�udy�g

A��d�udy�g

A��d

�at ���ng� �d y� ha� � �� �� y� � � ?

When I moved abroad, initially I really struggled with my English, and therefore I felt extremely isolated, lonely and abandoned. Even though I knew that my parents sent me abroad to give me better opportunities in life, but it was very hard. As a 13 year old girl I found myself not only living in a new country, but also living in a new home, learning a new language and being unable to express myself, on top of all other issues every teenager has to deal with - it was too much to take in. After the first 2 months, my English started to improve and I began to make some friends, but just a couple of years later I had to face another problem. When I turned 15, I badly needed guidance and advice of my parents, yet being so far away and not being able to speak to them in person on a daily basis had created an emotional distance between us. A strong contributing factor was also the Western culture that I was being exposed to, which doesn’t value close family relations as much as we Vietnamese families do.

�d y� �k y�r p�ʦ ma� a �ght �c�i� �n�ng y� a��d at at age?

I understand why my parents sent me abroad and it certainly gained some very valuable experience from living abroad for a number of years. However, I wish my parents let me graduate from high school here, and then send me abroad to study at a university there. It would probably have given me the same benefits in terms of my English and learning about a different culture, but I would have been better prepared for dealing with anxieties of living away from my family and friends. My experience of studying abroad made me more independent and open-minded, which is great, but I sometimes wish that I could be more Vietnamese. It was culture shock for me to move back to Vietnam after growing up abroad from the age of 13, and I felt more like an outcast here than a happy Vietnamese person returning home after a long absence. I didn’t have any connection with my mom because we have such different mindsets now, which made me very upset, and it took me a long time to fit back in here, in my own birth country.

�at ad�� ��d y� gi� � p�ʦ �o e ��ng a�ut �n�ng �� ��d n a��d?

If you are thinking of sending your child abroad, please wait until they are old enough to be on their own and mentally prepared. Please remember that teenagers need structure, not the freedom to do whatever they want without parental guidance. Nowadays, parents have the luxury of sending their children to an international school, where your children are being taught in English and Vietnamese. They study with teachers who come from English-speaking countries, and therefore are getting used to Western culture gradually. Most importantly, talk to your child before sending them abroad–after all it is their lives that you are deciding on.

� y� w�ld  ­ � ��k � Ngoc a�ut הr �p��n� � �nfi�n�, p��e �a� הr � r�ge a �e�ng � �k הr �y qu���s y� �ght ha�: ngocanhnguyen@bvisvietnam.com

�� �d �y y�r p�ʦ �c�ed � �nd y� � �udy a��d? When I was 13, my parents decided to send me to study in an English-speaking country because they thought that moving abroad at a young age would make it easier for me to get accustomed to a new culture, and that living abroad will considerably improve my English. In 2002, there were hardly any good international or bilingual schools in Vietnam for my parents to choose from, so to achieve these goals, going abroad was the only choice at the time.

�at w� y�r �p��n� � m��g a��d � a ��ag�?

At the beginning I was very excited about the idea of going abroad; however, the first few months turned out to be the worst experience I had ever had. I went from being very happy and confident living in Vietnam to being anxious, stressed and very unhappy when moving abroad. I was in a new environment, had to make my own decisions, do everything myself, learn new things by myself, and all of this while badly missing my family and friends. I am lucky that I am such a strong and resilient person, but many other international students fall into depression or develop anxiety disorders.

Ngoc Nguy�

��rna��� A ��l Qu��ica��The Cambridge International A Level is a traditional route for students wishing to progress to the world’s major English-speaking universities. Students develop a deep understanding of subjects, as well as independent learning and constructive thinking skills – abilities which universities value highly.

�y ��� A ��ls Qu��ica��?

International A Levels provide breadth of study in Year 12 before specialisation in Year 13. This provides a deep understanding of chosen subjects, enabling students to prepare for specific university courses and career pathways. A Levels emphasise and develop critical thinking, advanced comprehension and research skills; academic expectations are high and close to those experienced in top universities. Therefore, the qualification has a proven reputation for being excellent preparation for universities around the world, employment and life.

�udy�g A��d w�h A ��ls

The International A Levels qualification is accepted worldwide, and therefore many leading schools in the world offer this qualification – for example, the famous St. Paul’s School in London. In Australia, Japan, and the USA, which are the most popular university destinations amongst BVIS graduates, all reputable universities accept and welcome Cambridge International AS and A Levels, including all top universities like the Universities of Columbia, Melbourne, Sydney, Melbourne as well as the LSE and Imperial. Many universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, MIT and Stanford often prefer strong A Level applicants to other students.

