Vietnamese Nurtured from Worldwide Universities and Institutions
	Vietnamese Language - Anchor to Connect Overseas Vietnamese to Their Roots

Liliya and the journey of "going upstream" to teach Vietnamese

Liliya Kholodova, 33 years old, is of mixed Russian and Vietnamese descent. Born and raised in Russia, she masters both Russian and Vietnamese languages ​​and foster a love for both cultures throught the trips back and forth to Vietnam with her mother. As a result, she becomes a "catalyst" for her husband - Bui Son - a Vietnamese in Russia, who could only speak a few basic Vietnamese sentences, to better understand his mother tongue.

Liliya and Bui Son's TikTok channel "Dieu Ho Li Son" has more than 330 thousand likes. (Screenshot: Phan Anh)

"People are often surprised that I speak Vietnamese better than my husband, even though he is Vietnamese," said Liliya. Understanding the importance of preserving the Vietnamese language and culture in the family, she was determined to communicate in Vietnamese with her husband since they got married.

The journey began with basic lessons, as she used first-grade textbooks and the Vietnamese alphabet to help Bui Son get familiar with phonetics and grammar. However, the process was not easy. Son frequently mispronounced the tones, mixing up "hỏi" and "ngã". Liliya felt like giving up several times. Moreover, Son's incorporation of the Quang Binh dialect, using words such as "chi, mô, răng rứa," further complicated the teaching of Vietnamese.

Despite the challenges, Liliya's patience and passion for Vietnamese never waned. She supported her husband by incorporating economic articles from his field of work to facilitate practical Vietnamese language practice. Additionally, she integrated everyday tasks like visiting the Tet market, purchasing flowers, and haggling to enhance his natural communication skills.

Their endeavors have yielded success beyond the family circle. Bui Son is now able to communicate and read books and newspapers in Vietnamese. Notably, their TikTok channel "Dieu Ho Li Son" has garnered over 330,000 likes and more than 8,000 followers. The couple's videos are not just humorous; they are also inspirational, contributing to the organic spread of Vietnamese language and culture. "Seeing a Russian girl teach Vietnamese to her Vietnamese husband is fascinating," remarked one follower.

Vietnamese language as a Cultural Bridge

The story of Liliya and Bui Son exemplifies how Vietnamese love can transcend borders and origins. It's not just Liliya; globally, numerous foreigners have embraced the Vietnamese language, teaching it passionately, even to those of Vietnamese descent.

In France, the France-Vietnam Friendship Association in Bordeaux has been upholding Vietnamese language teaching for the past 30 years. Annually, the Association sets up 4 to 5 classes, drawing in numerous students, including both Vietnamese and French individuals.

The Vietnamese Bookshelf opened in July 2024 to serve the Vietnamese community in France. (Photo: Quoc Trung)

Antoine Ertlé, Director of the Foreign Language Center at Bordeaux Montaigne University, addressed the media saying that the inclusion of Vietnamese teaching aligns with France's strategy to enhance foreign language education and responds to the increasing interest from both the Vietnamese community and enthusiasts of the language. The center boasts highly skilled Vietnamese instructors proficient in effective teaching techniques, which led to the launch of the Vietnamese language program in 2018, initially as evening classes. The curriculum emphasizes not just grammar and vocabulary but also integrates cultural aspects like history and traditions, enabling students to not merely learn the language but also to appreciate the culture, country, and people of Vietnam.

Ertlé is optimistic that the program will eventually expand to offer university certificates and even bachelor's degrees, similar to the Korean language program. Concurrently, the center aims to foster cooperation and exchanges with Vietnamese universities, sending French students to Vietnam to learn Vietnamese, and reciprocally, inviting Vietnamese students to France to study French.

Amidst globalization and the advancement of information technology, the Vietnamese language has the potential to extend its influence like never before. Social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube are not merely venues for sharing daily life but also serve as potent mediums for promoting the Vietnamese language and culture. Their highly interactive nature and extensive reach have revolutionized traditional language learning and teaching methods. Brief and readily available videos have introduced new methodologies, benefiting not just students of Vietnamese but also those interested in Vietnamese culture globally. The narratives of individuals like Liliya and Bui Son, as well as Vietnamese learning communities worldwide, demonstrate that Vietnamese transcends its native speakers and has integrated into the global cultural tapestry.

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