“The only real limitation on your abilities is the level of your desires.”
Born in a family with English language teaching tradition, Phuong Nghi was lucky enough to have a chance to learn English from the age of five. Despite her lack of enrolment in any courses at any language center due to financial reason, she still succeeded in passing the entrance exam into Gia Dinh High School in 2012 thanks to her good knowledge in grammar and vocabulary and then, was chosen to learn in D1, a proficiency class for students gifted in English.
As having had not many chances to practice communication English in reality, Phuong Nghi encountered enormous difficulties in the Listening and Speaking courses. However, thanks to the lecturers’ encouragement and inspiring teaching methods as well as her own steely determination, she was awarded the highest scholarship. During her eight semesters at university, she did not miss any of the academic incentive scholarships and was also a student of five great achievements at university level in school-years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. She was proudly awarded a certificate for her top result in the university Commencement Ceremony in September 2019. As having the highest GPA, she was invited to be the representative of all other bachelors, engineers and masters to make a speech.
In addition, as having passed two rounds of preselection and interview, Phuong Nghi was given a scholarship from Luong Van Can Fund for the talented and physically and mentally supported through a lot of skill training sessions.
Although possessing impressive academic background, Phuong Nghi did not give top priority to grades. In her opinion, a person’s competency is not only in the knowledge assessed by grades but also in skills and attitudes gradually sharpened and perfected. Complete dedication to anything, no matter what it is, determination to follow the plan and daring to ask for help in case of difficulties will ensure that grades, skills and attitudes will be increased. Phuong Nghi always feels fortunate to have learned with various professionally competent and conscientious lecturers who are always willing to give students support, encouragement and prompt responses to questions. As a consequence, she always had high motivation to learn and improve herself.
Currently, Phuong Nghi works as a lecturer of English in Ho Chi Minh Vocational College of Technology II in District 9. She is also teaching IELTS courses in IPP IELTS Center and tutoring students of BVIS and VAS International Schools.
It was not easy for Phuong Nghi to gain initial achievements. She had to deal with a heavy workload, including designing lesson plans, grading students’ work, recording students’ progress on documents, and so forth. Moreover, in order to develop professional competences and take major steps in her career, Phuong Nghi is taking a Master course in English language teaching and learning in the transnational education program provided by Edith Cowan University, Australia. She hopes that after one more year, she will be back to UTE as a new person, not a student as in these old days. She always holds the belief that human ability is unlimited; if yes, it only exists in our mind.
VU NGOC PHUONG NGHI
2015 Alumna, TESOL Program
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