I �� c�'t � e� I ma� � � ¡ fi¢t �£� uni�¢�y �ca¤e � �¥y qu���ʦ � p ¦y §gh f� � � �e � � �p ¨�ls f� ¡ �u¢e

Cambridge International A Level syllabuses have been developed with the help of some of the world’s leading universities - including the University of Cambridge, Harvard and MIT.

Vu�g K© L�n, BVIS ªumn¤ 2014

““

There are a number of very helpful, official information sources that you should consult when thinking and planning your child’s university studies:

• To find out more about university recognition of the International A

Levels qualification, please visit: www.cie.org.uk/recognition

• Speak to you Head of Secondary Mr Simon Graves, who will be happy

to discuss your plans and options with you to help you making the right

choice for your child

• For further guidance on the American universities application procedures

please visit:www.savethestudent.org/study-abroad/america

• To find out more about the Australia universities application proce-

dures please visit: www.uac.edu.au or www.studyinastraclia.gov.au/global/apply-to-study

• For information on the UK universities UCAS application system

please visit: www.ucas.com/parents

• To find out the world rank of your shortlisted universities

please go to: www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings

Please be aware that most university agents and education consultants receive commission payments from universities they work with. This means that their advice is not as independent as it may appear to be, and may be severely biased towards certain countries and universities. We are aware of many cases where parents received incorrect information from these sources.

Therefore we have also employed an experienced BVIS University Counsellor who will join the school in August 2016 and will assist our students with their career choices and university applications, and provide independent guidance to families thinking about studying abroad.

Some parents consider sending their child aboard 1-4 years before their graduation. The reasons that parents quote for their decision are varied – for example, some parents believe that this would help their child to get used to the country in which they will be studying, and will improve their chances of being accepted at their desired university.

However, research studies show that moving schools is very stressful for children and significantly affects their academic performance and happiness. It is very difficult for a teenager to join a well-established class in a new school where other children may or may not welcome your child, which puts a lot of pressure on your child. It is much easier for your child to start their university studies together with other freshmen who all are in the same position and it is much easier to connect and make friends. Moving countries is a great challenge for young adults, but for teenagers it's much harder.

As a young adult, student is more mature and it is easier for him or her to move countries, deal with separation anxiety, and adapt to a new environment, because older students are emotionally, intellectually, and physically better equipped for dealing with the stress that comes with it. Adolescence is a challenging time for young people and their families. A teen is going through rapid physical and emotional changes, dealing with new social and psychological issues unlike anything experienced before. Any additional external change, like relocation, puts your child at risk of experiencing agitation, depression, and feelings of insecurity, amongst many other risks of trauma, because they are often unable to cope with challenges of leaving their friends and family behind and adapting in a new culture.

These are just a selection of irreversible risks that you are exposing your child to when moving them abroad before they are old enough to cope with it. BVIS graduates, on the other hand, who moved abroad after achieving their A Levels at the school, not only secured excellent university placements but also report to be well prepared for their university studies and life abroad.

��g�g ¬igh�ur®ods �d ¨�l ��r��nʦ c� � �ry ¥auma�c f� ��ag�s E � ��e, Li��r�g

M��g Y�r ��d A�d P ma¯ ly

Vu�g K© L�n, BVIS ªumn¤ 2014

“ “

�udy�g

A��d�udy�g

A��d

�at ���ng� �d y� ha� � �� �� y� � � ?

When I moved abroad, initially I really struggled with my English, and therefore I felt extremely isolated, lonely and abandoned. Even though I knew that my parents sent me abroad to give me better opportunities in life, but it was very hard. As a 13 year old girl I found myself not only living in a new country, but also living in a new home, learning a new language and being unable to express myself, on top of all other issues every teenager has to deal with - it was too much to take in. After the first 2 months, my English started to improve and I began to make some friends, but just a couple of years later I had to face another problem. When I turned 15, I badly needed guidance and advice of my parents, yet being so far away and not being able to speak to them in person on a daily basis had created an emotional distance between us. A strong contributing factor was also the Western culture that I was being exposed to, which doesn’t value close family relations as much as we Vietnamese families do.

�d y� �k y�r p�ʦ ma� a �ght �c�i� �n�ng y� a��d at at age?

