Ngoc is an MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) student at Hallam and was given the commendation for her work on language anxiety among Vietnamese university students in the UK.
The British Council Master's Dissertation Awards promote achievements of students on UK master's programmes for work with the best potential for impact on English language teaching.
Ngoc’s dissertation addresses a gap in existing research by focusing on the experiences of Vietnamese students in the UK, it also considers adaptations that teachers can make to help alleviate language speaking anxiety.
On receiving the award, Ngoc said: “I am really pleased to have received this award from the British Council. Completing a rigorous research project on foreign language anxiety was a significant achievement, providing deep insights into student challenges and effective strategies to alleviate anxiety in language learning environments.
“I chose the topic of my dissertation is because I am personally and professionally interested in education, how people learn languages and from my own experience of feeling anxious when I first moved to the UK. I believe that learning a language can greatly change a person’s life, and I want to help others understand the specific challenges Vietnamese students face in the UK.
“During my time at Sheffield Hallam University, I have gained invaluable insights into modern language teaching methodologies and advanced my practical teaching skills through immersive, hands-on experience.”
Dr Anna Sidorovitch, senior lecturer in TESOL Teacher Education at Sheffield Hallam, said: “As Ngoc’s dissertation supervisor, I would like to congratulate her on this brilliant achievement which is a well-deserved external recognition of her academic prowess. I have had the distinct pleasure of witnessing the dedication, incredible work ethic, intellectual rigor and creativity that she brought to her research.
“Ngoc’s dissertation stands out not only for its scholarly excellence but also for its profound practical implications in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.”
During her time at Hallam, Ngoc has also been awarded the Sheffield Institute of Education Best Dissertation 2023 prize and was also given bronze, silver and gold Hallam Awards for her exceptional achievements beyond academic work.
