Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese language class at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), introduced just in 2022, has already attracted nearly 100 foreign students, mainly Bruneians, under the instruction of Dr. Tran Trong Nghia.
The class is now offered free of charge and has received enthusiastic support from the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei.
Nghia expressed his desire for the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei and UBD to collaborate on practical activities to support Vietnamese language teaching, such as creating a Vietnamese cultural corner, providing scholarships for foreign students to visit Vietnam for hands-on experience, or offering short-term courses to immerse themselves in Vietnamese culture and language.
His journey to teaching Vietnamese in Brunei began with an email from the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies at UBD seeking a Vietnamese language lecturer. After a rigorous six-month interview process, Nghia was selected. Driven by his passion to spread the Vietnamese language, he has continuously created opportunities for students to practice through thematic activities.
According to UBD's regulations, every four hours of classroom instruction should be accompanied by four hours of extracurricular activities. However, Nghia's class is primarily conducted through these extracurricular activities, leading to a surge in enrollment and enthusiasm among students.
Hailing from the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Nghia takes great delight in the progress made by his foreign students as they navigate the challenges of learning Vietnamese, one of the world's most difficult languages.
UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr. Hazri bin Haji Kifle noted that since January 2022, UBD has enrolled students in six different levels of Vietnamese language courses. Currently, nearly 100 students are enrolled, with excellent academic performance. The demand for Vietnamese language learning extends beyond students, with many working professionals in Brunei also eager to learn. In response, the university is expanding its offerings by introducing additional online Vietnamese language courses./.
