How easy is it to learn Vietnamese?

3 Comments

1. ? says:

   November 5, 2009 at 1:31 am

   It’s always helpful to know the rudimentary aspects of the language of the country where you’d be visiting or in your case, doing volunteer work. However, depending on how much time you are willing or able to spend to learn the language in the next 3 months, the chance of your being able to carry on a conversation in Vietnamese is very small.

   The good thing is that most people who have worked in Vietnam, as a volunteer or a paid employee, have not had the absolute need to know Vietnamese. Most of the Vietnamese people with whom you’d need to interface or at least to coordinate do speak some English and there are always interpreters around.

   The realistic goals you should set for yourself in three months, if I might suggest, would consist of:

   - Learning the Vietnamese alphabet. Basically, it’s almost the same as the English alphabet in appearance…but the accent (diacritical) marks are very important to learn as well as the letters. Example- Ma: Ghost, Mà: But, Má: Mother, Mả: Grave, Mạ: Seedling. Get the idea?
   - Learn basic pronunciation rules. So that when you ask for a street, at least people would know which street you mean. Or the name of a food item, the waiter would know what you’re trying to order. Example – Cá: Fish; Cà: Eggplant; Ca: Canteen.
   -Buy a phrase book such as the Lonely Planet Vietnamese Phrase Book (you can order it from Amazon.com; $ 4.90 new, $0.99 used, plus shipping). Learn common phrases but don’t worry about grammar or syntax…that will take years to learn.
2. happy says:

   November 5, 2009 at 1:31 am

   Its very very difficult, and i tip my hat to the foreigners that have managed it.
3. Hate u so much! J.Rose.....mute says:

   November 5, 2009 at 1:31 am

   i m viet, but i living in adelaide. some of my friend learn vietnamese and they said, vnese so hard to learn.
   http://www.tiengnuocngoai.com/vietSens.asp