Myth 11 — Learning English Is Expensive

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.