Last July, I heard that our university was going to have a 'Window to the World' program. Three months later, in October, I heard that many Vietnamese wanted to learn Korean. I wanted to know the reason why.
First, I needed to make a team. I called two people who wanted to know about teaching Korean to foreigners. One was Kim Jun-Hyoung, a mechanical-engineering major and the other was Choi Youn-Suk a chemical-engineering student. My major is Korean Language and Literature. Although our academic backgrounds were different, our interest was the same. We had first met on a course for those who wanted to teach Korean to foreigners.
Dalat University library
We contacted the research organization, wrote a paper, and took and passed the tests. We went to Vietnam in January of this year and carried out our research in four different cities: Hanoi, Danang, Dalat, and Hochiminh. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, Danang is a port, Dalat is tourism-center, and Hochiminh an industrial city. We carried out our research in eight universities, three of which were in Hano, one in Danang, one in Dalat, and three in Hochiminh. Hanoi is in the north of the country, Danang is in the central region, and Dalat and Hochiminh are in the South. Our team's research-route was Hanoi- Danang-Dalat-Hochiminh.
multimedia-room in Dalat Unversity (supported by KOICA)
When we arrived in Vietnam, the university students were preparing for their final exams so we could only meet a few of them. We had so many questions for them. First of all, we wanted to know about their life-styles. They usually got up at six o'clock in the morning and arrived at school at seven o'clock. Classes started at 7:30 a.m. and finished at 11:30 a.m. They were very diligent. Most of them lived in dormitories; six to a room. Most of them didn't smoke nor drink alcohol. They studied very hard (more than Korean students do), as graduating in Vietnam is more difficult than in Korea.
I asked one of the students, "Why are you studying Korean?" He replied, "If I graduate with a Korean major, I will get a job very easily."
These days, many Korean-run factories in China are moving to Vietnam and many Koreans want to invest to Vietnam." I asked another, "Why are you studying Korean?" He replied, "I am very interested in Korean drama, movies, and music, so I decided to learn Korean at a Korean University."
Korean-Department classroom in Hanoi unviersity
The first Korean department was established in Vietnam 12 years ago. The foreign language colleges in Danang and Dalat opened Korean departments two years ago. Teachers in these departments are from Korea and Vietnam. The Korean teachers are members of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Schools with Korean departments need Korean teachers but their salaries are very low. Consequently, Koreans don't want to work in Vietnamese Universities; perhaps the Korean government should expedite support for Korean teachers in overseas Universities. I recommend that you apply to KOICA.
Through my research I discovered that Korean has a very scientifically designed alphabet. Foreign students seem to appreciate the wonder of our language more than we do.
with a Korean teacher in Danang Unviersity
Finally, one person said to me, "I like Korean movies, but I don't like Korean." Maybe this is the reason why Koreans sometimes ignore Vietnamese. Another reason is that most Koreans think that Korea is an advanced country while Vietnam is a developing country. This is a mistaken view.
I envy Vietnam. Korea is not a unified nation but Vietnam is. Vietnam was victorious against both France and the USA. Vietnam has its own oil; Korea does not. Korea has to import its oil while Vietnam exports so many raw materials.
(Foreign Language Unviersity in Hochiminh)
Vietnamese university students have dreams but Korean students have lost their dreams. Most Korean students are merely hoping to become civil servants. When I think about this, I feel pain. Most Vietnamese university students can speak English well while many Korean students, who have studied English for more than ten years, get good scores in tests of English ability but still cannot speak fluently. This is our tragedy.
35 years ago, Korean soldiers killed so many Vietnamese. They still remember this but they have forgiven us. I hope every Korean remembers this. Before we swear at Japan, we should remember our own nation's crimes. Before we swear at the USA, we should remember our own nation's crimes.
Thank you, Yeungnam University, for giving us this chance of great learning through travel. Friends, pursue your dreams and they may come true.
