South Korean student Seo Min Young from Ho Chi Minh City’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Vietnamese student Phan Thi Thuy Dung from the Da Nang College of Foreign Languages made their mark at the recently-held 7^th National Vietnamese-Korean Speaking Contest by winning special prizes.

Despite living in Viet Nam for less than 5 years, Min Young has outstanding Vietnamese language proficiency, especially in speaking and listening skills.  After completing his senior high school studies at an international school in Ho Chi Minh City, he returned home and did his military service for the next 2 years.  The talented man then passed the university entrance examination for the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies at Ho Chi Minh City’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities. 

Seo Min Young (right) (Source: ione.vnexpress.net)

Surprisingly, Min Young said that prior to the recent contest, he had never experienced the feeling of victory because in previous competitions he had always come second!  His great efforts this time paid off, and his excellent Vietnamese eloquence speech at the contest proved to be the winner.

Another prize winner is Phan Thi Thuy Dung who says that she had some difficulty learning the South Korean language during her first academic days at the College of Foreign Languages.  She added that she wanted to learn this language to have more employment opportunities after her graduation.

Phan Thi Thuy Dung honoured with a special prize

Apart from her tertiary studies, Dung is now working for a joint venture between Vietnamese and South Korean companies in order to improve her language proficiency.  After winning a special prize at the contest, Dung will now attend a free-of-charge course for a Master’s Degree at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea.  She hopes that the period of study overseas will give her the opportunity to learn more about this attractive foreign language, to appreciate the country’s cultural values, and to enjoy very interesting experiences.

In an effort to help its students improve their South Korean speaking skills, the city’s College of Foreign Languages has encouraged many Vietnamese students to participate in numerous volunteer activities as well as cultural exchanges with South Korean people.