Vietnamese

Rationale and Aims

Rationale

Communication is a human imperative. Communication in Vietnamese involves interaction to convey meaning, as well as imagination, creativity and a broad understanding of ourselves and others. Language learning provides the opportunity for students to engage with the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world and its peoples, and to reflect on their experience in various aspects of social life, including their own participation and ways of being in the world.

Learning Vietnamese broadens students’ horizons in relation to the personal, social, cultural and employment opportunities that an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world can offer. The interdependence of countries and communities means people in all spheres of life are required to negotiate experiences and meanings across languages and cultures. A capability solely in English, despite its status as a world language, can limit global opportunities. A bilingual or plurilingual capability is the norm in many parts of the world.

Learning Vietnamese develops learners’:

• communication skills
• literacy skills in their first and additional languages
• intercultural capabilities
• understanding of, and respect for, diversity and difference, and openness to different experiences and perspectives
• understanding and appreciation of how culture shapes worldviews, and extends their understanding of themselves, and their own heritage, values, culture and identity
• critical and creative thinking.

Modern Standard Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam, where it is spoken by approximately 90 million people. There are also more than 4 million Vietnamese speakers living in other countries around the world, such as Cambodia, the United States and Australia.

Vietnamese has been taught in some Victorian schools and universities since the 1980s. Vietnamese speakers have made significant contributions in shaping multicultural Australia. The influence of Vietnamese-speaking communities is evident in areas such as agriculture, cuisine, fashion, science, philosophy, commerce and tourism.

Learning Vietnamese provides opportunities for students to engage socially, culturally and economically in many domains, such as business, trade, science, law, education, tourism, diplomacy, international relations, health and communications.

Aims

The 4 interrelated aims of the Vietnamese curriculum are to develop knowledge, understanding and skills to ensure students:

• communicate in Vietnamese
• understand the relationship between language and culture
• develop intercultural capabilities
• understand themselves as communicators.