VUS – Providing students with a solid foundation before studying abroad (11-06-2010)

Among the ten international standard training programs at VUS, Young Leaders is the most outstanding program with its students having achieved great things. The program not only gives students the opportunity to have an internationally recognized certificate but also helps them to develop essential English skill useful for those who plan to study abroad.

Developing a good foundation to study in an international environment

In the integration process, English has become the global language and is a must in the process of learning and achieving success. A lot of excellent people miss study abroad opportunities or scholarships because they do not meet English language requirements.

It can be said that the VUS Young Leaders program has been developed to satisfy that need and to help high school students (12-17 years old) to have a good foundation in the English language before entering university. Especially for those who plan to study abroad upon finishing high school, this is the ultimate choice which familiarizes them with an international education environment right in Vietnam.

The program is specifically designed so that there are lots of activities such as learning from news articles, acting, presenting, working in groups, practicing with audio visual facilities, etc. This helps students to develop all four skills to the highest level, to have vocabulary in various areas, to learn and drill good pronunciation, to practice expressing oneself and to communicate confidently in order to integrate successfully into the learning environment of foreign countries later on.

Dr Christopher Minh Huynh, VUS Deputy General Director confirms: “VUS graduates are totally qualified to study at colleges and universities in the world.” This is demonstrated through student performance in prestigious international exams. Many VUS students get high scores on the TOEFL iBT test. VUS students’ average score in TOEFL iBT is 72/120 whereas the requirement for US colleges and universities is about 60. This is a good start for students to study abroad or to register in joint programs with high schools, colleges and universities in English speaking countries.

Recently, in March 2010, VUS had a sweeping victory in the English speaking contest organized by the HCMC Department of Education and Training, with students receiving two first prizes, two second prizes, one third prize and two consolation prizes spanning all three age groups. Especially, in the 13-17 age group, three VUS students, Dao Thi Minh Nguyet, Nguyen Hang Phuong Dung and Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, won first, second and third prizes. With excellent English skills, confidence, and fluent speaking, VUS students did really well when giving presentations and answering the judges’ questions.

Dao Minh Nguyet (first prize winner) confidess: “I started learning English at VUS when I was in secondary school. The environment here is awesome. The lectures are so interesting which have made me love English without recognizing it.”

VUS – Giving students a good start to progress further

To show its commitment to training quality, VUS has provided the best learning environment to help its students to gain the best results. Currently, VUS has campuses across Ho Chi Minh City to satisfy the needs of different types of students. VUS teachers in the Young Leader program and all other programs have to pass rigorous recruitment processes including both academic and teaching ability evaluation to ensure international training quality. VUS has more than 700 foreign and Vietnamese teachers who have to attend training courses and workshops regularly to improve their skills and knowledge.

Thanks to the excellent learning conditions, VUS students can progress really fast and have great achievement in their study abroad journey. Here are some of VUS top students to get high scores in international exams: Nguyen Hang Phuong Dung received 114/120 on the TOEFL iBT (she’s the youngest Vietnamese to achieve this result); Dam Huy Phat received 108/120 on the TOEFL iBT; Nguyen Ha Nguyen Anh received 180/180 on the TOEIC Bridge; Au Duong Tri received 960/990 in TOEIC;  and Do Trong Thanh received 670/677 on the TOEFL test.

Mrs Tran My An, mother of Dao Minh Nguyet, said: “Since the time she started her study at VUS, she has been learning the language enthusiastically and successfully. Her performance at regular school has also improved. I am very pleased with this. I have to thank VUS teachers for bringing my daughter this success.”

VUS training programs are designed based on the cooperation between VUS and The City University of New York (CUNY) which is the third largest public university in the US and the home of 12 Nobel prize winners. Thanks to this, VUS students have access to the most up to date methodology and are able to progress rapidly.

According to Doanh Nhan Sai Gon Cuoi Tuan (Saigon Businessmen Weekend) on June 11, 2010