Teaching Vietnamese to Cham people

Developing education for ethnic minorities in border areas not only contributes to improving people's knowledge and ensuring social security, but also contributes to effectively implementing the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws. In recent times, in addition to efforts to preserve the Cham people's language and writing, An Giang province in general, including Vinh Hau commune, has paid attention to and created conditions for ethnic minorities to learn Vietnamese.

Principal of Vinh Truong Primary School B, Vinh Hau Commune, Tran Van Hien shared: “With the approval of the Department of Education and Training, this is the first class of the commune organized at the school with nearly 30 Cham people studying. Understanding the difference between Cham and Vietnamese, from phonetic structure to grammar and writing system... Most of the people who participate in learning Vietnamese are elderly people, the communication environment is mainly in Cham language in the community, which also limits the opportunity to use and practice Vietnamese, leading to limited Vietnamese vocabulary and difficulties in writing and expressing... The school's board of directors is always close to and encourages the people; at the same time, reminds teachers to be patient in helping people overcome language barriers to study well".

Knowing how to read and write Vietnamese, all Cham people are happy. “After more than 4 weeks of learning Vietnamese, I understand about 80% of Vietnamese, I am very happy. Not only students like me are happy, but the whole neighborhood and teachers are also happy. I am happy and grateful for the attention of the Party and State to the Cham people in teaching them to read and write. I hope students will try to study seriously and absorb what they have learned in the best way”, said Mr. Mach Ta Res, resident of La Ma hamlet.

Ms. Phan Thi Ngoc Dung, who teaches Vietnamese to Cham people in Vinh Hau commune

Starting from June 16th until now, regularly from Monday to Friday every week at 2-4pm every day, in addition to her business time, Ms. Rori Gia, residing in La Ma hamlet, always takes the time to go to class. She said this has been her dream for many years, so even though she has a lot of family work, she still tries to arrange not to miss any class. Ms. Rori Gia shared: "Currently, I have studied for 4 weeks. Although I am not as good as those who can read, but standing in front of the board and reading a few sentences, a few words, I am very happy."

According to Ms. Phan Thi Ngoc Dung - the teacher, when coming to class, teachers and students have to get used to a language completely different from their mother tongue, so the learning process is affected. Their Vietnamese vocabulary is limited, so they absorb the lessons slowly. When the teacher lectures, teachers and students do not understand the meaning of words, so they forget quickly. Therefore, teachers always create a comfortable atmosphere, do not put pressure, encourage and motivate promptly so that people can communicate confidently. "In class, I often ask students' opinions on whether the program is taught quickly, whether the teacher speaks Vietnamese quickly, to adjust accordingly between the teacher and the student, from there, teachers and students can catch up with the program," Ms. Dung said.

Mr. Tran Van Hien informed: "The school board always creates the best conditions in terms of facilities for people to come to study; at the same time, coordinate with local authorities to propagate and mobilize illiterate Cham people to arrange time to fully attend classes." According to the plan, the program to teach Vietnamese to Cham people in Vinh Hau commune for 3 months will end at the end of September 2025.

Cham people knowing Vietnamese is not only a condition for better integration into social life, easy exchange, work and live with the Kinh community and other ethnic groups... but also a condition for people to access public services, access scientific and technical knowledge, market information, policies to support economic development, vocational training, job search... contributing to improving people's knowledge, eliminating hunger, reducing poverty, and developing the local socio-economy.

Article and photos: DANG SON

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/day-tieng-viet-cho-dong-bao-cham-a424654.html