Elementary Vietnamese (Ba / Bb) provides students with a basic ability to understand, speak, read and write Vietnamese. This course features a comprehensive and systematic survey of the fundamentals of Vietnamese phonetics, spelling rules, grammar and usage of vocabulary, and gives students a basic conversational ability via an interactive and communication-oriented approach. In the second semester, texts on Vietnamese culture, ads taken from Vietnamese newspapers and magazines, and other similar materials are used to enhance students' reading skills.
Intermediate Vietnamese (120a / 120b) is a continuation of Vietnamese B. This course aims to develop speaking, reading, writing skills, and aural comprehension by introducing Vietnamese grammar and usage of vocabulary at a higher level. The topics of the texts include Vietnamese geography, history, culture, education, and customs. Audiotapes, video-clips and similar materials are used to enhance students' listening skills. The course is conducted entirely in Vietnamese, and students are expected to speak Vietnamese during all class discussions.
Advanced Vietnamese (130a / 130b) is designed for students who wish to gain proficiency in Vietnamese in speaking, aural comprehension, reading and writing. Students are introduced to more complex grammar and vocabulary, using texts on Vietnamese history, culture and customs. Discussions focus on selected short stories and poems. Audiotapes and video-clips of Hanoi TV broadcasts are used. In addition, students practice translating from English into Vietnamese short paragraphs from U.S. newspapers. The course is conducted entirely in Vietnamese.
Advanced-High Vietnamese (140a / 140b) is organized to develop near-native fluency in Vietnamese oral and written expression. Modern Vietnamese literature—including short stories, excerpts from novels, and poems—as well as idioms, proverbs and some slang expressions are used to introduce complex grammar. Discussions on Vietnamese culture and issues relating to Vietnam from the 1930s onward enhance students' verbal communication.
