As Tet is coming, UEH English Zone brought students a complete emotional journey in January: moments of nostalgia to reflect together, pauses to recover from the holiday season, and abundant energy for fresh beginnings. Through thought-provoking talk sessions, festive DIY activities, and thrilling board game sessions, UEH English Zone became the ideal destination for students to practice English while connecting and sharing. Let’s look back at the memorable moments of this January!
Spring gently touches every moment
After the New Year holiday, when echoes of the break still lingered, returning to familiar routines wasn’t always easy. The feeling of fatigue, losing momentum, and lacking motivation was something many UEHers experienced together. EZ Talks with the topic of Holiday Hangover appeared like a rest stop where everyone could comfortably share, and realize they weren’t alone in these very real emotions. In this understanding atmosphere, allowing participants to slow down during the “warm-up month” before Tet became lighter and more pleasant.
Living fully in every moment at UEH English Zone
Continuing the journey of bringing participants back to the present through the most familiar things, the Hop Into Hobbies discussion opened a welcoming space for students to talk about their interests, habits, and small daily joys – from music and drawing to cooking and their very personal passions.
In this session, students enthusiastically introduced their favorite playlists, homemade dishes, or their own artwork. This was a chance for them to find like-minded friends and gain more motivation to develop their passions in the new year.
Sharing hobbies with kindred spirits
Amidst this journey, as Lunar New Year approached, UEH English Zone dedicated a reflective pause for UEHers to look back together. The discussion Where Did All the Years Go? served as an invitation to return to memories, where childhood Tet recollections, once-famous films, or songs were retold in English with sincerity and rich emotion. Each shared memory helped create a warm space, like a time-travel journey before Tet.
A New Year begins with new resolutions
From settled memories before the new year, the English Club (BELL) continued the connection journey with spring-themed activities, beginning with the READY, SET, GO discussion, where UEHers looked forward together, sharing goals, plans, and aspirations to conquer in the new year in English with confidence and initiative. This positive atmosphere continued to spread through the Bon Appétet program, like a warm “feast” where participants gathered to talk about traditional Tet dishes, from banh chung and gio cha to family reunion meals – not just through culinary stories but also through cultural meanings and cherished family memories, creating an intimate space rich with Tet flavors.
Discussion with the English Club (BELL) on READY, SET, GO
Joining the bustling pre-Tet atmosphere with the English Club (BELL)
The English Coffee Talk (ECOFF) series by the Student Union of the Foreign Languages Faculty also brought an inspiring space with profound topics. Starting with Goodbye Old Me, Hello New Me, students reflected on their transformation journey, from versions full of doubts to their more confident present selves. Love, Connection, Identity continued to guide participants in exploring relationships and personal identity, recognizing that self-understanding sometimes comes from very ordinary connections. Passion to Profession opened reflections on career paths, when passion is placed alongside reality and the question of how to turn interests into sustainable directions.
Turning over a new leaf in Goodbye Old Me, Hello New Me
Sharing about emotions and identity at Love, Connection, Identity
Putting dreams into words at Passion to Profession
As Tet drew very near, students not only talked about new year wishes but also personally sent hopes through vibrant red envelopes in the EZ Talks combined with DIY session themed New Year, New Me.
This activity not only helped students relax and express creativity but also created opportunities to practice English while exchanging design ideas, sharing about the custom of giving lucky money during Vietnamese Tet, and preparing together for a meaningful celebration. The handmade red envelopes became small gifts containing dedication and luck that students wanted to send to their loved ones.
Vibrant red envelopes made during the DIY activity
Opening the New Year with contemplative films
The EZ Silver Screens series in the new year opened many interesting perspectives. The film Blue Curry began with Neel’s innocent question about human differences. Through images of cooking a colorful curry with his mother, the film gently conveyed the message that diversity itself creates the beauty of the world. In contrast, the short film Best Friend brought viewers into a modern yet scary future, where technology has advanced tremendously but people have grown distant, a contemplative slice for everyone to reflect on real connections in life.
Discovering the message about uniqueness through Blue Curry
Caught up in Best Friend
Connecting with friends through games
In the bustling atmosphere of the days leading up to Tet, EZ Boardgames became a familiar gathering point, where competitiveness and team spirit spread through each game. From the thrilling Cash Me If You Can with the tricks of “real estate tycoons” in Monopoly Deal, the fun and surprising Zombie Kittens with the zombie version of Exploding Kittens, to Werewolves in the Alpha’s Tribe program requiring sharp deduction, along with diverse other games like Cover Your Assets in the Watch Out! program, Taboo combined with Uno in Taboom!, or the classic game Coup in Just Coup It. Beyond entertainment, EZ Boardgames was also an opportunity for students to sharpen strategic thinking, English communication reflexes, and bond with friends in a warm atmosphere full of Tet spirit.
Strategic competition through Monopoly Deal
Unexpected and exciting moments with Zombie Kittens
Who will become the fastest ‘millionaire’ in Cover Your Assets?
Lively atmosphere in the Taboom! program
Students piecing together clues to catch the Werewolf
Closing January with challenging moves in Coup
January came to a close with its own lingering echoes at UEH English Zone, where simple moments quietly turned into cherished memories for UEHers. Amid the gentle transition into a new year, warm conversations, creative activities, and shared moments of togetherness subtly nurtured connections, allowing English to become not only a language of learning but also a bridge of emotions and friendship.
To not miss exciting and enriching activities in the upcoming February, please follow the UEH English Zone fanpage. Let’s continue the journey of discovery, learning, and bonding at the English Zone together!
News and photos: Department of Student Affairs