Gia Lai Province student RCom Nay H Srina, a member of class 6A1 at Sao Viet Primary, Secondary and High School, has emerged as one of the school’s top English learners.
Originally from Piơm Village in Đak Đoa Commune, Srina recently won second prize at the English Olympiad of Asia (EOA), an international English competition.
She also received a Bronze award in the national Internet-based English Contest (IOE) and secured a silver medal at the ADEPT competition. Following her EOA achievement, Srina was awarded a “global citizen” scholarship by the competition organizers.
Srina said her strongest skill is speaking English, a subject she has loved from an early age. In addition to her regular schoolwork, she studies independently every day after classes and attends a language center on weekends to further improve her skills.
She credited her family, especially her mother, for supporting her learning journey. Growing up in a household where English was regularly used helped her develop confidence and familiarity with the language at a young age.
Her mother, RCom Hsonh, an English teacher at Nguyen Du Primary School, said the family has a long tradition of self-learning foreign languages.
“Our family has a tradition of self-studying foreign languages. My father guided me to learn English, and now I am passing that guidance on to my child”, she said.
According to Hsonh, using English at home gave Srina early exposure to the language and strengthened her communication skills. The family hopes she can become a “global citizen” and inspire more Bahnar children and ethnic minority students to pursue education.
Throughout Srina’s participation in academic competitions, her mother and grandfather have remained closely involved, helping her develop ideas and complete contest entries.
Tran Thi Xuan Thuong, Srina’s homeroom teacher and English instructor, described her as disciplined, responsible and academically gifted. As class monitor, Srina consistently performs strongly in English, particularly in speaking, listening and reading.
Thuong said Srina’s diligence and proactive approach to learning stand out alongside her ability to balance academic performance with extracurricular activities.
Beyond academics, Srina actively participates in provincial and city-level cultural programs and performances. She recently passed the casting round for the HTV-produced television program “Super talented kids”.
Despite her busy schedule, teachers say she continues to maintain stable academic results and actively contributes during class discussions.
Nguyen Thi Chung, vice principal of Sao Viet Primary, Secondary and High School, said Srina’s success reflects both personal determination and the potential of ethnic minority students when provided with supportive educational opportunities.
“The school is committed to fostering a positive learning atmosphere, especially in foreign language education, and encourages students to participate in both domestic and international competitions for comprehensive development”, Chung said.
Srina acknowledged that she initially struggled with English grammar and comprehension but gradually improved through persistence and regular practice. She said she hopes to continue participating in more competitions in the future.
In addition to her academic achievements, Srina can also play the traditional t’rung instrument, reflecting her connection to Bahnar cultural heritage.
Her accomplishments have become a source of pride for her family, teachers and school, while also serving as an example of perseverance and educational ambition among ethnic minority students in Vietnam.
