6th Grader’s Remarkable Achievement in English Competition

Hai Nam, a student from the 6G0 class at Newton 5 Secondary School, has made history as the only sixth grader in Thanh Oai district, Hanoi, selected for the city-level English competition for exceptional students for the school year 2024-2025.

In the district competition, Nam achieved a score of 16.1 out of 20, placing him sixth among the top ten competitors.

Nam expressed his surprise at the results, as he had never imagined he would join a team with 9th-grade students for the city competition.

When reflecting on the exam’s difficulty, designed for older students, Nam noted they were challenging but manageable, consisting of 100 questions to be completed in 150 minutes.

English teachers pointed out that sixth graders generally have less familiarity with academic writing, which poses additional challenges for them. It was clear that Nam possesses a solid English foundation to keep up with 9th graders.

Regarding his motivation to take the advanced exam, Nam shared his desire to earn a prize and secure a scholarship from the school.

This was not his first experience with an advanced competition; in fifth grade, he was part of the district team for a contest aimed at seventh graders.

Nam revealed to VietNamNet that he was introduced to English quite early on, as his mother listened to English songs and shows during her pregnancy.

“English feels naturally integrated in my mind. I find it more comfortable and easier to convey my thoughts in English,” said Nam.

He frequently engages with English books and media covering diverse topics, from science to fiction.

Nam has the habit of isolating himself in a quiet space to read and practice speaking, recording himself to refine his skills. If he’s not satisfied with his pronunciation, he turns to YouTube to learn from native speakers.

After finishing a book or watching a movie, Nam practices monologues as part of his learning routine.

To master grammar, he regularly does exercises and reviews past exam questions.

He also interacts with foreigners online and initiates conversations with people he meets on the streets.

Le Thi Thanh Nhan, the principal of Newton 5 Primary & Secondary School, acknowledged Nam’s capabilities, mentioning that he is in a math-focused program yet excels in English and has garnered many accolades in both subjects.

“We are happy but not surprised by his success. Nam is a talented and confident student, even more fluent in English than in Vietnamese. He does not attend any extra classes for English preparation,” Nhan stated.

Through consistent effort, Nam has achieved significant milestones, including first place in the district’s Internet Olympiad English competition, a gold medal in the national IOE (2023-2024), second place in the city English Olympics (2023), a silver medal at the Asia Mathematics Olympiad (2023), second place in the city-level Trang Nguyen Tieng Viet competition (2024), and various international silver medals.

Nhan highlighted that Nam is the first sixth grader from their school to qualify for the 9th-grade English competition, while seventh graders from Newton 5 will also participate in the advanced exam.

“Given that Nam is in sixth grade, we aim for him to enjoy the experience without pressure. We hope he at least wins a prize and performs well,” Nhan said.

In addition to his studies, Nam showcases his talents by engaging in extracurricular activities, such as hosting school news programs, vlogging, and giving presentations in English.

Nam is confident and claims not to feel any pressure competing against older students, as he has gained substantial knowledge from reading and online resources.