New York Ha Nguyen 7/16/2009 Teaching the Vietnamese Sound System at the Foreign Service Institute

Vit Nam muôn năm Long live Vietnam Vt mun nm Ducks want to lie down.

1. How to teach the Vietnamese Sound System effectively? 2. How to create a fun class environment to inspire learning? Objectives of the Vietnamese Sound System

1. The Vietnamese language exists in a system including: vowels, consonants, tones. 2. The Vietnamese language is formed from 4 units: phonemes (b, t, v), morphemes (quc = nư c, gia = nhà), words (yêu, tôi, nư c, quc gia), sentences (tôi yêu nư c) (Dan luan ngon ngu hoc - Nguyen Thien Giap, 2007) 3. Teaching Vietnamese should progress from phonemes through sentences right at the beginning of the training. Teaching the Sound System should therefore include letters, vowels, consonants and tones in a meaningful context. After learning a certain sound of Vietnamese, teach students to remember the sound in a word or sentence not as a stand alone sound. Background Discussion

4. Use of images, pictures, sounds, games, etc… via the Smart Board or Power Point is important to make the classes more fun and address a variety of learning styles. Background Discussion

1. The Vietnamese Sound System Curriculum at FSI is comprised of 25 parts. 2. Each part introduces vowels, consonants, and tones. Part 2Part 2: b, đ, m, n; i, ê, e & thanh ngang, thanh huyn Piloted program of the FSI Vietnamese Sound System

I. Presentation Step 1: Look at each image, listen to its sound Step 2 : Look at each image, listen to its sound & repeat Step 3 : Look at each image, its definition & r ead it aloud Piloted Steps in Class

II. Activities We have different types of activities for each lessonlesson Step 4 : Objectives: RECOGNITION of letters and tones via audio and PRODUCTION Tasks: Put a check mark next to the picture corresponding to the word that you hear Pronounce the words as closely as the teachers pronunciation as you can. Step 5: Objectives: DISCRIMINATION of letters, tones, short phrases and PRODUCTION Tasks: Listen to your teacher and check the words you hear on the list provided. Produce your favorite words to your partner. Step 6: Objectives: COMMUNICATION using words students have learned. Tasks: Put words together to make meaningful phrases or sentences or mini-conversation or story. Optional activity: EXPLANATION OF GRAMMAR OR VOCABULARY if needed Piloted Steps in Class

Results: 1. Students have given great feedback on the quality of materials designed and teaching methodology. 2. Students from classes piloting the new sound system curriculum: Enjoy sound system classes more. Are clearer about the correct pronunciation they should be targeting. Note greater consistency between sound system instruction in their US and Vietnam programs. Show evidence of better pronunciation than those students from other non-piloted classes. (Further study is needed to draw firm conclusions about the difference.) Results and Challenges

Challenges: 1. Mastering teaching technology in order to teach the Sound System effectively. 2. Try new teaching methodology to innovate lesson plans and challenging students, changing habits. * If our piloted program is effective and fun, we will try to overcome all difficulties. Results and Challenges

New York Thank you very much! Questions

The Vietnamese Sound System at FSI comprises of 25 parts: Part 1Part 1: Introduction to the Viet Sound System Part 2Part 2: b, đ, m, n; i, ê, e & thanh ngang, thanh huyn Part 3Part 3: c/k/q, ng/ngh, nh; u, ô, o & thanh sc, thanh nng Part 4Part 4: h, kh, g/gh; ư, ơ, a & thanh hi, thanh ngã Part 5Part 5:Getting ready for the textbook Part 6Part 6: ph, v, l, r; ia, ưa, ua & thanh huyn, thanh hi, thanh nng Part 7Part 7:t, th, ch, tr/w/ (u,o) & thanh ngang, thanh ngã, thanh sc Part 8Part 8:x, d/gi, s; /i/ (i, y) & tone combination Part 9Part 9:ă, â; final consonants: m, n, nh, ng & tone combination Part 10Part 10:iê, ươ, uô; final consonants: p, t, ch, c & tone combination Part 11Part 11:Double vowels Part 12Part 12:Triple vowels Part 13Part 13:Tone combination Piloted program of the FSI Vietnamese Sound System

The Vietnamese Sound System at FSI comprises of 25 parts: Part 14Part 14: Vowels with final consonants Part 15Part 15: Sound System Diagnostic Test 1; Phase 1 & 2 Feedback Part 16Part 16: Consonants: T, Đ; T, TH; 2-Tone sequences Part 17Part 17: Consonants: G, C; 3-Tone sequences Part 18Part 18: Consonants: N, NH, NG; 4-Tone sequences Part 19Part 19:5 -Tone sequences Part 20Part 20:Tone combination & pausing; Common Problematic sounds Part 21Part 21:Dialects Part 22Part 22:Sound System Diagnostic Test 2; Phase 3 & 4 Feedback Part 23Part 23:Musical language: song, karaoke Part 24Part 24:Riddle and folk poetry Part 25Part 25:Pronunciation Contest – Jeopardy Game Piloted program of the FSI Vietnamese Sound System