English Challenge Playground: Helping Dreams Take Flight

Having progressed through the weekly and quarterly rounds, the English Challenge Season 9 Grand Finale witnessed the competition of four talented "warriors." Each contestant brought their own unique style, story, and dream.

Le Anh Kiet: "Former candidate""Birth" returns with a confident and witty demeanor.

Among the four finalists in the English Challenge Season 9, Le Anh Kiet (a 5th grade student from Trung Do Primary School) is a familiar name.

Participating in the competition for the second consecutive time and brilliantly securing a spot in the Finals with a perfect score of 800 points - First Place in Quarter 1, Anh Kiet has demonstrated remarkable growth.

Sharing his thoughts on his return, the young student excitedly said, "Compared to last season, I feel more confident, more diligent, and my reflexes and ability to answer questions are much faster."

Besides possessing a solid foundation of knowledge, Anh Kiet also makes an impression with his liveliness, humorous way of speaking, and ability to create a cheerful atmosphere for those around him. In particular, his passion for foreign languages ​​has been deeply ingrained in him since a very young age. Having been exposed to English since the age of 4-5 through cartoons and music, Anh Kiet says he even enjoys speaking English more because of the rich vocabulary he has naturally accumulated over the years.

Ahead of the Grand Finals of the entire season, Anh Kiet said he had studied very thoroughly and was in a very excited state. Without any pressure, the student from Trung Do High School sent a confident yet endearing message of good luck to his three rivals in the race:""I hope you all remain confident, calm, and unfazed by any situation on stage!"

Tran Duc Anh: The pride of the Primary Schoolstudy at Cau Giat

While Le Anh Kiet exuded vibrant energy, Tran Duc Anh (a 5th grade student from Cau Giat Primary School) captivated the audience with his calmness, meticulousness, and logical thinking.

By brilliantly securing a comeback victory and advancing to the Finals with the highest Quarter-Final score of the entire season (780 points), Duc Anh demonstrated his prowess through perseverance and a comprehensive knowledge base.

In particular, Duc Anh's participation in the final round marked a memorable milestone: For the first time, Cau Giat Primary School had a contestant reach the English Challenge Finals. Carrying the pride of his teachers and friends, Duc Anh shared that he was determined to compete to the best of his ability to bring glory to his beloved school.

At school, Duc Anh is an exemplary class deputy, excelling in all subjects but especially passionate about English, Vietnamese, history, and space. In competitions, this student from Quynh Luu always impresses the judges with his confident presentations and strong arguments. Behind those persuasive speeches lies a very scientific way of thinking.

Duc Anh revealed: "Whenever I prepare for an English speech, I usually find the main points first, then develop the smaller points and arrange them so that they don't feel disjointed. I always try to use concise sentences so that my speech never goes off-topic."

Duc Anh's confidence and resilience throughout his competitions are always supported by his family. The young boy shared: "My mother has always been my companion and my first teacher.".His mother's unwavering support motivated Duc Anh to train hard and pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut in the future.

Facing the final competition, Duc Anh maintained a calm yet confident demeanor. Without putting pressure on winning or losing, the multi-talented class vice-president sent a message of encouragement to his three fellow contestants: “Even though there’s only one champion, I believe everyone has the ability to do their best. Always cherish those precious moments!”

Phan Vu Hoang Son: From a shy boy to the highest-scoring player of the season.

In contrast to his usual energetic stage persona, Phan Vu Hoang Son (a 5th grade student from Quynh Chau A Primary School) is a rather quiet class leader in real life. However, behind that calm exterior lies an incredible competitive spirit. Hoang Son currently holds the record for the highest score in Season 9, Week 2 of Quarter II, with 840 points, and proudly advanced to the Finals alongside the Quarter II First Prize winner with 810 points.

The student from Quynh Luu remained humble: "Although I have the highest score, it doesn't mean I'm guaranteed to win. I chose to stay calm to build confidence, think carefully, and ensure my answers were the best they could be."

