Having covered English hits like ‘Falling’, ‘What’s Up” and ‘I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing’, Thao Trang received acclaim from music lovers and journalists alike. However, singing English is different to speaking it. Speaking English as well as she sings it - that was the motivation for Thao Trang to learn English with the British Council.

So many articles have picked up on Thao Trang’s rags to riches rise covering, in detail, the hardship of her early life. But the singer has proved also to have character, a special voice and a strong imagine. She also continues to be full of energy and ambition for the future and plans accordingly.

Among her first aims was arranging her tight schedule to learn English. She registered to study at the British Council for the first time. Trang was so excited, even though, she was a little bit shy of being noticed by others in class. Luckily the feeling soon lifted as all her classmates proved so friendly and made her comfortable in her new surrounds. Some of them were young professionals, some were university students and there were also students from France, Korea and Japan. All were quick to join and contribute to the assigned tasks and group work that made the two hour lessons pass by so quickly.

Twice a week, Trang visited the British Council to learn English for International Communication with teachers Daniel and Tony. She describes both as ‘humorous’ and ‘jolly’ with each closely following every student’s development throughout the course.

Trang said: ‘This is the first time I’ve studied English at the British Council and I am so happy with my decision. Teachers and course syllabus are all so good – all classrooms are fully equipped with modern facilities as computer, projector and especially the interactive board with all great games that made all the classes so interesting.’

At primary and secondary school, Thao Trang learnt a little English but she mostly focused on reading, writing and grammar without feeling she really knew how to speak. In the end Trang admits she knew how to sing in English, before she could properly speak it.  She achieved this by simply listening and then repeating her favourite songs.

Trang only really started to seriously learn English when she was 19. Firstly there were courses with Vietnamese teachers, then Trang had more chances to meet foreign friends.  That proved to be the driving force for Trang to learn more as she felt embarrassed when people could not understand what she was saying.

Trang admits that out of class, watching movies in English with subtitles is her preferred method of learning English. Trang says: “At the moment, my English is at a basic level so I will try to continue to study as much as I can. I am just afraid that work will take all of my time but I love to learn.

Besides English, Trang is making music plans too. She is looking forward to the release of her single “Party”, produced by Duong Khac Linh and Vietnamese rapper Antoneus Maximus, best known for the song “Em so Dep” in the film ‘De Mai Tinh’.

As she awaits the release of Party and its resulting promotional work, one of her most recent public appearances was at a British Council – UK Alumni Gala. If the reaction from the crowd is anything to go by – her popularity is as strong as ever.

November 2011