Vietnamese: A Cultural Bridge Between Vietnam and the United States

Every autumn, the Center for Vietnamese Studies and Language (VSLC) welcomes young Asian American students to its Vietnamese language program. These learners are Americans with Asian heritage such as Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and more.

For them, Vietnamese is an essential first step before beginning their one-year journey in Vietnam. Their goal is to connect and strengthen Vietnam–U.S. cultural exchange through various activities such as English teaching, career-sharing workshops, and other topics of interest to young people in both countries.

Integrating Culture into Vietnamese Lessons

Understanding the learners’ goals and expectations, the VSLC has designed a curriculum that combines language instruction with cultural elements. Vietnamese is not only knowledge—it is a bridge that helps students understand Vietnamese ways of thinking and cultural values.

Lessons are designed to be highly interactive, enabling students to practice Vietnamese through activities such as games, group discussions, and direct communication with Vietnamese students. In addition, learners are introduced to Vietnamese address forms, cuisine, arts, and traditional music.
U.S. students practicing Vietnamese exercises.

Positive Feedback

After three months of studying Vietnamese at the VSLC, students shared that the teaching approach is “engaging and detailed,” offering not only language knowledge but also “a broader understanding of Vietnamese culture.”

“I really enjoy the class and the teacher’s teaching style. If possible, I would like to receive more flashcards to practice vocabulary at home.”

VSLC is delighted to accompany these young Asian American students on their journey to explore Vietnam’s culture and people. We hope that their Vietnamese learning experience will become a cherished memory and help them “grow even fonder of Vietnam.”