It was his reading habit from the age of six that nurtured Hoang Son into a profound and imaginative individual. He is passionate about exploring books on science, world history, geography, and science fiction to learn about the world around him.

The boy excitedly shared:"When I read about science fiction or history, I feel like I'm actually embarking on a real journey."

Having initially considered himself quite shy and reluctant to socialize, the English Challenge became a "turning point" that helped Hoang Son transform. The experience gained from this major provincial competition and the opportunity to make new friends helped him develop a more confident and self-assured personality.

Facing the big competition, despite some anxiety about competing against "former contestants" from previous seasons, Hoang Son still showed his confident demeanor: "No matter the outcome, for me, the competition is like an experience. Let's try our best, and no matter the result, we will still be proud of ourselves for having grown so much."

Nguyen Tien Dat: The only representative from grade 4 in the Final.English Challenge Season 9

As the youngest contestant to reach the finals of the 9th season of the English Challenge, Nguyen Tien Dat (a 4th grade student from Ben Thuy Primary School) showed no signs of shyness or pressure compared to the 5th graders.

Winning first place in Quarter III with 665 points, Tien Dat impressed with his calm, confident demeanor and incredibly comprehensive knowledge. Speaking about his position as the youngest participant in the competition, the young student shared: “Being the youngest, I felt very comfortable. My composure was key to helping me focus and answer the questions in the best way possible.”

Tien Dat's passion for foreign languages ​​was nurtured from a very young age. Having started learning English at the age of three, he was fortunate to have his mother as both his companion and his first teacher, inspiring him and patiently teaching him every day. It was this love for the subject and his admiration for his mother that ignited his big dream – to become a math and English teacher in the future, imparting knowledge to generations of students.

To prepare for the most important competition, Tien Dat proactively reviewed a variety of subjects, from Math, Literature, and English to History and Geography. However, for him, the greatest value he received after the competition was not just the score or the laurel wreath.

""Through this competition, I feel more confident, have learned a lot of new knowledge, and especially have met and made many new friends like Ngan Binh, Hoang Bao, Nam Khanh..." – Tien Dat excitedly expressed.

Concluding the Quarter-Finals and ready to enter the Finals, when asked to describe himself in three words, the class vice-president of academics at Ben Thuy Primary School answered concisely but decisively: "Calm - Confident - Victorious." Along with that was an incredibly sweet message for the three "older brothers":""I wish you all good luck in the competition and hope we can create a truly exciting match together!"

Looking at the journey of the four finalists, it's clear that the English Challenge is not simply a televised competition, but has become a prestigious intellectual arena, spreading its influence to every school and every locality. These include:

The narrowing of the gap between urban and rural areas:The consistent presence of contestants from the urban center of Vinh (Trung Do Primary School, Ben Thuy Primary School) along with outstanding representatives from rural areas such as Quynh Luu (Cau Giat Primary School, Quynh Chau A Primary School) shows that the English learning movement has developed extensively, bridging geographical and access gaps.

Shifting from "learning for exams" to "a living language":For these children, English is no longer a barrier or a source of exam pressure, but a familiar tool for thinking, expressing emotions, and exploring the world around them in a completely natural way. They are exposed to the language from a very young age through music, movies, reading science and history books, or everyday communication. For them, English is not a dry subject, but a tool to explore the world, develop critical thinking, and nurture their dreams.

A place to nurture character:After each round of the competition, what remains with the students is not just the score, but the confidence gained from stepping out of their "comfort zone." The competition has truly become an environment for developing life skills, helping them learn to face pressure, maintain humility in victory, and cherish every moment of growth.

The English Challenge Season 9 Grand Finals are fast approaching. Regardless of who wins the championship, all four contestants – Anh Kiet, Duc Anh, Hoang Son, and Tien Dat – are already "champions" in the hearts of their teachers, families, and audience. They are outstanding representatives of a dynamic and confident young generation, stepping out into the world with their knowledge and passion. Let's cheer them on and watch the English Challenge Season 9 Grand Finals on August 14th!