Vietnamese

The Vietnamese program at ASU launched in the fall of 1991, is the only program devoted to Vietnamese language and culture at the university level in the state of Arizona. The program offers Vietnamese language courses from elementary to advanced level, as well as Vietnamese for heritage speakers and independent study courses.

Vietnamese is the fourth most spoken language in the United States! As such, there are many large Vietnamese communities throughout the country. Unlike the languages in neighboring countries such as China, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, Vietnamese has a unique writing system using the Latin alphabet with diacritical and tone marks so learning Vietnamese is much easier than learning other Asian languages that use scripts.

Learning Vietnamese and the diverse culture of Vietnam with 54 different ethnic groups, students will have the opportunities to explore and examine the economic and social development of Vietnam, one of Southeast Asia’s most culturally rich yet dynamic and rapidly changing countries.

Students of Vietnamese courses offered at ASU will learn a variety of topics including, but not limited to:

• History and geography
• Folk literature (idioms, proverbs, folk tales, folk poetry)
• Pre-modern and modern literature
• Religion
• Customs and culture

Many students combine their study of Vietnamese with majors or minors in:

• International politics and global studies
• Business and economics
• Education
• Pre-law and pre-med
• Engineering and computer science
• History, philosophy, and religious studies
• Southeast Asian, Asian and global south studies

Emerging as the world's 15th-most-populous country and the eighth-most-populous Asian country, Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Vietnam is expected to soon reach a population of 1 billion in 2023 with a total of nearly 90 million people who speak Vietnamese as their mother tongue. Besides, there are about 3.5 million people around the world, including about 2.5 million people in the United States. Therefore, students who are fluent in Vietnamese with cultural insights and communication ability increase their qualifications in the field of global business, military and diplomatic services, and non-governmental-organization humanitarian services.

 To learn more about our Vietnamese program at ASU, please contact our academic advisors or the Vietnamese lecturer!

iCourse and oCourse Vietnamese classes

VTN 101 Elementary Vietnamese I helps build basic skills in modern conversational Vietnamese and develop basic reading and writing skills, with special emphasis on pronunciation and spelling.

VTN 102 Elementary Vietnamese II improves speaking, listening, reading, and writing competence through dialogues, reading passages, pattern drills, and grammar and communicative exercises. 

VTN 201 Intermediate Vietnamese I extends learners’ vocabulary and develops the four communicative skills. Extensive texts on Vietnamese culture, ads or excerpts from articles taken from Vietnamese newspapers and magazines, and excerpts from videos by native speakers are used to enhance students' reading and listening skills. 

VTN 202 Intermediate Vietnamese II is a continuation of 201 with further exploration into authentic Vietnamese materials to enhance the four communicative skills. Vietnamese 

• The classes are open for all students no matter if Vietnamese is a foreign language, a second language, or a heritage language to them. The prerequisite for joining VTN 102, VTN 201 and VTN 202 is C or better in the previous class OR visiting university student OR a satisfactory placement test. Fill out placement test request if you need a placement decision and an override to skip a lower level class.
• In all Vietnamese language classes, students will be exposed to different regional variations of Vietnamese including Northern, Central and Southern variations. Students select a weekly meeting time that aligns with their schedules and will then convene in small groups at the chosen time to enhance interaction and collaboration.

Immersion Vietnamese classes

Note: These classes are offered at the Tempe campus. 

VTN 321  Advanced Vietnamese and Literature I (G, H)

VTN 322 Advanced Vietnamese and Literature II (G, H)

Advanced Vietnamese and Literature I and II introduce students to more complex grammar and vocabulary using texts from contemporary and folk literature as well as videos on current news, history, and culture. In this course, students will continue to build the four communicative skills, with a focus on academic style. A variety of authentic materials will be used. Discussions will focus on selected cultural topics and literature works.

SLC/VTN 294  Special Topics: Vietnamese for Heritage Speakers (G) is for heritage learners who have been exposed to Vietnamese from their household, relatives, or community and who can understand and hold a conversation in the language. Note: This course is only offered during fall semesters.

This course builds on the language skills students already have in order to expand their written and oral proficiency.  Students also explore further Vietnamese culture, customs, and values. Topics include Vietnamese family, Tet, food, gender identities, spiritual life, arts and music, and other elective topics. Course materials are adapted and authentic materials from news, literature, documentaries, songs, and other media.

If you are a heritage speaker of Vietnamese, but you are not so sure if your Vietnamese is good enough for the class, fill out the Placement test request to schedule a placement interview with the instructor.

SLC/VTN 294  Special Topics: Vietnam Beyond The War (Contemporary Vietnam) is a content class conducted in English—no previous knowledge of the Vietnamese language is required. Note: This course is only offered during spring semesters.

‘Vietnam’ is not just the name of a war! Vietnam Beyond the War studies the vibrant changes in Vietnamese society and culture since the war ended in 1975. The course gives a broad overview of different aspects of life in contemporary Vietnam such as urbanization, religion, the role of women, ethnicity, gender issues, or music and entertainment. Class readings and discussion include Vietnamese media, films, stories, and other popular cultural materials. Though the main focus is on contemporary Vietnam, the course also looks at different diaspora Vietnamese communities in various countries around the world.  

VTN 499  Individualized Instruction can be a continuation of Advanced II level or a research experience in Vietnamese study. Please contact the professor if you’re interested in taking individualized instruction in the Vietnamese program.

FAQs

Q: What is the difference between “Vietnamese for heritage speakers” and VTN 201 and 202?

A: Both VTN 294 Vietnamese for Heritage Speakers and VTN 201 Intermediate Vietnamese I have entry requirements as Novice High. However, while VTN 201 and 202 focuses mostly on language skills, VTN 294 emphasizes building reading and writing skills as well as cultural competence. Another main difference is that while VTN 201 is 5 credit hours and fully online, VTN 294 is only 3 credit hours and in person.

Q: Can I do my honors contract in the Vietnamese classes?

A: Yes! Students will discuss with the professor their interests, and initiate a project that aims to utilize the Vietnamese language in their field of study or connect the students with their own heritage.

Q: Can iCourse students meet the instructor?

A: Yes, of course! There are both in-person and virtual office hours. iCourse students are encouraged to participate in the weekly SILC Cafe in Durham Hall on the Tempe campus.