Spreading Vietnamese language and culture through the Vietnamese American lens
WVR - Professor Kieu Linh Caroline Valverde hopes that in the future, Vietnam and countries with large Vietnamese communities will provide more support for Vietnamese language classes abroad, so that overseas Vietnamese - especially the younger generation - can stay connected to their roots.
Latest
Working in different fields, two Vietnamese Americans - Professor Kieu Linh Caroline Valverde in California and entrepreneur Katherine Lam in Oregon - share a common goal of preserving the Vietnamese language and promoting a modern image of Vietnam to international friends. They hope to help Americans gain a deeper, more comprehensive, and more positive understanding of today's Vietnam.
 |
| According to Professor Kieu Linh Caroline Valverde, the Vietnamese community living in the US over many generations often desires to learn about their roots. (Photo: Vingo) |
Professor Kieu Linh, founding director of the New Vietnam Studies Initiative at the University of California, shared that having grown up in the U.S., her Vietnamese was initially very limited. It wasn't until her first visit to Vietnam in 1993 that she had the opportunity to learn Vietnamese further at a university.
She recalled that at that time, there were no Vietnamese language classes in the US, which is vastly different from today, when numerous Vietnamese language centers and technological tools are available to support teaching and learning.
As an expert in Asian American studies, Professor Kieu Linh noted that Vietnam’s rapid development and rich cultural heritage have sparked growing interest in the Vietnamese language - not only among Vietnamese Americans but also among some non-Vietnamese Americans. Particularly, the Vietnamese community living in the US over many generations often desires to learn about their roots, leading to an increasing demand for Vietnamese language education.
Professor Kieu Linh expressed hope that in the future, Vietnam and other countries with large Vietnamese communities will invest more in Vietnamese language programmes abroad, as this is a genuine need that deserves attention.
Currently, she said, very few schools in the U.S. offer well-structured Vietnamese language courses. That’s why she stresses the importance of the overseas Vietnamese community taking an active role in preserving and promoting the language.
She also hopes for greater collaboration between the diaspora, Vietnamese organizations, and the government to ensure adequate resources are allocated for this important work.
With a Ph.D. research project focusing on Vietnam and Asia, and over two decades of teaching experience at UC Davis, Professor Kieu Linh pointed out that most Vietnamese language classes in the US today are still community-organized and lack systematization. She herself is also teaching Vietnamese to her child and has realised that the learning is not as effective as expected due to the absence of a formal educational environment with structured lessons.
 |
| Children learn Vietnamese language in a class in New York. (Photo VNA) |
Throughout her two decades of teaching at UC Davis, she has continuously proposed adding Vietnamese to the university’s curriculum. Although her proposal was once approved, it was later discontinued due to lack of funding. Currently, the university requires her to independently secure funding if she wants to open a Vietnamese class.
Thirty years ago, when she was still a student, Kieu Linh together with the community and friends got funding from University of California, Berkeley for a Vietnamese language class for elementary school students. Later, she founded the New Vietnam Studies Initiative with the goal of introducing a modern, dynamic, and culturally rich Vietnam to the world.
Kieu Linh stated that after 50 years of reunification, Vietnam has undergone significant changes and rapid development. According to her, in the US and many other countries, the Vietnamese community always looks towards their homeland. Many wish to return to Vietnam for the Lunar New Year, visit relatives, or invest in business ventures. Some have lived abroad for decades—even since childhood—but still consider returning upon retirement. Many of her peers are now seriously thinking about moving back to Vietnam. The professor believes that Vietnam has many attractions for foreigners and the overseas Vietnamese, whether for living, working, or long-term tourism.
 |
| Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh and Katherine Lam (R) in Sacramento, California. (Photo: VNA) |
From a business perspective, Vietnamese American entrepreneur Katherine Lam, based in Oregon, shared that Oregon was the first US state to introduce Vietnamese language instruction in public schools—not only as a language subject but also integrated into other academic areas. This achievement reflects the persistent and meaningful contributions of the local Vietnamese community.
Katherine Lam also noted that Oregon currently has five Vietnamese American state legislators. Two years ago, these legislators successfully coordinated to secure a 2.5 million USD grant for building a community center for Vietnamese people, an important milestone in the state’s history. Additionally, the Vietnamese community in Oregon has made its mark in business, education, and healthcare.
Regarding Vietnam-US relations, the entrepreneur said that since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023, bilateral relations have made encouraging progress. Her own company has also benefited from new opportunities, which she views as a very positive sign for the Vietnamese American business community, especially on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam's national reunification.
Multimedia
Infographics Photos Videos E magazine
