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| Nguyen Phuoc Thanh Hien - Grade 12, French Specialized Class |
Nguyen Phuoc Thanh Hien: Exploring another culture through a foreign language
For Nguyen Phuoc Thanh Hien, the journey to a national First Prize in French was shaped by a rigorous academic environment and the dedicated guidance of teachers. During team training, she engaged with in-depth knowledge systems, diverse question formats, and practiced exam psychology and time management through mock tests. The high-intensity learning environment and exposure to talented peers motivated her continuous daily effort.
Alongside studying at school, Hien proactively joined online courses and exchanged experiences with candidates from other provinces, enriching both her knowledge and exam skills. She emphasized the importance of recognizing and correcting personal weaknesses to develop a careful, safe, and effective approach to exam writing.
Her connection with the French language began somewhat “fated”. Starting from studying in an English-French class at Nguyen Tri Phuong Secondary School, her love for the language began to grow. The turning point came in the summer of Grade 8 when she attended a French conversation course taught by volunteer students from Paris School of Economics and Marseille Medical University. Cultural exchanges during that time deepened her appreciation for the language and solidified her determination to pursue it seriously.
To Hien, French is a romantic and refined language; it is not merely a communication tool but also a bridge that broadens her perspective and connects her to people, cultures, and humanistic values beyond geographical boundaries. It was this understanding that has strengthened her attachment to the language throughout her academic journey. “When learning a foreign language, I have the opportunity to explore an entirely new culture with its own distinct values and identity. Each language opens up a different way of viewing people and life, and French has brought me those invaluable experiences. I hope French will not only remain an achievement from my school years, but also become a foundation that expands my opportunities, enables meaningful connections, and allows me to contribute positively to society in the future,” Hien shared.
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| Nguyen Thi Xuan Giang - Grade 12, History-Geography Specialized Class |
Nguyen Thi Xuan Giang : A Passion for geography
For the first time, Quoc Hoc - Hue High School for the Gifted has achieved a national First Prize in Geography. For Xuan Giang, this milestone is especially memorable. Her journey to winning the national First Prize in Geography has been a long path marked by perseverance. Living in Kim Tra Ward, 14 kilometers from school, and facing an intensive study schedule, she wakes up very early each morning to attend classes. In the afternoons, she stays at school to review lessons with her teammates, often returning home late in the evening.
Xuan Giang shared that throughout her preparation process, she studied with utmost seriousness, as she believes knowledge is never truly sufficient. She mastered foundational theory and, in particular, tackled complex advanced topics. Almost every day, she practiced with exam papers, reviewed questions, and trained herself to write with both accuracy and speed.
She chose Geography because it enables her to understand the world around her, from nature, climate, and resources to people, economies, and global issues. What captivates her most is the subject’s practical relevance and intellectual depth. Each lesson offers a multidimensional perspective on Vietnam and the wider world, encouraging deeper exploration of natural phenomena. The subject’s accessibility, logical structure, and depth of analysis fuelled her passion and ultimately led her to pursue the Geography specialized track.
Entering the national examination, Giang inevitably experienced anxiety and pressure, particularly given the exam’s significance and the expectations from teachers and family. Nevertheless, she consistently worked to regulate her mindset by trusting her preparation process and viewing the exam as an opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills she had accumulated.
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| Nguyen Phan Anh Nhi - Grade 12, French Specialized Class |
Nguyen Phan Anh Nhi: Steady accumulation as the path to success
Unlike dramatic breakthroughs, Nguyen Phan Anh Nhi chose a steady and methodical approach. Her preparation was characterized by accumulation, repetition, and continuous adjustment. She divided her study plan into stages, focusing on addressing weaknesses rather than spreading her efforts too thinly. When she noticed diminishing effectiveness, she proactively adjusted her pace instead of forcing herself to study in an overloaded state. Maintaining discipline, regularly practicing exam papers, reviewing mistakes, and correcting them thoroughly formed the foundation of her success.
Introduced to French at an early age through her mother, who teaches the subject, Anh Nhi encountered the language naturally. What began as familiarity gradually developed into genuine interest. As she progressed to higher levels, she realized that French suited her cognitive style due to its logical structure and precision in expression. From that point, she committed herself seriously and persistently to the French specialized track.
According to Anh Nhi, the key factor in learning a foreign language, particularly French, is vocabulary. She does not memorize isolated words but always studies them within context to fully grasp nuance and usage. A strong vocabulary base enables her to read quickly, articulate ideas precisely in writing, avoid circumlocution, and focus more effectively on argumentation and structure. In addition, careful time allocation allows her to maintain a steady rhythm throughout the exam.
Looking ahead, Anh Nhi hopes to pursue fields in which French serves as a genuine working tool. In the present, she does not wish to commit to a specific career path, believing that continued learning, exploration, and self-understanding are more important than making an early definitive choice. What she seeks is a path that allows her to further develop her thinking, broaden her knowledge, and continue progressing. For her, French will serve as a foundation for entering broader academic and professional environments in the future.