SEPTEMBER 8, Ha Nguyen Phuong Thao, a senior majoring in Korean Language from the Faculty of Languages and International Cultures at UEF, confidently showcased her outstanding Korean language skills in the Southern Region Semifinals of the National Korean Speaking Contest – Korean Ambassador's Cup 2024. This UEF representative excellently impressed the judges and brought home the First Prize, to the pride of her teachers and the University.
The National Korean Speaking Contest – Korean Ambassador's Cup 2024 is organized by the Korean Embassy in Vietnam in collaboration with various partners. This is a platform for students across Vietnam who are studying Korean to challenge themselves in the field of language and presentation.
Accompanying and encouraging Ha Nguyen Phuong Thao during the contest were MSc. Pham Thi Thuy Linh – Deputy Head of the Faculty of International Languages and Cultures, MSc. Choi Young Taek – Lecturer at the Faculty of International Languages and Cultures, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Khanh Linh, and other UEF students from the Korean Language programme.
Teachers and friends congratulated and shared in Phuong Thao's proud victory
Teachers and friends congratulate and celebrate Phuong Thao’s proud victory together.
With the topic 'A Korean word or phrase that you find the most beautiful,' Ha Nguyen Phuong Thao remained calm and confident throughout her presentation. Not only was she evaluated on her Korean grammar and pronunciation, but the UEF student also left a strong impression on the judges with her understanding of Korean culture and her flexible communication style throughout the competition. This success was the result of Phuong Thao's relentless practice, dedicated efforts, and the support and guidance from her teachers.
Choosing a topic was a challenging process, requiring careful consideration to showcase her strengths, abilities, and understanding. As a result, Phuong Thao spent a great deal of time preparing for her presentation. After thorough research and reflection, Phuong Thao decided to choose the phrase '모든 일에는 다 때가 있다 – everything has its time' for her competition. In addition to writing her own speech, she also sought help from her teachers for feedback, sharing ideas, and making continuous revisions to ensure the presentation was as perfect as possible before its debut.
Sharing her thoughts on this victory, Phuong Thao said: “I feel very happy and grateful to have been given the opportunity to advance to the finals. I’m happy because I was able to overcome my own fears and stand on a big stage to present in front of many people—something I had never dared to challenge myself with before. At the same time, I feel grateful for having my teachers by my side, guiding and encouraging me throughout the preparation process for the competition. Without them, I don’t think I would have achieved such a good result.”
After winning First Prize, Phuong Thao will be one of the representatives from the Southern region competing in the national finals, which will take place in Hanoi in October 2024. Revealing her plans for this final stage, she shared: “As one of the Southern representatives competing directly with contestants from all over the country, I do feel a bit anxious and pressured. However, I will try to turn that into motivation to perform my best in the finals. During this time, I’ll refine my speech and practice my Korean pronunciation and intonation to make it as perfect as possible.”