At 7 PM on the first day of March, in a modest room in Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa province, a clear voice announced, "Today, we will learn about math in English." The "teacher" was 9-year-old Le Tran Van Anh, guiding her 7-year-old brother, Chi Thanh. A video capturing Van Anh fluently explaining math operations in English, her hand rhythmically moving across a whiteboard, has since garnered nearly 7 million views on social media.

Ms. Tran Hang, 35, Van Anh's mother, revealed that her daughter has enjoyed "standing in front of a class" since she was 4. The 4th-grader from Vinh Nguyen 1 Primary School would teach her younger brother new words as soon as she learned them. "Her younger brother is very obedient and learns quickly. For my daughter, this is a cherished role-playing game," Ms. Hang shared. Many assume Van Anh comes from a family with a foreign language background, but Ms. Hang herself does not know English. Van Anh's remarkable progress is attributed to her self-study and the supportive family environment. From the age of 3, she was exposed to English through passive listening and cartoons.

Ms. Hang and her husband adhere to a "three no's" principle for their children's education: no imposition, no specialized schools or gifted classes, and no pressure. This approach allows Van Anh to independently seek out her favorite news reports or songs.

In primary school, Van Anh spends hours reading English stories or watching videos about international cuisine and weather. "English videos help me listen to native speakers talk in detail and understand in my own way," Van Anh explained. When encountering a new word, she looks it up in a dictionary and immediately incorporates it into her play. She also practices reading aloud into her phone to refine her pronunciation and intonation.

Le Tran Van Anh (right), 9, in Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa province, teaches her younger brother. Photo: Contributed by subject

To support her children, Ms. Hang has also begun self-studying English through books and videos, enabling her to converse a little and foster a language "ecosystem" at home. On weekends, Nha Trang beach transforms into a practical classroom, where Ms. Hang encourages her children to interact with international tourists. Positive feedback from foreigners has significantly boosted Van Anh's confidence.

Earlier this year, Van Anh's exceptional language skills led to an invitation to experience a day as an English news anchor for Vietnam Television. "That was simply a memorable experience for her to see how foreign languages can open up exciting opportunities," her mother recounted. Ms. Bui Thu Trang, an English teacher at Vinh Nguyen 1 Primary School, praises Van Anh's unique ability to absorb language, noting her 4th-grade proficiency is comparable to a junior high school student. Ms. Trang even relies on Van Anh to help her brother with concepts he struggles with in class.

Mr. Warren James, a British teacher in TP HCM, commented on the 9-year-old's capabilities, observing that her intonation closely resembles an American accent. He highlighted an interesting detail: when teaching her younger brother, she adopts a serious demeanor, much like a seasoned educator. "At Van Anh's age, this level of proficiency is highly commendable. That 'strictness' is merely a child fully immersing herself in her educational game," Mr. Warren emphasized.

Le Tran Van Anh (left), 9, in Nha Trang Ward, participated in an English news anchor experience for Vietnam Television. Photo: Contributed by subject

Though many refer to her as a "child prodigy", Van Anh remains a typical 9-year-old who enjoys playing with dolls and occasionally gets upset when her younger brother loses focus. Her social media channel, where she shares her lessons, currently attracts hundreds of thousands of followers. Despite her daughter's growing popularity, Ms. Hang's family maintains a simple lifestyle and carefully manages Van Anh's social media usage. "The greatest achievement is not an award or a video with millions of views," Ms. Hang concluded, "but rather the two siblings gathering every evening to learn, play, and grow up together."

Nga Thanh