Vietnamese is spoken by more than 95 million people in Vietnam. It is also the native language of nearly 4 million people residing overseas; it is the sixth most-spoken language in Australia. Study of Vietnamese will put students in a unique position to enter Vietnamese-speaking environment and to gain a deep understanding of its rich culture, friendly people, and vibrant society.
Vietnamese courses at the ANU equip students not only with the language skills but also with the critical cultural understanding necessary to engage with one of the most dynamic and fastest growing economies in Asia. Choosing Vietnamese as a major can also open possibilities for students to explore numerous opportunities now available in Vietnam, to conduct research on this dynamic country, to develop ties between the two nations as well as connections with members of the Viet diaspora in Australia and around the world.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate accurate recognition and production of Vietnamese tones and various vowels and consonants.
- Use an active vocabulary of around 4,000 words and a passive vocabulary of around 6,000 words, including specialist vocabulary related to students' areas of academic interest.
- Communicate with confidence and ease on a wide range of topics, in informal and formal situations with all the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- Use relevant structures and vocabulary to express complex ideas and arguments, and to engage in academic discussion and debate.
- Use the language for daily conversations, study, academic research, internship or work in the country.
- Develop and apply critical thinking skills to understand Vietnamese culture, history and society, including traditional cultural values and gender norms, as well as contemporary cultural and social issues in today’s Vietnam.
Other Information
Students with previous “language experience or exposure” are required to take a language proficiency assessment to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level. This major cannot be taken by students who have pre-existing language competence at or above VIET2003.
Relevant past experience includes:
- Previous study of the language (both formal and informal, for example but not limited to, at school, or, home, or through online activities, etc.)
- Being exposed to the language in childhood via a family member or friend
- Travel or living in a country where the language is spoken
- The language being spoken in your home (even if you do not speak it yourself)
Students who are not sure if they need to take a proficiency assessment should seek advice from the course or language convenor.
Students who intentionally misrepresent their language proficiency level may be investigated under the Academic Misconduct Rule 2021 as having failed to comply with assessment directions and having sought unfair advantage. This may result in a penalty such as reduced grades or failure of the course.
Students are not permitted to enrol in a language course below one that they have already successfully completed, except with permission of the language and/or course convenor.
International students who are studying all or part of their program on a student visa are advised that this major is available for online study only. Under the Education Services for Overseas Student Act 2000 (ESOS Act), international students on a student visa cannot do more than 33% of their study online. International students interested in enrolling in these online courses should contact the CAP Student Centre (cap.student@anu.edu.au) for advice prior to enrolling.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
The Vietnamese Language Major consists of 48 units, which must include:
42 units from the following list of Vietnamese Language Courses:
VIET1002 Vietnamese 1
VIET1003 Vietnamese 2
VIET2002 Vietnamese 3
VIET2003 Vietnamese 4
VIET3002 Vietnamese 5
VIET3003 Vietnamese 6
ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)*
Students who receive an exemption through a Language Placement Assessment (LPA) for some of the above listed courses may choose courses from the Minimum 6 units of Associated Language Courses to complete their major. Students cannot receive an exemption through a LPA for VIET3002 and VIET3003
A minimum of 6 units from the following list of Associated Language and Research courses:
ASIA2100 Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific (L)
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)
ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)*
CHIN2019 Literary Chinese 1
CHIN2021 Literary Chinese 2
LANG3001 Translation across Languages: the translation of literary texts**
LANG3002 Translation across Languages: specialised material **
A maximum of 18 units from the following Associated Language courses:
THAI1002 Thai 1
THAI1003 Thai 2
BURM1002 Burmese 1
BURM1003 Burmese 2
*The course is offered in semester 1 and 2 each year. Students may enrol in this course code up to 4 times, under different topics of Vietnamese to be included in this major. Enrolment in this course is subject to the availability and agreement of an appropriate supervisor. It is a requirement that students confirm the approval of the potential supervisor before enrolling in the course.
**These courses must have a course topic of Vietnamese to be included in this major.
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| VIET3003 | Vietnamese 6 | 6 |
42 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA2103 | Language in Asia and the Pacific (L) | 6 |
| ASIA 3004: Semester In Asia | ||
| ASIA 3006: Prac Assign in Asia Pacific | ||
| BURM1002 | Burmese 1 | 6 |
| CHIN 3030: Classical Chinese 1 | ||
| CHIN 3031: Classical Chinese 2 | ||
| CHIN 3032: Classical Chinese_3 | ||
| CHIN 3033: Classical Chinese_4 | ||
| INDN 3004: Readings in SEA Culture | ||
| INDN 3005: Adv Readings in SEA Cult | ||
| THAI1002 | Thai 1 | 6 |
| THAI1003 | Thai 2 | 6 |
| THAI 1004: Thai 1A: In-Country | ||
| THAI2002 | Thai 3 | 6 |
| THAI2003 | Thai 4 | 6 |
| THAI3002 | Thai 5 | 6 |
| THAI 3006: Mod Thai Prose | ||
| THAI3008 | Thai 6 | 6 |
| THAI 3012: Mod Thai Prose: In-Country | ||
| VIET1002 | Vietnamese 1 | 6 |
| VIET1003 | Vietnamese 2 | 6 |
| VIET 1006: Viet 1A: In-Country | ||
| VIET 1007: Vietnamese 1B: In-Country | ||
| VIET2002 | Vietnamese 3 | 6 |
| VIET2003 | Vietnamese 4 | 6 |
| VIET3002 | Vietnamese 5 | 6 |
| VIET 3004: Vietnamese for Nationals A | ||
| VIET 3005: Vietnamese for Nationals B | ||
| VIET 3015: Vietnamese-English Translation |
