Self-studying village student scores 8.5 on IELTS on second try

Hoang Van Thai, 20, is currently a student majoring in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.

He took the IELTS test last month and scored 8.5, with a perfect score in Listening. His other skill scores were 8.5 in Reading, 8.5 in Writing, and 7.5 in Speaking.

“I was beyond excited with the results and immediately called my parents,” Thai recalled. This was his second attempt at the IELTS, aiming to prepare his application for a multinational company.

Three years ago, he took the first IELTS test for university admissions and scored 8.0.

Thai was born in Tan Dong District, which borders Cambodia. His parents are farmers who earn their living by growing crops like sugarcane and rubber.

Thai acknowledges the limited educational resources in his border village, lacking English language centers, and a general disinterest in learning among the locals.

Improving English to expand opportunities for higher education and employment in international settings is often overlooked here, he admitted.

In primary school, Thai mainly learned English through textbooks. As his family’s financial situation improved when he was about to enter secondary school, he asked to study in the town rather than a school in his village.

He cycled 20 km daily to and from school. “Traveling was challenging, but I was eager to learn,” Thai said.

However, in the town school, Thai felt that learning English in class was still insufficient, so he spent much time exploring on his own.

He watched scientific videos on YouTube, particularly those about physics experiments, which expanded his vocabulary.

The challenge of self-study for Thai was not knowing whom to ask when he did not understand something. The only English speaker he knew was his teacher, who had only basic knowledge.

Thai aimed to pass the entrance exam for a high school specialized in English to study more systematically and in-depth.

He dug through online guides, books, dictionaries, and practiced with past exam papers.

Finishing secondary school, he successfully passed the entrance exam to the specialized English class at Hoang Le Kha High School for the Gifted in his province. In his senior high school year, he won first place in English in the provincial-level exam for talented students.

It was during that time Thai learned that English language certificates have been used in university admissions. He decided to prepare for the IELTS with the goal of pursuing a degree in economics.

“From a young age, I had dreamed of being an English teacher, but choosing economics seemed a better option to help my family,” Thai said.

Hoang Van Thai as a university student in HCMC. Photo courtesy of Thai

Regularly reading books and watching videos in English, Thai’s listening and reading skills were strong, so he only practiced online exam formats to familiarize himself with the IELTS test.

For the other two skills, writing and speaking, early in his preparation, Thai realized he was not performing well. “I had no one to correct my work, so I didn’t know if I went wrong,” he said.

Later, he connected with a peer who was studying in Singapore, and they began discussing various topics. Impressed by that friend’s eloquent English and argumentation skills, Thai asked for help with his speaking and writing.

Tran Phuoc My, the friend who turned Thai’s English tutor, was impressed with Thai’s mature attitude towards his IELTS goals.

“Thai studies to understand. Thus, he always seeks the most practical and applicable learning methods,” My said. “He always tries to present as many supporting/opposing arguments, or even critiques himself when practicing speaking and writing.”

In his second IELTS attempt, Thai still relied on his friend to correct his essays and hone his argumentation skills.

During the summer break, they met weekly to review over 10 essays and four speaking tasks Thai had prepared.

My also helped Thai practice speaking as if in a real exam, then provided detailed feedback on logic, fluency, grammar, and vocabulary. Most of their practice materials came from the Cambridge IELTS books.

In addition to practicing with exams, Thai continued to enhance his English by reading newspapers, science magazines, and foreign literature.

He is a regular reader of philosophical articles on the New York Times and health and nutrition pieces in the science magazine Nature.

“English is a tool that helps me access the vast knowledge of the world. I always carry an English book in my backpack,” Thai said. He is currently exploring psychological phenomena in the book “Quirkology” by Richard Wiseman, a professor at the University of Hertfordshire, England.

Thai also frequently finds opportunities to chat and assist foreigners in downtown Ho Chi Minh City to practice his speaking reflexes.

Last semester, he chose the subject Global Supply Chain Management because it was taught entirely in English. Thai always took notes in English to understand and think in the language. At the end of the semester, his group analyzed the supply and purchasing strategies of a pharmaceutical company through a video presentation and received positive feedback from their teachers.

In his journey, Thai considers himself fortunate to have his parents’ support. His father encouraged him to learn English online, having heard that it could open up a promising future. Thai’s mother also encouraged him, although she had never learned the language.

In the future, Thai plans to focus on his studies, complete his internship successfully, and help his friends learn English.

“I will also write a blog in English to share my perspectives on life’s issues in this language,” Thai said.