Teacher from mountainous Ha Giang furthers education dream with Fulbright scholarship

Dang Thi Thao, 32, arrived in the U.S. in late July to begin a two-year master’s program under the Fulbright scholarship.

Thao’s journey began in classrooms made of wooden planks and thatched roofs. With limited resources—confined mostly to textbooks and without easy access to the internet or language centers—she first became a pedagogy student, then a teacher at a specialized school, and now, a Fulbright scholar funded by the U.S. government.

Thao grew up in Ban Cuom Village, Bac Quang District, in Ha Giang, a highland province bordering China. Ban Cuom is a remote village surrounded by mountains and home to the Dao, Nung, and La Chi ethnic groups.

In Thao’s memories, the road to school was always rugged, especially difficult during the rainy season. Her childhood classrooms were thatched with palm leaves and supported by wooden planks—barely enough to shield against the elements.

It was not until the 6th grade that Thao began learning English. She recalls how many highland students feared the subject, as they were ethnic minorities still adapting to Vietnamese and now had to face a new language. However, Thao, at just 10 years old, found English “magical” and was captivated from her first lessons. Soon, she dreamed of becoming an English teacher.

As the youngest of four siblings, Thao’s life was full of hardships, but she always loved going to school. She drew inspiration from her father, who, nearing 50, was determined to pass the high school graduation exam. He often regretted not completing his provincial medical class due to the impact of war and encouraged his children to persevere.

In 2010, Thao was admitted to Thai Nguyen University of Foreign Languages in Thai Nguyen Province, 250 km from home, where she studied English Pedagogy. Initially, she struggled due to a significant skill gap between her and her classmates.

“My English was limited to the textbook, and even that wasn’t covered fully. I couldn’t listen or understand much in English and often felt behind,” Thao recalls. There was a time when she considered transferring schools, but thoughts of her father kept her going. He worked as a civil servant, cycling over 10 kilometers daily on rough dirt roads. With a monthly income of around VND2 million (US$81), he set aside half to support Thao’s education.

With encouragement from her family, teachers, and friends, Thao gradually improved her language skills, earning a scholarship in her first semester. She also joined English clubs and began tutoring, gaining valuable teaching experience and confidence.

By late 2014, when Thao became an English teacher at Meo Vac High School, she quickly adapted. After more than five years of teaching, she passed the exam to work at Ha Giang High School for the Gifted.

Principal Do Trong Than noted that the recruitment exam included about 50% advanced content. Recognizing Thao’s abilities and enthusiasm, the school entrusted her with teaching their gifted student team. “Last year, our school won a national second prize in English—the highest award we’ve ever achieved,” Than shared.

Despite her success, Thao still felt the need to enhance her knowledge, particularly to train top students, which motivated her to seek an overseas scholarship.

In late 2022, she began researching the Fulbright scholarship application process and focused on improving her writing skills. Writing was not her strength, so she revised her essays numerous times, seeking feedback from university teachers and Fulbright alumni.

It took nearly six months for Thao to complete her two essays, where she shared her childhood, educational journey, work experiences, and goals for studying abroad. The process made her realize how fortunate she was compared to her peers, particularly because of the independence and confidence she gained while attending a boarding school in her hometown.

Thao hopes to give back to her homeland and inspire future generations of students. During her scholarship interview, Thao spoke passionately about the free English classes she established for children in her commune. Her class includes students of various ages, from kindergarten to middle school, and she dreams of creating a tailored English curriculum for them. “This is one of my biggest goals after studying abroad,” she said.

The free English class for poor students that Thao operates on her own in Ha Giang Province. Photo courtesy of Thao

In September 2023, Thao received the official notification that she had been awarded the Fulbright scholarship. A month earlier, she had also won the Australian Government AAS scholarship. “No words can describe my joy,” she shared.

On her departure day, Thao packed books, essential items, and traditional Dao ethnic clothing for her journey to the U.S. Besides acquiring new knowledge, she sees this trip as an opportunity to introduce her ethnic culture—and Vietnamese culture—to international friends.

Now a master’s student in the U.S., Thao is excited about each lesson and looks forward to sharing her newfound knowledge with her students and colleagues back in Vietnam.