On Sunday 9 October, British Council in Ho Chi Minh City and the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper organised interviews with eight finalists who had the highest score for the first Premier Skills English Online Competition. In two weeks since the launch, the competition attracted more than 400 entries from people across the country. The judging panel found it a really difficult task to shortlist eight best entries out of the hundreds received. Finalists came from across Vietnam with face to face interviews in Ho Chi Minh City as well as online interviews with entrants in Hanoi and Haiphong.

The interview with Robert Glover – English teacher at British Council identified five winners. Each of them received an e-dictionary series ECEV 2666.

The winners of this round are:

• Nguyen Ngoc Viet Nu from Viet-My International School,
• Ho Minh Quan from Bui Thi Xuan High school, HCMC
• Bui Minh Thang from Hong Bang secondary school – Haiphong
• Tran Trung Tin from Chuyen Ngoai Ngu High school – Hanoi
• Do Hong Ngoc from Amsterdam High school – Hanoi

Round 2 of the competition will end on 15 October and the interviews for this round will be at 1400 on 23 October.

The Premier Skills English Competition will finish on 13 November. Join in the competition at http://thitienganh.nld.com.vn/. Students from 12 to 18 years across the country can take part. Besides these above prizes, the wiining candidates will have a chance to compete with each other in the Premier Skills English Champion round.