Do Phan Ha Linh, a former student of class 9A0 at Kim Giang Secondary School, achieved the highest score entering the specialized Japanese program at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School, with 47.2/50 points. Her Japanese language proficiency score was 10, and her specialized subject score was 9.6.
Linh was also accepted into the specialized Biology program at Nguyen Hue Specialized High School and placed second in the entrance exam for the specialized Japanese program at the High School for the Gifted, University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS), with a total score of 39.83, including 8.5 for the specialized Japanese exam. Ultimately, she chose to enroll at ULIS.
"I didn't think I did that well," Linh said.
Linh described the ULIS Japanese entrance exam as an eight-page test covering reading, grammar, vocabulary, and essay writing, to be completed in 90 minutes. Compared to practice tests, she found the actual exam longer and more challenging. She expressed regret over changing some correct vocabulary answers, costing her 1.5 points.
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Do Phan Ha Linh. Photo provided by the subject |
Do Phan Ha Linh. Photo provided by the subject
Linh's connection with Japanese began in 3rd grade when her family moved to Japan. Initially, she only knew basic greetings, but with tutoring, she quickly caught up within a few months.
Linh's growing fondness for Japanese culture and environment motivated her to excel in the language, hoping to pursue higher education and a career in Japan.
However, in 5th grade, her family returned to Vietnam due to a job change. Before leaving, Linh took the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and achieved N2 level with 170/180 points. The JLPT has five levels, with N1 being the highest. The test assesses language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar), reading, and listening.
According to Japanese teachers, N2 is an advanced level, indicating near-native fluency. A Hanoi specialized school teacher remarked, "Achieving N2 at just 11 years old, after only two years in Japan, is exceptional."
Back in Vietnam, Linh attended Kim Giang Secondary School, conversing with her parents in Japanese daily to maintain fluency. She also set her electronic devices to Japanese to read news and watch movies.
In preparation for the specialized high school entrance exams at the end of 8th grade, Linh began supplementary classes. She dedicated 1-2 hours daily to studying Japanese, consistently practicing with test questions. Due to the limited availability of practice tests, she sought additional materials and study books.
To manage time pressure, Linh practiced completing 3-4 reading comprehension passages within 20-30 minutes. For listening skills, she used an app to converse with native speakers, improving her reflexes and exposure to various regional accents. She studied vocabulary and Kanji (Chinese characters) thematically, focusing on topics like environment and education.
"I set a goal of learning 5-10 new words daily and reviewed them at the end of the month. I wrote the words repeatedly and created sentences to memorize them better," she shared.
Since her school didn't offer Japanese, Linh couldn't participate in Japanese language competitions during secondary school. However, she won second and honorable mention awards in district-level English competitions in 8th and 9th grade, and a gold medal in the VioEdu English Arena competition.
Linh advises aspiring language learners to prioritize listening and conversation with native speakers, supplementing theoretical study and exercises. She practiced speaking using an AI app and occasionally conversed with tourists at Hoan Kiem Lake.
Le Nam, Linh's 9th-grade homeroom teacher, described her as inquisitive, self-motivated, and a highly independent learner. She attributed Linh's proactive and independent nature to her time in Japan, in addition to her natural aptitude and supportive family environment.
Linh excelled academically, particularly in languages and natural sciences. She also impressed her classmates with her talent for organizing events and directing class performances.
Linh's upcoming goals include achieving N1 certification, joining the national gifted student team, and taking the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU).
"I plan to study medicine or pharmacy in university," Linh said.
Binh Minh