Joining the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Iran in early August, a group of students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) performed "Ey Iran" - Iran's unofficial national anthem in the Persian language.

Understanding each other through language

Pham Ngoc Khanh (Faculty of History) said, "Ey Iran" lyrics were written by Hossein Gol-e-Golab, who was urged by patriotism when his country was invaded in the 1940s. The poem was set to music by Rouhollah Khaleghi.

"The song's chorus reads: Our lives will no longer have meaning when the country ceases to exist. The lyrics are long and difficult to remember for us, who are just starting to learn the Persian language. My friends and I have been practicing together for two weeks, not to mention the long hours practicing at home," said Khanh.

Students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) performed the song "Ey Iran" at the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Iran (Photo: Thu Ha).

Khanh was invited by a friend to participate in a Persian language and culture course organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in collaboration with the Iranian Embassy in Vietnam. The free class gives her basic knowledge of Persian culture and language and equips her with basic skills of listening - speaking - reading - writing in Persian so that Khanh can communicate, read and understand simple phone calls and articles.

"The teacher inspired us to learn through stories about Iran's culture and history. I also learn more on YouTube by watching videos about grammar for beginners, Iranian cartoons, and movies, listening to poems or stories in Persian," Khanh said, adding that she wants to communicate well to travel to Esfahan (Iran) and see the ancient mosques here.

Meanwhile, Vu Hoang Long (Faculty of Oriental Studies) learns Persian because he loved Iranian culture and wanted a closer understanding with the country. Long has been studying Persian since December 2022 and is starting an intermediate class.

"Iranian territory is shaped almost like a cat, which is the Iranian people's favorite pet. If a cat is thrown from a high position into the ground, it will land safely, gently on all fours, just like Iran's diplomacy: flexible, innovative, open to new ideas but consistent to its core values," Long said.

According to Long, Persian is the most difficult in terms of vocabulary. Persian uses the Arabic alphabet. When single words are combined, vowels become silent sounds. "I had a very hard time trying to pronounce the words correctly because of this," said the young man.

Young people in Vietnam who want to learn Persian culture and language usually cannot access abundant information. From personal experience, Long advises them to search for communities on social networks such as the Iranian student community, the community of Persian culture lovers, or take online courses on platforms such as Coursera and FutureLearn. "These courses are free of charge but most are taught in English, not Vietnamese," said Long.

Open the gate to visit Iran

16 years ago, the Iran Chamber at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) was established as a gift from the Iranian government to the university. The Chamber is used to organize academic exchange events, lectures, and research activities, and contribute to promoting the study of Iranian culture and language in Vietnam.

Iranian Ambassador to Vietnam Ali Akbar Nazari attended a Persian language lesson at the Faculty of Oriental Studies in October 2022 and talked with students in Persian.

According to Pham Ngoc Thuy, lecturer at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, the Persian language course is held by the university in collaboration with the Iranian Embassy as an annual activity within the framework of cooperation between the two sides. After a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year, the course is reopened.

The course is open to anyone who is studying, doing research related to Iran and Middle Eastern countries, and those who are interested in the Persian language and culture. After finishing the course and meeting all the requirements, students will be granted certificates by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) and the Iranian Embassy in Vietnam.

"Through the course, students learn a new language and have a new tool to learn and study regional culture. The course also opens up opportunities to study in Iran. Every year, Iran provides Vietnamese students with many scholarships at undergraduate and master's levels with generous financial support. Those who are interested in the course can register with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities or apply directly to the program's official websites.

Although they can apply in English, participating in a Persian language course in Vietnam before studying abroad will help them save time learning the language when coming to Iran, so they can quickly start their specialized subjects. Many graduates of previous courses now have the opportunity to study in Iran," said Pham Ngoc Thuy.

According to Thuy, Persian is a difficult language that requires a lot of practice. Persian reads from right to left, in contrast to Vietnamese, so it will be difficult for new learners. However, Vietnamese has all the syllables that Persian has, so learning to speak will be less strenuous.

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