Bui Nguyen Bao Ngoc, a student from Vietnam: “Studying here is a challenge.”

Bui Nguyen Bao Ngoc, a student from Vietnam at the university foundation program of SPbPU, who is just beginning her journey at Polytech, has already overcome thousands of kilometers and the language barrier. She came to St. Petersburg not just to enroll in a university, she came to continue a family tradition.

— Ngoc, why did you choose Russia and SPbPU specifically? Has the university lived up to your expectations?

— I chose Russia because my father studied here before. Dad enrolled here many years ago, and now it’s my turn. And I’m glad I wasn’t mistaken. SPbPU is serious. Studying isn’t easy, but I see results. The program is exactly what I had hoped for — deep and genuine.

— If you had the opportunity to send a message to yourself in the past, what main advice would you give?

— I would tell myself: «Ngoc, you need to study Russian more and not be afraid of mistakes.» Because only through practice and overcoming fear can you learn a language in order to then study in your specialty.

— What study habit has become the most useful for you during this time?

— The most useful habit is to learn words and review grammar every day. Without daily work, the language is forgotten very quickly.

— What helps you in your studies now, and what, on the contrary, hinders you?

— A good schedule helps me a lot. When everything is organized, you have time to both study and rest. What hinders me, of course, is the language barrier. Sometimes I understand what I want to say, but I can’t find the right words.

— Speaking of the language barrier. Has there been any funny or awkward situation related to not knowing Russian?

— Oh, yes! When I was just starting to learn Russian, I once said to my teacher: «Goodbye» instead of «Hello.» It was very awkward, but now I remember it with a smile.

— And what are your impressions of the teachers?

— The teachers here are kind and good. They really want to help us. It seems to me that without their support, adapting would have been much more difficult.

— Besides studying, have you managed to find friends in a new city?

— Of course! I have made many new friends. It’s an amazing feeling — now I have friends from different countries around the world. We communicate in Russian, and that helps all of us make progress.

— What are your plans for the future?

— I plan to finish the university foundation program and enroll in the master’s program at the Faculty of Law of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. I want to become a good specialist.

— Ngoc, finish the sentence: «Studying at Polytech is like...»

— Studying here is like a challenge, but it’s very interesting. I like it.