Being fluent in English doesn't guarantee success

One of my cousins struggled with English in school and barely graduated from university in 2004. After graduation, he joined a Japanese company that required him to learn Japanese. At 23, he started learning the new language and picked it up quickly. Within a year, he was sent to Japan for further training.

Three years later, he returned to Vietnam and secured a key position in the company. Today, his success is undeniable.

This example highlights an important reality: while English proficiency is widespread in Vietnam, with approximately 30 million users, mastering English alone doesn't guarantee success or more opportunities.

High school students checking their names before taking the graduation exam in Hanoi, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

During a recent trip to Malaysia, I expected to rely on English for communication. Instead, I was surprised to find locals in tourist areas speaking fluent Vietnamese. This experience reinforced the importance of adapting language learning to practical needs.

Vietnamese people can learn from this approach. English should serve as a foundational foreign language, but other languages relevant to specific industries or job markets should also be pursued.

Modern media and AI tools have made learning English simpler, reducing the pressure on students to overemphasize it in school. Instead, children should enjoy learning English as a practical skill for future work, rather than as an obligation tied to test scores.

Over-reliance on English exam scores, while ignoring technical expertise, creates long-term problems. A clear example is the concerning decline in students taking natural sciences in the 2024 high school graduation exams.

Without balanced education, we risk producing fluent English speakers who lack the skills to excel in technical or specialized fields. Many English graduates already face difficulties finding jobs due to a lack of professional qualifications.

Ultimately, it’s not English proficiency alone but determination, adaptability, and technical expertise that drive success. English can be a valuable tool, but it should never be mistaken as the sole key to achieving one’s goals.