Learning a new language can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Vietnamese is a tonal language, which means that the meaning of words changes based on how they are pronounced. For example, depending on the tone, “ma” can mean mother or horse. This makes it hard to learn Vietnamese for native speakers who don’t speak any other languages with a tonal system.
People often ask me if it’s hard to learn Vietnamese. It can be difficult, but I think it’s worth the effort for its beauty and usefulness in our world today! In fact, it has over 100 million native Vietnamese speakers spread across both Vietnam and Cambodia. You can hear it spoken on TV broadcasts, radio stations, and children’s programming in other countries too! Learning the language will help you visit Vietnam and talk to the locals with ease.
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5 Reasons to Learn Vietnamese
It’s a challenging language
Vietnamese is a tonal language, which means that the meaning of a word can change depending on how it is pronounced. It also has a complex writing system that uses a combination of Latin and Chinese characters. For these reasons, Vietnamese can be challenging to learn. However, the challenge can also be part of the appeal. Learning Vietnamese can give you a sense of accomplishment and pride.
It can help you connect with your heritage
If you have ancestors who came from Vietnam, learning the language can help you connect with your heritage. It can also allow you to better understand the experiences of your ancestors and the culture they came from.
It can help you connect with the Vietnamese community
There are over 4 million people of Vietnamese descent living in the United States. If you learn Vietnamese, you’ll be able to connect with this community and learn more about their culture. Additionally, there are many Vietnamese-American businesses, organizations, and cultural events that you can participate in if you know the language.
It can help you travel to Vietnam
If you’re interested in traveling to Vietnam, learning Vietnamese will obviously be very helpful. Knowing the language will allow you to better communicate with locals and make the most of your trip. You’ll be able to visit places that most tourists don’t get to see and have authentic experiences that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
It’s just plain fun!
Last but not least, learning Vietnamese can simply be enjoyable. There’s no denying that it’s a unique and interesting language, and studying it can be a fun way to challenge yourself mentally. Additionally, as you become more proficient in Vietnamese, you’ll be able to enjoy movies, music, books, and other forms of entertainment that are in Vietnamese
6 Best Websites to Learn Vietnamese
There are a plethora of websites available to help you learn the language. Here are the top websites that are sure to help you become fluent in Vietnamese.
Pimsleur
The Pimsleur is an easy way to learn Vietnamese without having to worry about downloading anything extra onto your computer or device. It offers 30-minute audio lessons that focus on speaking and understanding conversational phrases in context rather than memorizing abstract words and phrases out of context.
Plus, if you’re looking for something more hands-on rather than hearing what someone else says, Pimsleur also offers reading lessons. Whether you’re in the car or at home, you won’t be limited by location either – their mobile app for iOS/Android and web-based app for Mac/Windows lets you take your lessons with you so that you can practice anytime and from anywhere.
There’s even an option to install Pimsleur on multiple devices so it’s easy to share the experience with family members or roommates!
Duolingo
Duolingo is a free platform that makes it easy to learn languages. It teaches you vocabulary, phrases, sentence structure, and grammar through games.
One of its most unique features is the ability to translate text from one language into another in real time! It’s free and is really easy to use, with a lot of different learning methods that will fit anyone’s needs. You can also have it installed in your browser if you don’t want an app on.
VietnamesePod101
If you’re looking for a supplemental course to accompany Duolingo, then VietnamesePod101 just may be a perfect choice. In my opinion, it’s one of the best audio courses out there – offering beginners an effective way to get familiar with the pronunciation of Vietnamese. Plus, the wide range of content means you can learn about a lot of different topics without getting bored.
Perhaps one of the best aspects of this course is that it adopts a casual podcast format which makes learning very engaging and fun – and keeps learners motivated too! But while I like that they focus on audio-based learning materials, they also should include some written components as well. Additionally, there’s quite a bit of English sprinkled in at lower levels which some learners might find disheartening or discouraging.
Although the emails are informative, it would be nice if they could limit them as members tend to get inundated with promos. But all in all, VietnamesePod101 is a great supplement for having great conversations with locals!
That being said, sometimes even native speakers can find themselves boxed in by this audio-only intro perspective so I usually recommend people check out other resources on top of VietnamesePod101 for getting into actual conversations.
This is especially true when you want to go beyond high-level concepts and move into exploring any culture more deeply or understanding grammatical nuances within conversations that don’t always come through in listening-only exercises. If you comply with both methods, I believe your language skills will skyrocket quickly!
Live Lingua
When it comes to learning a difficult language like Vietnamese, few organizations are as reliable as Live Lingua. This renowned platform boasts a wide range of teaching materials and resources that help break down the language barriers between Vietnamese and other languages spoken in Western countries.
The platforms offer 6 specialized courses tailored for the driven learner. Some of their language learning include guidebooks, audio, and materials to enhance your beginner Vietnamese experience. Best of all, since the teachings are offered online, you can learn from the comfort of your own home or device anytime.
If you’ve been wanting to expand your cultural abilities with a new language like Vietnamese, don’t hesitate any longer: Live Lingua makes it easier than ever before!
Glossika
Introducing Glossika, the smart app that teaches you a language from scratch in just 6-8 months. Created and developed by linguists who speak fluently in over 50 languages, this revolutionary product is designed to train your brain to pick up new languages quickly with fun memory exercises called speed drills.
Unlike ordinary online programs, our customizable software provides only active learning so you are actively sent words and phrases of relevance for your level without wasting time on irrelevant information.
Your Vietnamese
No matter your level of Vietnamese proficiency, finding helpful resources in the language can be a difficult and overwhelming task. That’s why I am proud to introduce my new free resource for adults learning Vietnamese.
The site contains all kinds of materials – from detailed guides on language basics like grammar and pronunciation to useful lessons that can teach you how to construct sentences and even speak real-life conversations.
One great feature of the website is its content library which continually adds new topics such as literature, cultural aspects, popular phrases, and so much more. Of course, if there are any topics you don’t see covered here that you would like help with learning, you can contact the author.
