Ha Dang Nhu Quynh, a Vietnamese woman born in 1996 and currently a PhD candidate at the University of Reading in the UK, has managed to juggle her academic research, two young children, and a leadership role, while keeping a positive outlook.

Quynh believes that women can reshape their lives through continuous effort and determination.

Lifelong learner

Her academic journey can be a source of inspiration for others.

She studied literature at the prestigious High School for the Gifted under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) and was later accepted into the highly-competitive computer science faculty at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology under VNU-HCM.

She then graduated near the top of her class in the English department from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education with an IELTS score of 8.5/9.

Quynh enjoys social sciences yet always attaches importance to logical thinking, she said.

"I believe the key to effective learning lies in self-study, independent thinking, and focusing on main ideas rather than memorizing every detail,” Quynh elaborated.

This approach has allowed her to balance multiple tasks while developing a wide range of skills.

After graduating with top marks, Quynh received several prestigious job offers before deciding to join DOL English, an edtech startup that aligned with her values and was founded by Le Dinh Luc, a fellow alumnus from her high school.

While teaching and pursuing her master’s degree in the UK, Quynh became an academic director at DOL English and subsequently completed her master’s in education with distinction from the University of Nottingham.

At 24, when Quynh was flying high in her career, she surprised many by announcing her engagement to an Englishman. 

Both families initially voiced their concerns about cultural and geographical challenges, but the couple were committed to overcoming those doubts and managed to bring the families closer.

She and her husband mostly handled everything on their own after having their first child, as COVID-19 travel restrictions and the distance from their families made family assistance impossible.

When her first daughter turned two, Quynh learned she was expecting their second child. 

Around that same time, she was accepted into a PhD program at a prestigious university in the UK.

Women can do wonders

The joy of furthering her studies was soon overshadowed by the test of balancing motherhood, work, and research, but her husband’s words of encouragement pushed her to follow her passion for learning.

Currently, she is a PhD candidate in linguistics, an academic director, and a mother of two kids, aged one and four.

Quynh revealed that her doctorate dissertation focuses on applying problem-solving skills from mathematics to enhancing English reading skills. 

English reading comprehension is similar to solving a math problem, as both require processing and connecting pieces of information to reach a conclusion, she explained.

Her approach is based on Linearthinking, which has already shown success in improving IELTS scores among Vietnamese students.

Linearthinking, developed by DOL English, is a method of learning and teaching English in a critical, logical, and essential manner.

It is based on logical and mathematical thinking and examines the impact of the mother tongue (Vietnamese) on English study.

The method includes memorization techniques to improve Vietnamese learners' English skills, helping them learn the language thoughtfully, logically, and essentially while developing logical and critical thinking.

She added that her research aims to further solidify the theoretical basis of this approach.

When feeling overwhelmed, she prioritizes self-care and family time.

“Spending time with my kids is my go-to way to unwind,” she shared.

“My husband and I also made a point of apologizing and communicating openly if any issues arise.”

Moreover, her workplace encourages growth and understanding, with her company even fully funding her PhD program, giving her more motivation to repay through hard work and dedication.

Tran Nhat Vy, HR director at DOL English, described Quynh as “a true educational role model.”

Vy also expressed her admiration for Quynh’s dedication, saying, “Her journey proves that all women can do wonders with enough passion and resilience.”

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