Why I make sure my child learns English

After reading an article about the importance of mastering English in today's world, I completely agree with the author, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Long, and his points.

I've experienced it firsthand. When I was in university, companies came directly to recruit top students. I was lucky to be chosen because of my excellent academic performance. But during my six-month probation, my biggest challenge was not technical skills—it was English. I had never prioritized learning a foreign language, so I struggled with basic communication, reading technical documents, and giving presentations.

A child is reading a comic book in English. Illustration photo by Pexels

Among the six students chosen, only two of us passed the final assessment. Since the company was relatively new, we were immediately appointed department heads. My improved English skills played a crucial role in that decision.

My husband had a similar experience. His weak English skills nearly cost him a job at an FDI company. His expertise got him through the interview, but the probation period was stressful. I had to help him summarize technical documents and prepare presentations, while he worked with the company's interpreter to improve his communication skills.

The effort paid off. After six months, he was the only candidate appointed as advertising manager. But the challenge did not end there. He had to travel abroad, attend training sessions, and meet international clients— all in English. He was exhausted. Even now, although things are easier, he still considers English the biggest struggle of his career.

Because we both faced these challenges, we made sure our child would not. We introduced him to English early, and now our child can read books and talk naturally in English with foreigners.

Honestly, I see many Vietnamese people undervaluing English. They believe AI and translation tools make learning the language unnecessary. I have never believed that.

I will keep making sure my child masters English. And I will not try to convince others otherwise—because the more people dismiss English, the more opportunities my child will have in the future.