How To Get Ahead in English

Whatever career you want to follow, whatever you want to study at university and wherever you want to go in the world, there’s one skill that will give you a huge advantage – English.

English is the world language. It’s the language of international trade and industry, scientific research, professional collaboration, and international higher education. And it’s the dominant language of the internet and the global and international industry.

To put it simply, if you do not have a good level of English, you are at a massive disadvantage. For example, a survey by Cambridge and the research organisation QS found that 75% of employers worldwide see English language skills as vital to their success and that many of these employers are concerned that their workforce did not reach the necessary level.

Everybody needs English, and Vietnam is making great progress in giving the next generation a much better start in the language. But what kind of English do we need? What level? And how can we prove that we can use English?

Experts from Cambridge, a department of the University of Cambridge have clear answers to these questions.

What kind of English?

Should you focus on American English or British English? Is reading more important than speaking, or should you concentrate on writing? According to Cambridge, the answer is that English is a world language, and you need to prepare yourself for diversity. This means you need to be familiar not just with British and American accents, but also with Australian and other forms of English. And rather than focusing on just one or two skills, you need to master all four skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

What level should we aim for?

There is no simple answer to this, except to say that the higher your level, the greater the opportunities that open up to you. Whatever your level, the most important thing is to make sure that you can use what you know to communicate effectively in real-life situations. The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is a great tool for helping to understand the different levels and what you will be able to do in English at each level.

How can we prove that we have mastered English?

An international certificate is the best way to prove your skills to universities, employers, immigration authorities, and other organisations. A range of different tests is available. Most of them are multi-level tests that provide a straightforward indication of your level, and Cambridge has launched a new test called Linguaskill, an accurate test with quick results, which is proving popular with employers around the world.

If you want to master English, though, the Cambridge English Qualifications offer something special. They are carefully designed by experts in Cambridge, using cutting-edge research and technology to make sure that they help people to learn English and prove their skills to the world. They are in-depth qualifications that develop your skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in realistic situations, and they feature a variety of accents to help you to speak to people from all over the world. They are taken by millions of people every year, and particularly at the higher levels, they are accepted by universities, employers, and governments all over the world. In Vietnam, they can be taken through the network of Authorised Cambridge English Examination Centres throughout the country.​

D.B (Vietnam Business Forum)