Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama: I Love Vietnamese As My Mother Tongue

Saadi Salama, Palestinian ambassador to Vietnam.

Through the story of Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama learning and using Vietnamese, people are attracted by his clear personality.

When he learns something, he always understands it thoroughly, makes comparisons between Vietnamese and other languages such as English or Arabic.

He said the word "duyen" in Vietnamese is difficult to translate into English or Arabic. Vietnamese people do not like to use the word "cam on" (thank you) a lot because it is too formal and distant.

Not only does Saadi aim to use Vietnamese correctly, but he also wants to use expressive Vietnamese.

He objects to speaking Vietnamese "like a machine" without emotion.

It needs to be an interesting Vietnamese language, not only in semantics but also in pronunciation and storytelling.

Therefore, if people only listen to his voice over the phone, few people can recognize that this is a foreigner speaking Vietnamese because of the fluency and charming melodiousness in his voice.

When answering the interview, he carefully asked about the purpose of the interview and the key content that needed to be answered.

He said it was to prepare so that he could speak concisely and in the most impressive way, because he knew that the screen time for each person would not be much.

During the next ten minutes of the interview, he spoke fluent Vietnamese and did not even have pauses like Vietnamese people do when being interviewed.

Besides excellent language skills, he also has good thinking, making his ideas always clear and distinct. On that foundation, his ability to master the Vietnamese language had a chance to show off.

Saadi received homeland fame for his understanding of Vietnamese and his remarkable knowledge of Vietnamese culture, history, and geography when participating in the "Who wants to be a millionaire" on the 4th of Tet 2017.

He won a prize worth VND40 million (US$1647).

He correctly answered a series of difficult questions related to regional cuisine, Dong Xuan market, Lo River, or the history of revolutionary Tran Phu.

The most interesting detail is when Saadi encountered the question "What is 'bu'?" He asked the audience and the answer chosen by most people was "a song." However, he then immediately chose the answer "mother" and passed the challenge in the thunderous applause of the viewers.

Ambassador Saadi Salama said that if people want to learn Vietnamese deeply, they need to understand Vietnamese culture, persevere and not give up when encountering difficulties.

Another secret of his learning Vietnamese is that he married a Vietnamese wife when he was young in Vietnam-a country he first visited when he was 19 years old.

"I am proud to be one of the few foreigners who can speak Vietnamese as my mother tongue," he said.

In addition, his four children are all successful, they know many languages including Vietnamese, Arabic, French, English, and Spanish.

Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama (right) and Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thien Nam, head of Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Language, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH)

"I am a lucky Palestinian to come and study in Vietnam, at the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Language."

The Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Language, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) has remained at the top position in the country in Vietnamese language and studies for the past 50 years.

Vietnamese Poet Awarded Palestinian President's Medal for Outstanding Contributions Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnamese Writers' Association, received the First Class Medal of Culture, Science and Art from the State of Palestine.

Palestinian Ambassador Spreads Beauty of Traditional Vietnamese Clothes "I want to contribute to the success of the Festival of ao ba ba (loose-fitting blouse) and promote the image of Hau Giang to international ...

Vietnam Sends USD 500,000 to Aid Palestinians Vietnam always supports the just struggle of the Palestinian people for independence and freedom.