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Learning Vietnamese in the basement

Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the lights shine brightly in the underground classroom. Vietnamese classes for children in the Lang Sen Urban Area, Odessa, Ukraine are held in a unique setting, which is a basement, a safe haven for the Vietnamese community.

Vietnamese language class in a shelter in Odessa (Ukraine). Photo: Nguyen Hung

Despite being a wartime classroom, it has received great attention and investment from the Vietnamese Association in Odessa, with parents providing complete equipment such as desks, chairs, blackboards, and learning materials. New textbooks with the latest curriculum have also been delivered to the children in time for the new school year.

In a classroom of about 40 square meters, the children eagerly learn each letter, recite poems, folk songs, and proverbs of the nation, while their dedicated teacher, Do Thi Lan, passionately instills in them a love for their national culture.

Through online training courses, Do Thi Lan has been quietly honing her knowledge, keeping up with the latest curriculum changes in Vietnam. She is the steady hand guiding her students, ensuring they can read, write, and communicate in Vietnamese.

Nguyen Van Hung, secretary of the Honorary Consul Office of Vietnam in Odessa province, and vice president of the Vietnamese Association in Odessa, Ukraine said that there are currently 500 Vietnamese people living in Odessa. Despite the hardships of war, Vietnamese families here continue to prioritize their children's education. Children are studying both online at home and in person at school.

For the 2024-2025 school year, there are 30 students enrolled in two Vietnamese language classes, divided into two levels. The class for beginners starts from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., while the class for those who already know Vietnamese starts from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Teacher Do Thi Lan.

Teacher Do Thi Lan shared, "Life is challenging with constant power outages, water shortages, and the frequent sound of sirens and alarms, but the children are safe in the basement. I am both happy and moved that in the midst of war, the Vietnamese community is still staying in the city and sending their children to school, to Vietnamese language classes, to remember their roots and Vietnamese culture."

She added, "The support and care from the association and all the community members, along with the children's eagerness to learn, are my motivation to continue fostering love and pride for Vietnamese culture in the next generations of our community."

Promise to homeland

Nguyen Nhu Manh, chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Odessa, shared that due to the war, the Vietnamese language classes had to be temporarily suspended for safety reasons. However, despite the ongoing challenges, the classes resumed in August 2024, right before the new school year, in the basement shelter of the Lang Sen Urban Area, thanks to the community's strong desire to connect with their homeland.

Manh emphasized the practical significance of these classes, noting that many Vietnamese graduates who return to Vietnam after completing their studies in Ukraine find great success due to their fluency in Vietnamese.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine, Nguyen Hong Thach, emphasized the crucial role of these classes in preserving the nation's cherished traditions.

Young generations of overseas Vietnamese in Odessa on the opening day of Vietnamese language class. Photo: Nguyen Hung

Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thach also commended the efforts of the Vietnamese Association in Odessa and the teacher for their tireless work in launching Vietnamese language classes for young children amidst the challenging circumstances of war, ensuring that the children not only learn the language but also understand Vietnamese culture.

Vietnamese is a source of national pride and a solid foundation for our traditional culture. Therefore, maintaining Vietnamese language classes in Ukraine, despite the challenges of war, holds profound significance. It demonstrates a commitment to nurturing patriotism, national pride, preserving cultural traditions, and staying connected to our beloved homeland, Vietnam.

The enthusiasm of the teacher and students in the Vietnamese language class in Odessa is a promise to their homeland that they will strive to preserve their cultural heritage and connect with people from around the world, showcasing their pride as Vietnamese people.

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