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Springtime · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:59 pm Post subject: Learning Vietnamese

Chiao -
Who's been successful and learning Vietnamese and how long did it take?
I'm coming to Vietnam in January and speak French and Spanish but Vietnamese is really tough - plus I'm a lot older now. I took 8 classes and now am using Pinsleur - just started. Any advice?
Springtime

saigon cowboy · Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 84

Learning vietnamese is really hard for me. They make sounds that are very difficult to replicate.

Spanish is quite easy and so is Filipino ( Tagalog ). But Vietnamese is another thing altogether.

Someone once said... " A complex language stems from intelligent people ". I concur.

abulinhthi · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 23

We're visiting Vietnam for (my) 18th time in 10 years, but only the 2nd for my 2-year old daughter. Her mother is (real) Vietnamese, and speaks excellent English. But her extended family speaks Vietnamese, although some of the young ones do speak a little English.

Any suggestions on how I can "grow" my daughter in both languages?

I'd really love to know the names of some songs in Vietnamese, comparable to "Twinkle, Twinkle", Brahms lullaby, "If you're happy and you know it......."

Anybody know any Vietnames nursery rhymes (preferably not in a pentatuch (??) scale, so that I can sing them?!

mach114 · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 56

It took me at least two years to get really conversational. I was taking lessons for ten hours a week at the Social Sciences University on Dinh Tien Hoang in District 1. It cost me about $100 USD a month. This was back in 2000-2003. I think it is probably more expensive now. The classes were good and I got to practice my Vietnamese on the street daily. Immersion was the key to learning. I don't know how Vietnamese students can learn English without the full time environment like I had. After three years, I finally gave up the lessons. Now, I can read the newspaper, watch TV, and speak fluently, although with an accent. It wasn't easy for me at all and after almost ten years of studying Vietnamese I am still learning new words all the time. One particular girl I knew got fluent in six months. I think she was a real linguistic genius; a rarity. It's worth the investment of time if you plan on staying in Vietnam long term. Good Luck!

Springtime · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 8:28 pm Post subject: Fluency in Vietnamese

Dear Mach114:
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I agree that immersion is the best. I just like to arrive with a basic knowledge. We don't know how long we'll stay until we get there. I'm thinking six months the first time, then arrange to stay longer if we can get visas to do so. Everything I hear about Vietnam is positive from people who have been there recently. I assume you are in Saigon?
We'll be in Danang area.
Springtime

Galileo · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 63

It takes about twice as long to reach level of general professional proficiency in Vietnamese as it does to reach the same level in French or Spanish.
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Language_Learning_Difficulty_for_English_Speakers

mach114 · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 56

I would agree with Galileo and the state department, for most people it will take them much longer to learn Vietnamese than Spanish or French. The pronunciation is awkward and difficult to master. The grammar does not relate to English grammar in anyway like Spanish or French. Meanings of many words do not easily translate like Spanish or French. English is a very good frame of reference to learn Spanish and French, but not to learn Vietnamese. All that being said it is by no means impossible to learn, it will just take more time investment. My advice, register for a class or hire a teacher, don't sit around with a book and try to learn it on your own.

Springtime · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject: Learning Vietnamese

Thanks everyone. We got a lot out of the 8 classes we did have but they were too expensive. Hiring a private tutor is the best option for me. I'm looking and going to attend a Vietnamese Church and try to find one in our area. It's good reinforcement to know that everyone struggles with it and that a teacher is needed. My husband prefers to do everything on his own and he's hearing impaired!
Springtime

dovmob · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 9

I've been doing the Pimsleur tapes on the way too and from work and haven't found them as daunting as expected. I think I was surprised after I was so terrible at French. I'm sure once I get to Vietnam that the stuff I've learned won't help me a lot but it's been fun, and it's a start!

motown · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 68