Education

The silent people who make English Challenge shine

Phan Linh - Van Thao • August 20, 2025 16:09

The stage is where the English Challenge contestants shine, where the audience is thrilled with each turn. But behind the sparkling lights is a whole team working hard and silently - people who do not appear on screen but contribute to creating a well-prepared, emotional and memorable program.

With English Challenge, it was not a short journey. And the production team – from editors, technicians, directors, backstage to media – are the ones who silently, persistently and passionately create the spread of this game show.

734-202508201516151(1).jpeg — A meeting of the Organizing Committee of English Challenge season 8.

English Challenge is a highly educational academic playground with bilingual elements, the participation of children, and the requirement of continuous interaction. Therefore, each season, the organizing committee always strives to create new content, closely following school life to arouse the passion for English and help children develop comprehensively.

To have quality sets of questions for candidates to compete, the Department of Culture and Arts always closely coordinates with the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An, the international education organization 2G Education in the preliminary round, the Weekly and Quarterly competitions, especially the Yearly Final.

“No one does this program just for the sake of doing it. We all have the same feeling: this is something we are proud to be a part of,” a crew member shared.

734-202508201516153(1).jpeg — Members of the English Challenge “house”.

A match can last 60 minutes. But the preparation time for a recording session can be a week, even a month – from contacting the coordinating units, creating a set of questions, component reports, designing the stage, running demos, installing LED systems, sound, and lighting. All are silent efforts to ensure the program runs smoothly.

734-202508201516154(1).jpeg — The team is actively preparing at the Finals.

734-202508201516165(1).jpeg — The team is actively preparing at the Finals.

There are days when filming lasts until late at night. There are unexpected situations during the broadcast. But the special thing about the English Challenge crew is that no one leaves their position and promptly handles the problem – they understand that the most important thing is to keep the contestants in the best competitive spirit.

734-202508201516166(1).jpeg — The technical department is always ready to handle any arising situations.

Having aired 8 seasons, English Challenge operates like a well-oiled, efficient machine from set-up to showtime.

The team consists of dozens of members: from the dedicated and experienced leadership team, some are veteran directors of many major programs, some are young technicians entering the main production for the first time, or editors who have to work at high intensity, taking on many positions at the same time... but they all have one thing in common: they consider the program as their brainchild. They strive to come up with new topics, connect closely with candidates and schools with high responsibility, regardless of day or night.

734-202508201516168(1).jpeg — The crew is working on the pre-recording tasks.

Tomorrow (August 21), the English Challenge Season 8 Finale will take place, and the audience is looking forward to the best contestants shining. But at the same time, behind the scenes, a team is also highly focused, rushing to complete the preparations, readying technical solutions to ensure a well-prepared and emotional telecast.

734-202508201516169(1).jpeg — The team before G-hour at Thuong Tan Loc 2 Primary School.

The English Challenge Season 8 Final will be broadcast live at 8:00 a.m., Thursday, August 21, 2025 on NTV, NTVgo and digital platforms of Nghe An Newspaper, Radio and Television.