Bui Van Anh, a 12th-grade student at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, was one of two Vietnamese students awarded the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship in early May.
The scholarship covers all tuition fees. Van Anh will also receive approximately 992 euros (nearly 30 million VND) per month for living expenses. In addition, the scholarship provides health insurance, accident insurance, round-trip airfare, and an academic allowance.
"With this support, I can focus on my studies without worrying about working part-time to cover living costs," Van Anh said.
According to Mr. Jorg Drenkelfort, head of the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA) at the German Federal Foreign Office, DAAD undergraduate scholarships are very rare. This year, he nominated six Vietnamese students, and two were selected.
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Bui Van Anh. Photo provided by the subject |
Bui Van Anh. Photo provided by the subject
Van Anh recounted how she often watched international sports programs with her father as a child, some of which were commentated in German. She enjoyed watching Formula 1 and admired German driver Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion. At the time, Van Anh wondered how such powerful engines were created. Her admiration grew as she learned about Germany's recovery after various crises and wars. This sparked her dream of visiting the country.
In secondary school at Nguyen Du Secondary School, Van Anh began studying German as her second foreign language. She admitted that the language initially seemed daunting due to its challenging pronunciation and listening comprehension. Unlike English, which is prevalent in books, newspapers, and television, German appears less frequently in daily life, making it seem difficult for many learners.
"At first, I was curious and tried learning it, but it turned out to be a good fit," Van Anh said.
Upon entering the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted and hearing her peers' experiences, Van Anh began considering studying abroad. She intensified her German studies. Before class, she prepared lessons, studied vocabulary, read newspapers, and listened to German news podcasts. She also watched videos on YouTube with German subtitles.
In 10th grade, Van Anh won third prize in the German Olympic competition at Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
During classes with German experts, Van Anh actively engaged in discussions, asking about life in Germany and the challenges international students often face. To maintain her English proficiency, she frequently translated her German studies with her friends.
According to Van Anh, students submitted their DAAD applications through their schools late last year, after which Mr. Drenkelfort personally reviewed and selected candidates. Those who passed this stage submitted their applications through the program's website in February.
The scholarship application consisted of several components, including the DSDII score and a motivation letter. The DSDII exam, covering listening, reading, and writing skills, was administered on paper in November 2024 and sent to Germany for grading. The speaking section was conducted in January and assessed by Vietnamese teachers and German experts.
Of the four skills, Van Anh felt most confident in listening and reading due to extensive practice. She was most concerned about the writing portion, which required writing 5-10 pages in two hours. This year's exam prompted students to compare data in a graph and express their views on young people using social media to participate in political activities.
"This topic was complex, involving media, youth, and politics, making it challenging to write about. I highlighted both the positive and negative aspects and provided examples," Van Anh explained.
For the speaking skill, she delivered two presentations, one of which was a prepared speech on the benefits of summer camps for high school students. Having participated in both in-person and online summer camps focusing on environmental science and engineering for students in Hai Phong and Binh Dinh, Van Anh had become acquainted with many experts and like-minded peers. These experiences taught her teamwork, observation, and how to assess local situations and problem-solving approaches.
"I found it very beneficial to learn from real-world experiences. Summer camps have a positive impact, helping teenagers gain confidence and discover new interests," she shared.
Van Anh received her DSDII scores in February. She scored 21 out of 24 or higher in listening, reading, and speaking, and achieved a perfect score of 24 out of 24 in writing.
In her motivation letter, Van Anh described her extracurricular activities, which inspired her to choose environmental engineering as her major. She also demonstrated her commitment by enrolling in about 10 online courses on Coursera, covering topics such as environmental protection, water conservation, and environmental law.
Do Cam Van, Van Anh's homeroom teacher, described her as diligent, having clear academic goals, and consistently striving to achieve them. According to Ms. Van, her student loves German, literature, and science subjects.
"Van Anh has been meticulous from the application stage. The scholarship is well-deserved recognition of her hard work," Ms. Van said.
Van Anh will depart for Germany in August. After completing her high school graduation exams, she is learning to bake and manage her finances effectively. She plans to pursue a master's degree after completing her undergraduate studies.
Binh Minh
