English Challenge - From school gameshow to wide-open horizons
At 9:10 PM on February 5th, 2017, English Challenge – the first English game show exclusively for primary school students of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television – officially launched. Nearly a decade has passed, and English Challenge is not only a platform for discovering English talents, but also an educational brand, inspiring foreign language learning, igniting aspirations for integration, and accompanying many generations of students on their journey to conquer knowledge and confidently step out into the world.
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Thanh Quynh - Ngoc Ha/Present:Hong ToaiAugust 11, 2026
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At 9:10 PM on February 5th, 2017, English Challenge – the first English game show exclusively for primary school students of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television – officially launched. Nearly a decade has passed, and English Challenge is not only a platform for discovering English talents, but also an educational brand, inspiring foreign language learning, igniting aspirations for integration, and accompanying many generations of students on their journey to conquer knowledge and confidently step out into the world.
For those who love the English Challenge, they will undoubtedly be impressed by the intelligent and confident young student Ho Ngoc Lam (born in 2006) - who confidently overcame the rounds to claim the top prize in the first season.
Nearly a decade has passed, and the little student from class 6E at Dang Thai Mai Secondary School is now a third-year student in the Information Technology Faculty at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.
Lam's journey has included many new milestones, but whenever she thinks of the English Challenge, she still considers it a meaningful starting point of her school life.
Of all the memories Lam has of the English Challenge, what she remembers most is her first trip abroad – a special reward the competition provided.
Seven days in a foreign country not only opened up a new culture for the student, but also helped him experience English in its vibrant presence for the first time. This included conversations with international friends, confidently asking for directions, communicating, and discovering new things on his own.
That trip made me realize that if you know English, the world is so much bigger.
And if you ask me what the English Challenge left me with the most, it wasn't the championship trophy, but the fact that it instilled in me, a primary school student, the confidence to step onto the stage, ignited my love for foreign languages, and motivated me to persevere in pursuing English for many years afterward.
More importantly, the competition also left behind beautiful memories with teachers, friends, and family – those who shared a memorable part of my childhood with me.
Ho Ngoc Lam - Winner of English Challenge Season 1
When asked about her secret to mastering English, Ho Ngoc Lam shared that she always tries to proactively integrate the language into her daily life by reading materials, practicing conversational reflexes, watching movies, listening to music, and accessing knowledge in English. Learning is no longer a burden but has become a habit, a passion nurtured every day.
It was this effort that helped Lam achieve an IELTS score of 8.0 as early as 11th grade, while she was a computer science student at Phan Boi Chau High School for Gifted Students.
Now, studying Information Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Lam deeply appreciates the value of the foreign language foundation she has diligently built. Most specialized materials, new technologies, and learning and research opportunities are in English. Lam shares that English is no longer just an advantage, but almost a prerequisite for her to go further in the field of information technology.
Not only Ho Ngoc Lam, but the English Challenge has become a beautiful memory in the school years of thousands of students in Nghe An.
Over 9 seasons, more than 6,000 contestants have participated in the preliminary rounds, with 352 outstanding students advancing to the weekly rounds in over 120 competitions. Over 9,000 questions across various fields have created an inspiring intellectual playground where students can showcase their knowledge, confidence, and ability to use English effectively.
Through that platform, many students realized that when they dare to speak a new language, new horizons will open up before them...
What has kept English Challenge alive for nearly a decade is not just the competitions on stage, but also the dedication of an entire team silently "keeping the flame alive".
To ensure a polished broadcast, months of preparation are required, from content creation and technical refinement to meticulously planning each contestant's experience.
The on-set familiarization sessions, the words of encouragement before filming, and the close coordination with parents and teachers were all meticulously prepared.
From the very beginning of conceiving the idea of creating an English game show specifically for elementary school students, the Board of Directors of Nghe An Newspaper, Radio and Television determined that English Challenge had to be a sustainable educational platform.
Dozens of meetings, both large and small, were held to perfect every detail of the format. How could a knowledge contest be as engaging as a game show? How could elementary school students be excited to participate without feeling pressured? And how could each episode ignite a love for English in students in Nghe An province?
To answer those questions, each season requires months of tireless work from the production team. Editors spend days developing and verifying hundreds of questions.
The director, cinematographer, technicians, and programmers constantly test the software, fine-tune every effect, every bell-ringing signal, every countdown second to ensure that every event on stage unfolds accurately and fairly.
Many filming sessions ended late at night, but the crew would still stay to review each frame, scrutinize every detail, and learn from the experience for the next program.
Throughout this journey, the Board of Directors provided close support. From content direction and format feedback to question set evaluation and monitoring of filming sessions, the agency's leaders were always directly involved with the team, present at the studio to encourage contestants and handle any unforeseen situations.
From its first season in 2017 to the present day, that dedication has served as a unifying thread, helping English Challenge transcend the boundaries of a game show to become an educational brand, a cherished memory for generations of students in Nghe An province, and a source of pride for Nghe An's newspapers, radio, and television.
After months of intense competition, English Challenge Season 9 has announced the four most outstanding contestants who have advanced to the final round.
Each student has their own story, their own journey of effort, and their own unique personality, but they all share a passion for English and a desire to conquer new challenges.
Le Anh Kiet, a 5th grade student from Trung Do Primary School, was the first contestant to secure a spot in the final round with an impressive score of 800 points, leading in Quarter 1.
Second highest ranking in each quarter
Tran Duc Anh, a 5th grade student from Cau Giat Primary School, entered the final round as the second-place contestant with the highest score of the entire season (780 points).
Phan Vu Hoang Son, a 5th grade student from Quynh Chau A Primary School, demonstrated his prowess by securing first place in Quarter II with 810 points – the highest score of this year's competition.
The youngest representative is Nguyen Tien Dat, a 4th grade student from Ben Thuy Primary School, the winner of Quarter III with 665 points, who promises to create some surprises on the final stage.
That's Le Anh Kiet, a 5th grade student from Trung Do Primary School - the contestant who secured the first ticket to the final round with an impressive score of 800 points, leading in Quarter 1.
Tran Duc Anh, a 5th grade student from Cau Giat Primary School, entered the final round as the second-place contestant with the highest score of the entire season (780 points).
Meanwhile, Phan Vu Hoang Son, a 5th-grade student from Quynh Chau A Primary School, demonstrated his prowess by securing first place in the second quarter with 810 points – the highest score of this year's competition.
The youngest finalist was Nguyen Tien Dat, a 4th grade student from Ben Thuy Primary School, who achieved the highest score in Quarter III with 665 points.
Entering the final match, the students not only represent their school but also carry the pride of their local community and the expectations of those who have supported them throughout this journey.
Besides the main stage at Studio S1 - Nghe An Newspaper, Radio and Television, the Final program will connect live with locations at Cau Giat Primary School (Quynh Luu commune) and Quynh Chau A Primary School (Quynh Tam commune).
There, teachers, friends, and family will watch over and encourage the contestants, creating emotional moments of support and spreading the spirit of learning to the community.
The winner of English Challenge Season 9 will be revealed when the final questions are asked.
But more than just a competition, the final night promises to further spread the spirit of eagerness to learn, love of English, and confidence among students in Nghe An - values that English Challenge has persistently cultivated over the years...
