Minh's secret to excelling in English.

(Baonghean) - “Be diligent in class, take advantage of every opportunity to practice communicating with foreigners and friends, and learn online” - Dau Huy Minh (Class 5E, Le Mao Primary School) - the winner of the gold medal in the National Online English Competition held last April, shared his secret to excelling in English with us.

Sitting opposite me was a boy who had just finished 5th grade, neatly dressed in his uniform, quick-witted, articulate, intelligent, and as mischievous as any boy his age. Minh's academic achievements were impressive: for five consecutive years, he was an all-around excellent student; in the 2012-2013 school year, in addition to winning a Gold Medal in the National Online English Competition, Minh also won Second Prize in the City-level Children's Math Competition.

Dau Huy Minh's study corner

Minh added: "My English listening skills are still limited, so I need to study more to improve my listening and speaking abilities."

Like many of her peers, Minh still has childhood passions. She enjoys reading books and newspapers, especially literary works such as "The Green Lotus Bud," "The Adventures of the Cricket," and books on history and geography. English is a passion for Minh. "First of all, you have to be passionate about it. From there, you'll find a suitable learning method. I usually focus on listening to the teachers' lectures to grasp the knowledge. At home, I also spend time doing homework, practicing listening and speaking online. In addition, my family has enrolled me in an English language center so I can have the opportunity to improve my knowledge and communicate with foreign teachers," Minh revealed.

Not only is Minh proficient in English, but he is also an excellent math student. During the past school year, after passing the class and school-level competitions, he was one of six members representing Le Mao Primary School in the city-level "Mathematics for Young Children" competition and won second prize.

Minh's academic achievements are truly remarkable, especially considering his family's circumstances – his mother is a journalist and his father is a teacher working far from home – meaning he has to study almost entirely on his own. Journalist Mai Hoa, Minh's mother, said: "From a young age, Minh has cultivated independence, a strong sense of self-discipline in his studies, and excellent punctuality. Therefore, even when his parents are busy with work, they can still feel very secure about him." Meanwhile, Mr. Pham Huu Lam, the homeroom teacher of class 5E at Le Mao Primary School (Vinh City), spoke of his young student with great affection: "Minh is an excellent student in all subjects. He is very intelligent, eager to learn and explore new knowledge. He is cheerful, friendly, and well-liked by his classmates as class leader."

Text and photos: Thanh Duy