I understand why my parents sent me abroad and it certainly gained some very valuable experience from living abroad for a number of years. However, I wish my parents let me graduate from high school here, and then send me abroad to study at a university there. It would probably have given me the same benefits in terms of my English and learning about a different culture, but I would have been better prepared for dealing with anxieties of living away from my family and friends. My experience of studying abroad made me more independent and open-minded, which is great, but I sometimes wish that I could be more Vietnamese. It was culture shock for me to move back to Vietnam after growing up abroad from the age of 13, and I felt more like an outcast here than a happy Vietnamese person returning home after a long absence. I didn’t have any connection with my mom because we have such different mindsets now, which made me very upset, and it took me a long time to fit back in here, in my own birth country.

�at ad�� ��d y� gi� � p�ʦ �o e ��ng a�ut �n�ng �� ��d n a��d?

If you are thinking of sending your child abroad, please wait until they are old enough to be on their own and mentally prepared. Please remember that teenagers need structure, not the freedom to do whatever they want without parental guidance. Nowadays, parents have the luxury of sending their children to an international school, where your children are being taught in English and Vietnamese. They study with teachers who come from English-speaking countries, and therefore are getting used to Western culture gradually. Most importantly, talk to your child before sending them abroad–after all it is their lives that you are deciding on.

� y� w�ld  ­ � ��k � Ngoc a�ut הr �p��n� � �nfi�n�, p��e �a� הr � r�ge a �e�ng � �k הr �y qu���s y� �ght ha�: ngocanhnguyen@bvisvietnam.com

�� �d �y y�r p�ʦ �c�ed � �nd y� � �udy a��d? When I was 13, my parents decided to send me to study in an English-speaking country because they thought that moving abroad at a young age would make it easier for me to get accustomed to a new culture, and that living abroad will considerably improve my English. In 2002, there were hardly any good international or bilingual schools in Vietnam for my parents to choose from, so to achieve these goals, going abroad was the only choice at the time.

�at w� y�r �p��n� � m��g a��d � a ��ag�?

At the beginning I was very excited about the idea of going abroad; however, the first few months turned out to be the worst experience I had ever had. I went from being very happy and confident living in Vietnam to being anxious, stressed and very unhappy when moving abroad. I was in a new environment, had to make my own decisions, do everything myself, learn new things by myself, and all of this while badly missing my family and friends. I am lucky that I am such a strong and resilient person, but many other international students fall into depression or develop anxiety disorders.

Ngoc went abroad at the age of 13 and graduated from St Mary’s College in Moraga, California with a degree in Business Administra-tion. After graduation she worked at Macy’s as a Sales Manager for 2 years. She came back to Vietnam in 2013, and two years later Ngoc joined BVIS as our Translator and Copywriting Officer. We asked Ngoc to share with us her thoughts on her experience studying and living abroad for 11 years.

��r�ew w�h

Ngoc Nguy�

�at ���ng� �d y� ha� � �� �� y� � � ?

When I moved abroad, initially I really struggled with my English, and therefore I felt extremely isolated, lonely and abandoned. Even though I knew that my parents sent me abroad to give me better opportunities in life, but it was very hard. As a 13 year old girl I found myself not only living in a new country, but also living in a new home, learning a new language and being unable to express myself, on top of all other issues every teenager has to deal with - it was too much to take in. After the first 2 months, my English started to improve and I began to make some friends, but just a couple of years later I had to face another problem. When I turned 15, I badly needed guidance and advice of my parents, yet being so far away and not being able to speak to them in person on a daily basis had created an emotional distance between us. A strong contributing factor was also the Western culture that I was being exposed to, which doesn’t value close family relations as much as we Vietnamese families do.

�d y� �k y�r p�ʦ ma� a �ght �c�i� �n�ng y� a��d at at age?

I understand why my parents sent me abroad and it certainly gained some very valuable experience from living abroad for a number of years. However, I wish my parents let me graduate from high school here, and then send me abroad to study at a university there. It would probably have given me the same benefits in terms of my English and learning about a different culture, but I would have been better prepared for dealing with anxieties of living away from my family and friends. My experience of studying abroad made me more independent and open-minded, which is great, but I sometimes wish that I could be more Vietnamese. It was culture shock for me to move back to Vietnam after growing up abroad from the age of 13, and I felt more like an outcast here than a happy Vietnamese person returning home after a long absence. I didn’t have any connection with my mom because we have such different mindsets now, which made me very upset, and it took me a long time to fit back in here, in my own birth country.

�at ad�� ��d y� gi� � p�ʦ �o e ��ng a�ut �n�ng �� ��d n a��d?

