Planting the seeds of the Vietnamese language in our neighboring country, Xieng Khouang.
(Baonghean.vn) -Thirty volunteers from the Student Volunteer Team of Vinh University, Nghe An Province, fulfilled their wish to spread the Vietnamese language in Xieng Khouang, Laos.
To celebrate the "Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2012" and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos (September 5, 1962 - September 5, 2012), during the 2012 summer volunteer campaign, the Vinh University Volunteer Team carried out many practical activities in Xieng Khouang.
The volunteer team consists of 30 volunteers, including 4 staff members, 18 students, and 8 Lao students studying at Vinh University. The main task of this volunteer trip is to teach Vietnamese to staff, teachers, and students; and to enhance cultural and artistic exchange activities to foster interaction and learning about Vietnamese and Lao cultures with the Lao students, aiming to cultivate and develop the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos in the new context and conditions, especially among the younger generations of both countries. In addition, they will effectively introduce and advise Lao students who wish to enroll at Vinh University.
After traveling over 400 kilometers, the team arrived in Xieng Khouang Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, to a warm and heartfelt welcome from the Xieng Khouang Provincial Youth Union and Lao students. Everyone joined in the melodies of the song "Vietnamese-Lao Love" and enthusiastically and rhythmically performed the Lam Vong dance – a traditional dance of our brotherly country, Laos.
The lecture aims to help the students better understand the Vietnamese language.
Dedicated to writing Vietnamese on Lao students' textbooks.
In Xieng Khouang, the Student Volunteer Team took over 15 classes with nearly 600 students, including 3 classes for officials, 1 class for teachers, and 11 classes of students from primary to high school. With such a large number of students of diverse ages, professions, and from various regions and ethnic groups, the volunteers were always aware of their heavy responsibility and strived to complete their tasks. With the support and assistance from the Xieng Khouang Provincial Youth Union and Phonsavan High School, the team gradually overcame their initial difficulties. Classrooms that were usually quiet during the summer months suddenly became lively with reading and singing sessions during Vietnamese language lessons.
Outside of class hours, the volunteers also teach traditional Vietnamese songs to the students. The lyrics and melodies of familiar songs like "Vietnam, My Homeland," and "As if Uncle Ho were present on the day of the great victory" resonate throughout Xieng Khouang. The radiant smiles after each lesson erase the language barrier between everyone. The image of the volunteers in their blue shirts kindly guiding and correcting the handwriting of the Lao students has become familiar to the local people. After each class, the team members gather together, treating each other like brothers and sisters. These feelings alleviate homesickness and help the members overcome difficulties. Currently, the team is facing some challenges, as some of the Lao students have returned to Vietnam.
In just one week, the Vinh University Volunteer Team's mission in Xieng Khouang Province will conclude. There are places we travel through and forget the names of, but there are places where "When we are there, it is merely a place to live - When we leave, the land suddenly becomes a part of our soul." In Xieng Khouang, each member of the team has left behind unforgettable memories and impressions: the excitement of standing on the podium to teach Vietnamese to Lao students for the first time; the solidarity, care, and support among team members; and, above all, the affection and close bond that the Lao students and people have shown towards the volunteers from our brotherly country, Vietnam.
Anh Duy - Kim Cúc
