Quote:
Originally Posted by jackbl
Vietnamese language won’t become extinct
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Don’t let kids forget their mother tongue
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Allan Edwin Hunt Living in Ho Chi Minh City for a long time, I notice there are more and more international schools opening here. This is a good sign as Vietnam is catching up with the world’s development.
Many international schools have been opened in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as in many European countries. They equip their students with specialized skills and perfect English, satisfying all strict requirements of a modern and globalized society.
However, it is unacceptable that a child who was born and brought up in Vietnam can speak English better than his or her mother tongue. If I were a Vietnamese, probably I would send my kids to an international school too but I would assure that their Vietnamese is not affected by foreign languages they learn.
There are many ways to help kids not to forget their mother tongue. For example, instead of letting kids watch movies or chat online, parents can have dinner together or play with their kids. By doing so, we can avoid a future risk: members living in the same family but treating each other like strangers. Kids cannot understand their grandfather; children cannot put their points across to their parents. Many families who used to be proud because their kids speak English fluently now have some regrets since their children do not bother to speak Vietnamese any more.
Speaking a mother tongue well not only helps kids adapt to daily life but it is also an advantage for them in the future. Vietnam is a developing country and many foreigners are coming to learn the language and do business. Why do you, who were born in Vietnam, turn back on your mother tongue?
I’ve got to know some Vietnamese-Americans who want to return to Vietnam and do business. However, they have many difficulties in life since their Vietnamese is still poor. Some admitted that they regretted having neglected their mother tongue.
Generally speaking,
I am afraid that Vietnam could become another Singapore one day where kids use English more often than Chinese (some can’t even speak their parents’ language at all). It is easy to understand that trend because English is used in schools, supermarkets and entertainment spots in Singapore. Chinese now is only used among family members.
In Vietnam, we still have time to change and let’s try not to make our kids learn too much foreign language and forget their mother tongue.
Allan Edwin Hunt (teacher, entrepreneur)