?”, he shared.

In addition, learners need to practice through exercises such as writing or telling a story using that word.

Practice right in the classroom

Student Hua My Chau asked Mr. Cao Nhut Minh Thuan about his experience in learning English and studying abroad - Photo: QUANG DINH

The class was divided into two parts: students learned the theory of interviewing skills, then moved on to the "practical" part of interviewing the characters. The classroom atmosphere was lively as soon as the students started "working". Many students asked difficult questions, exploring various aspects of the characters.

“There were some very good questions that forced me to think. Some of them were just for starters, but overall you guys were very proactive,” said Minh Thuan. He also appreciated the students’ spirit of daring to ask, daring to try, daring to make mistakes during the practice session: “The most valuable thing is your initiative to learn.”

Student Minh Khoi said that what interested him most was the feeling of being able to practice skills immediately. “The class was fun and interesting. I learned many new things, not only from the knowledge but also from the way the speakers handled each of our questions. Here, I feel like I am practicing journalism in the true sense, not just learning within the theoretical framework.”

Khoi also believes that interviewing different people, even though he has interviewed them before, still brings new experiences: “Each person has answers that surprise me. Thanks to that, I learn how to react flexibly when the situation changes.”

Students attentively listen to the guest's sharing - Photo: QUANG DINH

Similarly, student Khanh Duy said: “We mostly only learn theory at school. Today’s lesson gave me the opportunity to ask real questions, hear real answers and know if I was doing it right or wrong. I’m very happy to have the opportunity to practice my skills.”

For student Nhat Nam, the class brought many things beyond expectations. “The atmosphere of the class was very comfortable and I learned many skills that I did not know such as how to open, how to lead, how to arrange the structure when interviewing a character,” Nam confided.

Nam said he was surprised by the character's sharing beyond expectations: "At first, I thought he would rarely use Vietnamese because he traveled abroad a lot. But he spoke fluently, was prepared, and was very respectful to the listener.

One of the classrooms at Tuoi Tre Newspaper - Photo: QUANG DINH

This helps me understand the role of preparation when playing a character or when working”. Thanks to the model of learning - practicing - immediate assessment, students leave the class with many new experiences: knowing how to ask questions, how to improvise, how to listen to the character and how to learn from each question.

VU HIEN - THU BUI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sinh-vien-thuc-hanh-phong-van-voi-nhan-vat-dat-9-0-speaking-ielts-20251203185149073.htm