If you are thinking of sending your child abroad, please wait until they are old enough to be on their own and mentally prepared. Please remember that teenagers need structure, not the freedom to do whatever they want without parental guidance. Nowadays, parents have the luxury of sending their children to an international school, where your children are being taught in English and Vietnamese. They study with teachers who come from English-speaking countries, and therefore are getting used to Western culture gradually. Most importantly, talk to your child before sending them abroad–after all it is their lives that you are deciding on.

� y� w�ld  ­ � ��k � Ngoc a�ut הr �p��n� � �nfi�n�, p��e �a� הr � r�ge a �e�ng � �k הr �y qu���s y� �ght ha�: ngocanhnguyen@bvisvietnam.com

�� �d �y y�r p�ʦ �c�ed � �nd y� � �udy a��d? When I was 13, my parents decided to send me to study in an English-speaking country because they thought that moving abroad at a young age would make it easier for me to get accustomed to a new culture, and that living abroad will considerably improve my English. In 2002, there were hardly any good international or bilingual schools in Vietnam for my parents to choose from, so to achieve these goals, going abroad was the only choice at the time.

�at w� y�r �p��n� � m��g a��d � a ��ag�?

At the beginning I was very excited about the idea of going abroad; however, the first few months turned out to be the worst experience I had ever had. I went from being very happy and confident living in Vietnam to being anxious, stressed and very unhappy when moving abroad. I was in a new environment, had to make my own decisions, do everything myself, learn new things by myself, and all of this while badly missing my family and friends. I am lucky that I am such a strong and resilient person, but many other international students fall into depression or develop anxiety disorders.

°et Our ªumni

± y� ²³ at gradua�ng ´µ BVIS p ped y� � f� y�r aca��c �d w�k c·r?

Yes it did. I do not have to spend a year for Foundation because I already have a foundation for some of my course’s subjects, such as Accounting or Management, from A Levels subjects I have studied at BVIS. Therefore, I can understand the lectures and prepare for my tutorials easily.

± y� ²³ at gradua�ng ´µ BVIS p ped y� � f� y�r aca��c �d w�k c·r?

I was lucky enough to be in an environment with high quality teachers and facilities that assisted me in my study. I want to give credits especially to my form teachers, who had been helping me patiently when I was making my way to university.

± y� ²³ at gradua�ng ´µ BVIS p ped y� � f� y�r aca��c �d w�k c·r?

Yes BVIS has actually prepared me very well for those two sections above but also for my social life through the preparation programme for study abroad, such as cooking skills, financial management skills, laundry logistics and similar tasks.

Nguy� Phu�g Anh Phung studying Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne, Australia

Vu�g K© L�nstudying Food Marketing and Nutrition,Newcastle University, UK

¸nh � Vustudying Hospitality Management, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Dubai

¸nh � Vustudying Hospitality Management, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Dubai

BVIS ¹adua�s: UNIVERSITY PLACEMENTS & OFFERSOur 2016 Off�s Re�i�d � M�: While USA universities issue their offers after April, our Year 13 students have already received offers from the following distinguished universities in March:

• University of Auckland, New Zealand• Glion Institute, Switzerland• University of Virginia, USA• Durham University, UK• University of Southern California, USA• Sheffield Hallam University, UK• Nottingham Trent University, UK• Birmingham University, UK• Bath University, UK

Our 2015 ¹adua�s:• International Relations – Tokyo International University, Japan• Hospitality Management – Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Dubai • Economics and Finance – RMIT, Vietnam• Psychology and Management – Kaplan Higher Education Academy, Singapore • Business Administration - RMIT, Vietnam

Our 2014 ¹adua�s:• Accounts and Finance - Australian National University, Australia• Hospitality Management - De Anza College, San Francisco, USA• Psychology - Santa Monica College, USA• Social Studies and Media - Ritsumeikan University, Japan• Hospitality Management - Cesar Ritz College, Switzerland• Food Nutrition and Marketing - Newcastle University, UK• Architecture - Fullerton College, USA• Art - LaSalle College, Singapore• Logistics and Supply Chain Management - Curtin University, Singapore• Business Management - Durham University, UK

� ��r � � �o I » �day, aca��c�ly, I'm ¼ gra�f� f� � g at ½¾�t � e�ry ���du� at BVIS T»�, BVIS ªumn¤ 2015

In 2015 A Level exams, two BVIS students achieved a joint Best in Vietnam in Business Studies, and another student was awarded an Outstanding Achievement in Economics.

