People often say “English is too expensive to learn.” In reality, it’s one of the highest-return investments—if you use it well.
Why it pays off
- My parents chose tuition over new houses or cars; the knowledge they banked gave them sustainable income for decades.
- Author Daniel Priestley compares: invest $100 in stocks, maybe you earn $20–30 a year; invest $100 in communication skills, and it can underpin a $50–60k salary.
Real-world examples
- I spent about 140 million VND on IELTS and CELTA. Within the first year I was earning ~20 million a month part-time—paid back in twelve months.
- Many learners invest around 50 million over two years, reach IELTS 6.5, and pivot to roles paying 40–50 million per month—recouping their costs in a few months.
How to keep the money from evaporating
- Pay for a roadmap, not a logo. Define the goal, timeline, and progress metrics before buying a course.
- Build monetisable skills. Focus on what you truly need (workplace communication, report writing), not just collecting certificates.
- Self-study between classes. Five to seven hours a week on your own shortens the programme and saves tuition.
Whether English feels “expensive” or “affordable” depends on how you turn that skill into bigger opportunities for yourself.