News and Events

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper has recently granted a scholarship worth VND15 million (US$700) to a student at a university in the southern province of Long An for her project on low-cost English classes.

Titled “English for Change,” the project is the idea of Pham To Trinh, a student at Tan Tao University in Duc Hoa District.

It has been implemented at Tan Duc High School in the district for one year.

Trinh won a scholarship from a program Tuoi Tre runs to sponsor and encourage students who develop projects to contribute to social development.

The “English for Change” project applies the Pimsleur method – an audio-based language acquisition method developed by America-born Paul Pimsleur that stresses active participation over rote memorization – in the classroom, improving learners’ basic communication skills and pronunciation.

Trinh said she used to learn English at language centers but could not improve her skills though it cost her quite a lot.

She then chose to work as a free guide for foreign tourists in her hometown – the central coastal city of Nha Trang – to practice English and thus improve her command of the foreign language.

Three free trial classes using the Pimsleur method to teach English have been run at Tan Duc High School so far with Trinh sourcing help from her friends, consultancy from her university’s instructors, and sponsorship from some local enterprises.

The third-year student plans to charge much lower fees than language centers for her classes when she finishes the trial period.