““

��e C� Y� ¿t À� Ad��? There are a number of very helpful, official information sources that you should consult when thinking and planning your child’s university studies:

• To find out more about university recognition of the International A

Levels qualification, please visit: www.cie.org.uk/recognition

• Speak to you Head of Secondary Mr Simon Graves, who will be happy

to discuss your plans and options with you to help you making the right

choice for your child

• For further guidance on the American universities application procedures

please visit:www.savethestudent.org/study-abroad/america

• To find out more about the Australia universities application proce-

dures please visit: www.uac.edu.au or www.studyinastraclia.gov.au/global/apply-to-study

• For information on the UK universities UCAS application system

please visit: www.ucas.com/parents

• To find out the world rank of your shortlisted universities

please go to: www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings

Please be aware that most university agents and education consultants receive commission payments from universities they work with. This means that their advice is not as independent as it may appear to be, and may be severely biased towards certain countries and universities. We are aware of many cases where parents received incorrect information from these sources.

Therefore we have also employed an experienced BVIS University Counsellor who will join the school in August 2016 and will assist our students with their career choices and university applications, and provide independent guidance to families thinking about studying abroad.

�udy�g

A��d�udy�g

A��d

�at ���ng� �d y� ha� � �� �� y� � � ?

When I moved abroad, initially I really struggled with my English, and therefore I felt extremely isolated, lonely and abandoned. Even though I knew that my parents sent me abroad to give me better opportunities in life, but it was very hard. As a 13 year old girl I found myself not only living in a new country, but also living in a new home, learning a new language and being unable to express myself, on top of all other issues every teenager has to deal with - it was too much to take in. After the first 2 months, my English started to improve and I began to make some friends, but just a couple of years later I had to face another problem. When I turned 15, I badly needed guidance and advice of my parents, yet being so far away and not being able to speak to them in person on a daily basis had created an emotional distance between us. A strong contributing factor was also the Western culture that I was being exposed to, which doesn’t value close family relations as much as we Vietnamese families do.

�d y� �k y�r p�ʦ ma� a �ght �c�i� �n�ng y� a��d at at age?

I understand why my parents sent me abroad and it certainly gained some very valuable experience from living abroad for a number of years. However, I wish my parents let me graduate from high school here, and then send me abroad to study at a university there. It would probably have given me the same benefits in terms of my English and learning about a different culture, but I would have been better prepared for dealing with anxieties of living away from my family and friends. My experience of studying abroad made me more independent and open-minded, which is great, but I sometimes wish that I could be more Vietnamese. It was culture shock for me to move back to Vietnam after growing up abroad from the age of 13, and I felt more like an outcast here than a happy Vietnamese person returning home after a long absence. I didn’t have any connection with my mom because we have such different mindsets now, which made me very upset, and it took me a long time to fit back in here, in my own birth country.

�at ad�� ��d y� gi� � p�ʦ �o e ��ng a�ut �n�ng �� ��d n a��d?

If you are thinking of sending your child abroad, please wait until they are old enough to be on their own and mentally prepared. Please remember that teenagers need structure, not the freedom to do whatever they want without parental guidance. Nowadays, parents have the luxury of sending their children to an international school, where your children are being taught in English and Vietnamese. They study with teachers who come from English-speaking countries, and therefore are getting used to Western culture gradually. Most importantly, talk to your child before sending them abroad–after all it is their lives that you are deciding on.

� y� w�ld  ­ � ��k � Ngoc a�ut הr �p��n� � �nfi�n�, p��e �a� הr � r�ge a �e�ng � �k הr �y qu���s y� �ght ha�: ngocanhnguyen@bvisvietnam.com

�� �d �y y�r p�ʦ �c�ed � �nd y� � �udy a��d? When I was 13, my parents decided to send me to study in an English-speaking country because they thought that moving abroad at a young age would make it easier for me to get accustomed to a new culture, and that living abroad will considerably improve my English. In 2002, there were hardly any good international or bilingual schools in Vietnam for my parents to choose from, so to achieve these goals, going abroad was the only choice at the time.

�at w� y�r �p��n� � m��g a��d � a ��ag�?

At the beginning I was very excited about the idea of going abroad; however, the first few months turned out to be the worst experience I had ever had. I went from being very happy and confident living in Vietnam to being anxious, stressed and very unhappy when moving abroad. I was in a new environment, had to make my own decisions, do everything myself, learn new things by myself, and all of this while badly missing my family and friends. I am lucky that I am such a strong and resilient person, but many other international students fall into depression or develop anxiety disorders.