Lunch Box Club for English No. 27: Your model in working/studying

The main topic led to discussions among members of the Lunch Box Club for English about a seemingly familiar issue, yet one that remains a constant concern for those dedicated to the club's activities and wanting to promote English learning at the school. This concern was: how can the Lunch Box Club for English continuously improve in quality and membership, thereby truly building a strong English foundation for staff to support training and research activities? What are the fundamental difficulties currently hindering the improvement of English proficiency among staff? What are some effective ways for working professionals to learn English?

Professor Pham Quang Minh shared with the young staff members his journey of persistently learning English for many years, starting from his return to Vietnam from studying abroad nearly 20 years ago. At that time, English classes for working professionals were not numerous, and opportunities to use English were not as readily available as they are now. He was a Russian language teacher at a foreign language center, but he also enrolled in English classes at the same center every evening. His consistent listening and daily practice with native English-speaking teachers for nearly three years built a solid foundation in his English reflexes and communication skills, paving the way for further progress later on. The Rector's advice to the young staff members was to set specific goals and persevere; even in difficult times, they would still find opportunities to experience and practice English. Only through daily practice can they improve their English skills in daily life.

Professor Colman Patrick Rose advises that you shouldn't limit yourself to just the activities of the Lunch Box Club for English, as that won't be enough to improve your English skills. And if you have young children, don't hesitate to learn English with them – listen to music, watch movies, or speak English together every day. This will help you learn English naturally and without fear.

Sharing their difficulties in learning English, many members said that the biggest challenge was self-doubt and not being able to overcome their own limitations. Next, they mentioned a lack of perseverance to overcome the initial obstacles.

Speaking about his experience learning English, Dr. Pham Huy Cuong (Department of Politics and Student Affairs) said: try to think in English, write in English about the issues you encounter daily in life, even though sometimes it's not easy.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong (Department of Cooperation and Development) believes that listening to music and watching movies in English is a lively way to learn English with many real-life situations that won't make us feel bored.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy (Department of Linguistics) said that she has had the opportunity to teach Vietnamese to many foreign students and always takes advantage of every opportunity to speak with them in English. That is how she gradually improves her English skills in her work.

To innovate the club's activities, many members suggested that in the future, they could organize field trips to visit and interact with international students and trainees outside the school. These activities would be planned with specific content and themes, thereby creating a more diverse and vibrant English learning environment for members of the Lunch Box Club for English.