HUST "Scholar" Shares Her Story of Language Love and Tech Curiosity    

Tran Binh An, a final-year student majoring in English for Science and Technology at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, is currently on a student exchange program in South Korea. The impression when chatting online with this young woman is her agility, her eyes always lighting up when talking about her studies and experiences at HUST. Few know that this petite girl has just achieved the title of one of the 9 Outstanding Students of HUST for the 2024–2025 academic year—a milestone affirming An's efforts and maturity throughout her four years of university.

An Academic Environment Breathing Science and Technology!

For Tran Binh An, choosing the English for Science and Technology (FL1) major at a university associated with technical imagery was a very natural choice. She wanted more than just traditional foreign language learning. What fascinated An was HUST's distinctive environment, where every story, project, and activity breathes science and technology.

"I like the feeling of English being present right in technological life," An shared. She is eager to hear lecturers tell stories about technology projects within the university or to explore vocabulary groups associated with machinery, automation, and AI with friends. The connection between language and science helps An understand that this is the right path to broaden her perspective, not confining herself to a single major.
  She clearly remembers her first scientific research paper: A topic on AI application in learning English. Those were days of diligently reading international reports and academic articles in foreign journals. Each concept about AI made Binh An clearly see the role of English: If you want to touch the latest knowledge, understand algorithms, models, or advanced learning solutions the world is discussing, English is the connecting bridge.

When asked about the secret to maintaining a GPA of 3.76/4.0 in a program that includes both foreign languages and technical knowledge, plus specialized skill subjects, the HUST girl smiled gently: "I just try to study in the most suitable way for each group of subjects."

For theoretical subjects, An doesn't let knowledge pile up. Immediately after each class, she spends time reviewing key concepts, systematizing information, and doing exercises or preparing for the next session right away. For subjects requiring presentation, An always finds opportunities to apply learned content, turning book knowledge into her own thinking, just as her teachers often remind An and her classmates: Let the language you learn be a "living language"!

In practical language subjects that require patience, An practices in a "gradual absorption" style: Listening - Speaking - Translating - Writing in a cycle, receiving feedback from lecturers, correcting every small error, and then practicing again. This training helps An progress steadily without being overloaded by the curriculum requirements.

A training score of 100/100 for An is a multi-layered story rather than just a number: Maintaining good study habits, expanding extracurricular activities, participating in scientific research, and trying new experiences both inside and outside the university. All of this helps An hone time management skills and prioritize tasks. Most importantly, she has built a disciplined yet flexible demeanor.
  Maturing Through HUST's Student Exchange Program

Among the milestones of her four years, Binh An had the opportunity to participate in short-term exchange programs in Japan and Indonesia, but the most memorable is the student exchange program between HUST and the University of Ulsan, South Korea, which An is experiencing every day, every hour in an interesting learning environment. The "HUST cassava" (a nickname for HUST students) recounted with a voice both excited and humorous: "There are classes where teachers lecture entirely in Korean, and I only understand 10–20%. It's stressful, interesting, and makes me feel... truly 'lost' in a new world!"

Just going to the supermarket, asking for directions, or handling administrative procedures is enough to make An stretch to adapt. But it is precisely these small challenges that help her boldly ask for help, observe more carefully, smile friendly even when not understanding anything, and make friends with people from other countries. Especially, she learned to cherish the power of patience.

Binh An shared that she matured not because of outstanding achievements but because of very gentle changes: More confident, more independent, daring to try things she once thought "didn't suit her." After the exchange program in South Korea, An expanded her view of the surrounding world.

Talking about the most influential figures, An reserves special respect for HUST teacher Nguyen Thi Minh Ha, who accompanied her group in research projects. Group meetings with her always gave An the feeling of standing before a large map of scientific research: Every proposal has a reason; every question she raises opens a new path of thinking. Ms. Minh Ha showed An the persistent spirit of an academic: One must be meticulous, persevering, and never satisfied with the first answer.

The second person inspiring An is her close friend and research group leader, Nguyen Thu Giang. An noticed that although her friend is the same age, she is very calm, sharp, and always looks at problems in the most comprehensive way. An learned effective teamwork skills from Giang: Clear communication, reasonable assignment, and knowing how to encourage each other during difficult periods.

The next figure bringing An great motivation is Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong from the Department of Partnership and Engagement. Ms. Phuong dedicatedly supported An throughout her participation in iBuddy, inspiring the girl through stories about business trips and journeys exploring the world. Each story was like a small flame, kindling in An the confidence to embrace international opportunities and bravely affirm herself.

Teachers and friends all appeared right when An needed guides, contributing significantly to Binh An's maturity.
  English for Science and Technology: Countless Job Opportunities in the Tech Era

Currently a final-year student, Binh An has a clearer view of the job opportunities her major offers. She believes that the skills and knowledge learned at HUST create solid confidence when entering the labor market. Graduates of English for Science and Technology can work at technology companies, research units, R&D departments, international cooperation projects, or engage in specialized translation and interpretation.

What creates strength is the combination of foreign language competence and a technical foundation, an advantage helping HUST Foreign Language students adapt quickly to working environments with a high speed of innovation.

If given the chance to talk to candidates wondering about choosing a major, An would tell her own story: A student who was once afraid to try new things, once thought "perhaps those opportunities aren't for me." Yet, four years at HUST changed her not in a noisy way but through countless small experiences: The first time shaking so much she dared not lift her head in an extracurricular activity; the first time holding a research proposal without knowing where to start; the first time taking on responsibility in the Youth Union - Student Association; the first time standing in a foreign lecture hall trying to understand every sentence the teacher said…

Today, An has completed two scientific research projects, confidently uses her language skills, dares to go, dares to learn, and dares to put herself in different environments. All contributed to creating the title of Outstanding Student of the 2024–2025 academic year that she received.

"You don't need to be good from the start. Just dare to start, and you are already closer to the best version of yourself," An messaged. A sentence that fully encapsulates the spirit of the HUST English for Science and Technology girl: Persistent, quiet, and always ready to move forward!