In Östergötland, Sweden, Ms. Sally Luu (Nguyen Thi Luu) spent 8 years instructing Vietnamese to the younger era of Vietnamese descent, with the need to handle her hometown’s language and tradition. Within the comfortable house of a small school room, her love and perseverance assist attach youngsters born in a long way away lands with their Vietnamese roots.
Adventure to unfold the fireplace of affection in Vietnamese
On a cold autumn afternoon within the town of Linköping, Östergötland area, a gradual wind blew via the study room window at Elsa Brandstrom Heart College. Within the quiet house, Ms. Sally’s voice rang out heat, delicate however decisive. Round her have been younger other folks of Vietnamese beginning, focusing on every lecture, seeking to pronounce every Vietnamese phrase as it should be.
“Yet another time, “reminiscence”!”, she gently corrected when a boy combined up the “n” and “m” sounds. Ms. Sally patiently defined: “Take into account,” “anniversary” is once we consider an important day, we will have to emphasize the right kind sounds to put across the which means.
The timid voices rang out, despite the fact that no longer best possible, however sufficient to make her smile. It is a small second within the 8-year adventure filled with efforts that Ms. Sally has constantly pursued. For Ms. Sally, this magnificence isn’t just a spot to show language, but additionally a spot to sow the seeds of affection and satisfaction in Vietnamese roots. Colourful little tales from house are at all times a bridge to assist youngsters simply soak up and really feel extra deeply the worth of Vietnamese.
Scholars in Ms. Luu Sally’s Vietnamese magnificence.
8 years in the past, whilst managing a Vietnamese eating place in Sweden, Sally discovered the significance of retaining language and tradition for the younger era of Vietnamese descent. Even supposing her industry is busy, she remains to be decided to open a Vietnamese language magnificence for Vietnamese youngsters in Östergötland. “Vietnamese is the one connection between youngsters and their roots. If we let it pass, we will be able to lose greater than the language,” she shared.
In Sweden, youngsters have the best to review their mom tongue for 30 to 60 mins on a daily basis after common faculty hours. This allows youngsters to handle language talents and cultural engagement. With improve from Mr. Le Son Ha, President of the Federation of Vietnamese Associations in Sweden, Ms. Sally opened a category at Elsa Brandstrom Heart College, the place the upkeep of the mummy tongue is inspired.
Instructing Vietnamese to youngsters born and raised in Sweden isn’t simple. Vietnamese, with its six tones and complicated syllables, is a problem for college students who’re acquainted with the local language. Many youngsters can simplest talk easy sentences, hesitantly, and no longer fluently. However for Ms. Sally, no development is small: “It is very touching to listen to the kids step by step talk every Vietnamese sound extra obviously, despite the fact that they’re tough appears like heavy accents or tildes.”
Now not simplest does she train Vietnamese, she additionally encourages youngsters to be proud in their origins. “Even supposing you talk Swedish and get dressed like Swedish other folks, your faces, names and favourite meals are at all times distinctly Vietnamese. Be proud and use Vietnamese regularly, as a result of it’s our soul.” Her scholars regularly say “Hi” as a substitute of “Hej” when assembly her, and that on my own is a brilliant supply of motivation for her to proceed her adventure.
To make magnificence time extra full of life, Ms. Sally combines era and trendy instructing fabrics. For youngsters, she makes use of Vietnamese youngsters’s songs and documentaries in regards to the Lunar New Yr and Mid-Autumn Pageant. To older youngsters, she introduces Vietnamese historical past, folks songs, proverbs or even the humanities of Cheo, Cai Luong or conventional musical tools. She unearths instructing strategies appropriate for the kids’s age and degree, and carefully follows the kids’s curriculum in class to each be informed wisdom and follow Vietnamese.
Step ahead at the adventure to retaining Vietnamese language
Now not simplest extremely liked by way of the Vietnamese group in Sweden, Ms. Sally’s magnificence additionally gained robust improve from the Board of Administrators of Elsa Brandstrom Heart College.
Ms. Luu Sally stocks in regards to the magnificence.
Ms. Sabina Carlsson, Vice Foremost of the college, mentioned: “We’re mindful that studying the language or “mom tongue” of overseas scholars in Sweden basically or of Vietnamese youngsters specifically is tricky. is essential. At Elsa Brandstrom College, there are lately categories instructing about 15 local languages for college students. This may assist them combine into the college surroundings and have the ability to get right of entry to every matter degree in Sweden briefly. The varsity at all times creates prerequisites for college students to have time to be told Vietnamese in class. That also is the explanation why Ms. Luu opens categories and helps instructing Vietnamese on the faculty Elsa Brandstrom”.
Instructor Sally Luu Nguyen was once born in 1975, settled in Sweden since 2000. She began instructing Vietnamese in 2016. Her magnificence lately has 33 scholars from basic faculty to school. Scholars learn about Vietnamese with the similar period and program as different topics. The varsity supplies textbooks, studying fabrics and a certificates upon final touch of this system.
In September 2024, Ms. Vu Thi Huynh Mai, Chairwoman of the Committee for In another country Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh Town, visited a Vietnamese magnificence in Linköping. She could not assist however be moved by way of Ms. Sally’s enthusiasm and the scholars’ unremitting efforts.
All through the assembly, a scholar expressed his need to have Vietnamese books and follow writing O ly like scholars in his house nation of Vietnam. This can be a easy however profound want, expressing the need to hook up with their hometown, even if they are living part an international away.
Mrs. Mai mentioned: “Vietnamese remains to be an ethnic crew. Regardless of the place you pass, you’re nonetheless Vietnamese, so you wish to have to maintain your Vietnamese language, be informed and perceive the Vietnamese roots later.” That particular person can be informed the language of the host nation (Sweden) or different languages.
Ms. Sally’s tale does no longer forestall at language magnificence. This can be a chronic adventure with trust within the worth of language and tradition. Her magnificence has transform a logo of efforts to maintain Vietnamese tradition within the Vietnamese group in Sweden. Her perseverance no longer simplest is helping the more youthful era be informed the language, but additionally builds a robust bridge along with her hometown.