On June 26, 2025, students who volunteered for the Vietnamese Language and Culture course targeting international students were interviewed by the Faculty of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Language and Culture.

The Vietnamese Language and Culture course for international students in 2025 consists of two periods. Taiwanese students are the target participants for the first period, which begins from July 13th to July 26th. The following one is for American students and will take place from August 23rd to December 6th. Providing with the support of ULIS student volunteers, international students will take part in language classes and practical cultural activities during the entire course. Candidates were divided into 14 sessions for interviewing, thus allowing them to have direct interaction with the faculty members who teach the Vietnamese Language and Culture courses. The interview, which took place in a friendly and interactive atmosphere, were organized with a view to finding confident, proactive, and creative volunteers who would be likely to contribute to the success of the program.

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Huyền, a student from the Faculty of English Language and Culture, shared her experience following the interview, saying: “I was really anxious when I initially went in for the interview. However, I eventually acquired confidence and was able to respond to all of the questions thanks to the lecturers’ friendly and welcoming demeanor. With my background in teaching support and English fluency, I’m expecting to successfully navigate it passed the interview process and join the Vietnamese Language and Culture course as a volunteer. The chance to express my profound love for my nation to friends abroad excites me much.

Đỗ Hải Đường, a student from the Faculty of English Language and Culture, expressed the same feelings after the interview: “I felt very nervous and tense before the interview. Nonetheless, I could provide much interesting information due to the professors’ warmth and openness. I also felt at ease discussing my perception of culture, especially Vietnamese culture, with the faculty members. Besides cultivating professional skills in cultural tourism, I hope to volunteer for the program so that I can contribute to the promotion of Vietnam’s breathtaking cultural heritages”.

Following the interview, Hoàng Đức Anh, a student at the Faculty of German Language and Culture, expressed excitement: “I felt really at ease and confident following the interview. I was able to talk more about my personal experiences because the lecturers’ queries were not too difficult. I’m eager to see the outcomes and hope to be “selected” to participate in this program as a volunteer.

Over the years, the University of Languages and International Studies has organized numerous Vietnamese Language and Cultural Experience Courses for international students from countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, and others.  Up to 145 students submitted for the interview this time, which shows how motivated ULIS students are to engage in hands-on activities with peers from other countries.

Additionally, the Faculty of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Language and Culture will formally introduce a bachelor’s degree program in teaching Vietnamese as a foreign language, under the major of Vietnamese Language and Culture, beginning with the 2025 – 2026 semester. Both Vietnamese and foreign students will be able to enroll in this program. As a result, classes such as these improve extracurricular and experiential learning opportunities for not only the students in this major but also ULIS students.

Hoàng Anh/ĐSTT