✨ Ngoc Duong – A Quiet Start, A Steady Journey

📚 At Zen City, we believe every child learns in their own way. Some move quickly, others take smaller, quieter steps. What truly matters is that they keep going. Ngoc Duong’s journey is a gentle but inspiring reminder of that – she wasn’t the most outgoing or fastest learner at first, but her steady effort and quiet determination helped her grow, bit by bit.

🚀 From Hesitation to Openness

🧩 When Ngoc first joined the bilingual After School Program, her English foundation wasn’t strong. Like many new online learners, she struggled with focus, discipline, and didn’t yet see how English could be relevant to her everyday life.

But her teachers noticed something special about her.Ngoc had a natural ear for language – she could repeat long sentences with good rhythm and pronunciation just by listening. However, this also meant she often skipped reading carefully or taking notes, relying too much on guessing from context.

💡 With patient and gentle guidance from her teachers, Ngoc began to shift. She learned to listen more deeply, stay focused longer, and started to believe that English was something she could learn – not something far out of reach.

👩‍👧 A Family Who Walked Beside Her

🏫 With a demanding school schedule and growing academic pressure, Ngoc’s family decided to support her by enrolling her in 1-on-1 English lessons – giving her the space to learn at her own pace and build a solid foundation.

🧑‍🏫 Under the guidance of Ms. Tram, Ngoc practiced consistently in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. She gradually built good habits – taking notes, reviewing her lessons, and working on IXL with clear goals. Today, most of her IXL skills are scored at 80 or above – a result of quiet persistence, not luck.

💬 Ms. Tram shared:"I often remind Ngoc, ‘If you’re doing well, that’s great – but let’s keep going a bit further.’ At this age, success isn’t just about talent. It’s about effort and building good study habits. Ngoc has what it takes – she just needs to stay engaged, listen carefully, and keep showing up each day."

✍️ Quiet but Clear

🎧 Ngoc speaks with a soft but clear voice and natural pronunciation. She may be quiet, but she absorbs knowledge well and knows how to apply it – whether in assignments or learning games.

Her handwriting is neat, expressive, and organized. She’s also improved significantly in connecting her ideas and using new vocabulary with confidence.

🌈 Learning to Trust Herself

📈 Today, Ngoc’s English grades at school have noticeably improved – she’s now scoring in the “Good” and “Very Good” range. But more importantly, she has learned how to learn. She reflects on her progress, takes ownership of her studies, and continues to grow – one habit, one effort, one lesson at a time.

Just a year ago, her family didn’t know where to begin. The path ahead felt unclear and overwhelming. But they chose to stay – to trust the process, to walk beside her with patience and faith. And we’re truly grateful for that trust.

🌞 Wishing you continued growth, Ngoc – keep learning, keep practicing, and keep believing in yourself. 🔥