LookAtVietnam – How will students spend their four years at university? Sinh Vien Viet Nam interviews some representatives.

First year students take TOEIC (English competency) exams right after they enter the university. High marks allow students to skip English in the first year at the university. Therefore, Quan took an intensive English training course, counting on it to gain him a high TOEIC score.

Quan’s also planning to run for the post of class president or Youth Union secretary in his first year. Quan well knows that he will have to work harder, but this is really a big opportunity for Quan to show his ability. Quan wants to be an outstanding student both academically and in extra-curricular activities.

Quan also plans to join the university’s clubs and competitions organised by his school and the university to heighten his knowledge, improve his communication skills and build relationships.

Acting as MC and as a photographic model are the two things that Quan has always wants to do. Becoming a ‘hot boy’ who is admired by many other students is also a part of Quan’s plan.

Quan has decided to take a part-time job in his second semester, one which can help him improve his English skills. For example, he can work as a waiter at a café or hotel frequented by foreigners.

When Quan is sure of his English, he will begin to learn German as well, because Germany is where Quan plans to go for overseas study.

Quan will hunt for scholarships offered by universities in Germany. If he can get a 70 percent scholarship from a well known university there, Quan will take a leave of absence from Hanoi Foreign Trade University and go to Germany to study there.

Quan’s dream job will be with a famous international company or group in Vietnam, and then, if everything goes smoothly, Quan will team up with some of his friends to set up a company of their own.

Nguyen Duc Chinh, a new student of the Bank Finance School of the Banking Academy

Before he entered the university, Chinh asked older students to advise him about how to get the best learning results. In his the first year at university, Chinh plans to find a seat in the clubs sponsored by the faculty or university. This will give him opportunities to become more creative, self-confident and dynamic. Especially, Chinh wants to improve the ‘soft skills’ which are very necessary for him in his future job, for example facility in communication and presentation and in organizing events.

Like many other students, Chinh wants to find part-time work as a tutor. That job will give Chinh some money to help him continue studying at the university. However, from his third year of study, Chinh plans to find another part-time job that’s related to his career plan.

Chinh will spend the money to be earned from working part time to learn English and informatics. After completing the undergraduate degree, Chinh intends to continue studies at a graduate school.

VietNamNet/DT