Established in 1968, the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Language has had 40 years of development and growth. The Faculty has trained more than 7,000 foreign students of 40 different nationalities, including more than 100 bachelors, 08 of whom were Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Hanoi. Originating from the task of training Vietnamese language and culture for foreigners coming to study under the agreement between the Vietnamese government and other countries, the Faculty has been gradually assigned many new training tasks. The 40th anniversary of the Faculty's establishment this time will also mark the Faculty's new steps in the context of integration and adaptation to social needs. Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi - Head of the Faculty - talked about this issue.
- Professor, in the 60s, 70s, and 80s of the 20th century, the Faculty's Vietnamese language training was mainly for foreigners living, working, and researching in Vietnam. Since then, have there been any changes in the subjects learning Vietnamese language and Vietnamese culture?[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2008/11/18/img_5800.jpg" border="0" alt="Assoc.Prof.Dr. Vu Van Thi speaks at the 40th anniversary of the Faculty's founding" title="Assoc.Prof.Dr. Vu Van Thi speaks at the 40th anniversary of the Faculty's founding" width="240" height="160" align="right" ]
- Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi:In the 60s, 70s, and 80s of the last century, the Faculty mainly trained foreign students who came to study under agreements between our State and friendly countries such as China, countries of the former Soviet Union, Eastern European countries, Cuba, Laos, etc. In the 90s, the country changed a lot and the training subjects were expanded. The Faculty not only trained students studying under the agreements but also trained Vietnamese language and Vietnamese culture for other foreigners who came to study under self-funded short-term programs. In addition, the Faculty also opened a Vietnamese language and Vietnamese culture training program at the undergraduate level for both students studying under the agreements and other foreigners in need.
- On that basis, how has the Faculty's orientation on teaching Vietnamese language and culture to foreigners changed?
- Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi:Due to such changes, the Faculty also has to innovate teaching methods such as: practical teaching using advanced methods such as the Communicative Method, focusing on training listening, speaking, reading and writing skills for learners. In addition to studying in class, the Faculty also organizes a number of field trips to learn more about the culture, country and people of Vietnam and have the opportunity to practice Vietnamese, improve practical skills and knowledge of Vietnamese in real life.
- Professor, what are the strengths and unique characteristics of the Faculty compared to other Vietnamese language and culture training units in the country?
- Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi:If we talk about the strengths of the Faculty, we can first mention the team of experienced lecturers and the long tradition of the Faculty. Besides, we must also mention the rich system of teaching materials of the Faculty today.
- From 1968 to now, the Faculty has undergone two name changes, each time associated with a new training mission. Currently, the Faculty's official name is Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language, along with the mission of training bachelors in Vietnamese Studies for foreigners and Vietnamese in the upcoming 2009-2010 school year. So, how does Associate Professor evaluate the training prospects of this field in Vietnam as well as in the world?
- Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi:Training Vietnamese students in Vietnamese studies is a challenge because currently, there are many training institutions in this field both domestically and internationally. Moreover, when talking about Vietnam, most Vietnamese students have learned a lot of content about Vietnamese studies in high school such as: Vietnamese history, Vietnamese literature, Vietnamese geography, etc. The important thing is that lecturers must delve into research to find the essential and profound content for each subject of their major, while also aiming to equip them with skills to use knowledge in work and research later.
- Professor, what preparations has the Faculty made to be able to implement the training of Vietnamese Studies bachelors?
- Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi:Under the direction of the School and VNU, with a team of 22 lecturers, all of whom have postgraduate degrees, the Faculty will focus on building a rich documentation room, and at the same time have a plan to train young lecturers, creating conditions for experienced lecturers to focus on in-depth research in the fields of Vietnamese studies.
- It is known that in the 1980s, the Faculty was one of the first units in the field of social sciences and humanities to successfully train a foreign doctor under the guidance of Professor Vu Ngoc Phan. Since then, postgraduate training has been suspended. So does the Faculty plan to open a postgraduate training program in Vietnamese studies after the successful training of bachelors?
- Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi:Currently, we are focusing on the Vietnamese Studies bachelor program for Vietnamese people, and for foreigners. Currently, we have 36 foreign students studying the bachelor program at the Faculty. We hope that this number will increase significantly in the future. Therefore, for now, we are not thinking about training Vietnamese Studies at the postgraduate level.
- As expected by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan during his working session with the school on September 23, 2008, the school must be a leading international-standard training and research unit in Vietnamese studies. The school has entrusted this requirement to the Faculty. What do you personally think about this task?
- Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi:This is a great opportunity for the Faculty to develop, but also a great challenge that requires the Faculty's staff to make great efforts. However, with the attention of the School and VNU, I believe that the Faculty will achieve that goal.
- In the current trend of building universities towards research universities, what are the major orientations of the Faculty in its scientific research activities in the coming time?
- Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Thi:The Faculty is a strong unit in scientific research. The Faculty has organized 4 international scientific conferences on Vietnamese language and teaching methods and many other conferences. From 2000 to present, the Faculty has conducted joint research and organized 8 scientific conferences with the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City. Up to now, the Faculty has published more than 400 articles, conducted 48 research topics at all levels. From 2000 to present, the Faculty has conducted 13 university-level topics, 32 VNU-Hanoi-level topics. In the coming years, the Faculty will continue to encourage and create conditions for lecturers of the Faculty to receive new scientific topics, at the same time supplement and edit accepted topics with good quality, publish as research documents. Regarding the curriculum, the Faculty will plan, update and republish appropriate curriculums, compile a new curriculum system, build a system of lectures, digitize the curriculum and necessary teaching materials, especially the Faculty's lecture curriculums, and continue to build and develop the resource room.
Thank you, Associate Professor.
•Thanh Ha (perform)
