Digitalize Mother Tongue for Teaching

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Diverse teaching methods

"Grandpa, I'm going to school", "Dad, are you working today?", "I miss my grandparents so much!" These simple yet culturally rich Vietnamese sentences express politeness and traditional values. This is how the ABC Vietnamese application, available on smartphones, guides overseas Vietnamese children to learn their mother tongue.

The application was developed by Nguyen Anh Kiet, CEO of Kan-tek Company, based in the United States. As a Vietnamese living abroad, he wanted his children to not only speak Vietnamese but also understand and be proud of their cultural heritage. After spending nearly US$200 per month for his children to attend a short-term Vietnamese class before visiting their homeland, he realized the need for a more optimal learning solution.

ABC Vietnamese, an application that teaches Vietnamese communication to overseas Vietnamese children.

After more than a year of research and development with a team of software engineers in New Jersey, ABC Vietnamese was licensed to circulate in the United States, with the mission of connecting the Vietnamese language and culture. The application provides simple communication lessons, combining pronunciation, recording, and voice adjustment features, while integrating cultural values and unique customs.

“We integrate polite words such as 'da,' 'thua,' and 'vang a' into the lessons so that children not only learn the language but also understand and appreciate Vietnamese culture,” said Kiet. By the end of 2024, the application had recorded more than 10,000 downloads on Google Play.

In Japan, Pham Phi Hai Yen, a teacher at Kobe City Children's College (Hyogo Prefecture), opened an online class called "Liu lo Tieng Viet" (Chirping Vietnamese) in 2021. She divided students into groups according to their level and combined language teaching with cultural and historical lessons to create interest for students.

In 2022, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, launched the "Vietnamese Language Teaching Channel for Overseas Vietnamese". With an advanced course system ranging from elementary to intermediate levels, this channel has helped overseas Vietnamese in nearly 20 countries learn Vietnamese in a systematic way. The curriculum is designed according to the 6-level Vietnamese proficiency framework, accompanied by videos and interactive learning models, helping learners maintain connections with their national culture.

In addition, platforms such as Duolingo and Monkey Junior also contribute to expanding learning opportunities. In particular, Duolingo's "gamification" method creates appeal and retains learners.

Take Advantage of Social Media and AI

Annie, a Vietnamese girl living in Australia, has attracted nearly 40,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel, “Learn Vietnamese With Annie.” Her communication lessons, based on real-life situations, not only help young Vietnamese people access their mother tongue more easily but also attract foreigners who love Vietnamese culture.

The TikTok channel "Dieu Ho Li Son" by Liliya and Bui Son attracted more than 330,000 likes. (Screenshot by Phan Anh)

Liliya Kholodova, of Russian-Vietnamese descent, used her love for Vietnamese culture to start a venture teaching Vietnamese to her husband, Bui Son, a Vietnamese man in Russia. Although he initially struggled with Vietnamese grammar and pronunciation, his wife’s patience helped him improve his communication skills. Their TikTok channel “Dieu Ho Li Son” has garnered over 330,000 likes and 8,000 followers, spreading the love of Vietnamese through humorous and relatable videos.

The emergence of AI is ushering in new advancements in teaching Vietnamese. Language-learning chatbots, text-to-speech software, and virtual classrooms enable learners not only to access the Vietnamese language but also to experience cultural heritage right on their screens.

However, preserving the Vietnamese language through digital technology still faces many challenges, from the cost of access and the instability of internet connections to multicultural living environments that may overshadow the mother tongue. Nevertheless, with the relentless efforts of the global Vietnamese community, the Vietnamese language will continue to thrive.

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