New York

Ha Nguyen 7/16/2009

Teaching the Vietnamese Sound System at the Foreign Service Institute

Việt Nam muôn nămLong live Vietnam

Vịt muốn nằmDucks 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

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 (quốc = nước, gia = nhà), words (yêu, tôi, nước, quốc gia),

sentences (tôi yêu nước) (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 DiscussionBackground 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 DiscussionBackground Discussion

1. The Vietnamese Sound System Curriculum at FSI is comprised of 25 parts.

2. Each part introduces vowels, consonants, and tones.

Part 2: b, đ, m, n; i, ê, e & thanh ngang, thanh huyền

Piloted program of the FSI Vietnamese Sound System

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 & read it aloud

Piloted Steps in Class Piloted Steps in Class

II. ActivitiesWe have different types of activities for each lesson

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 teacher’s 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 ClassPiloted 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 ChallengesResults 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 ChallengesResults and Challenges

New York

Thank you very much!

Questions

The Vietnamese Sound System at FSI comprises of 25 parts:

Part 1: Introduction to the Viet Sound SystemPart 2: b, đ, m, n; i, ê, e & thanh ngang, thanh huyềnPart 3: c/k/q, ng/ngh, nh; u, ô, o & thanh sắc, thanh nặngPart 4: h, kh, g/gh; ư, ơ, a & thanh hỏi, thanh ngãPart 5: Getting ready for the textbookPart 6: ph, v, l, r; ia, ưa, ua & thanh huyền, thanh hỏi, thanh nặng Part 7: t, th, ch, tr/w/ (u,o) & thanh ngang, thanh ngã, thanh sắc Part 8: x, d/gi, s; /i/ (i, y) & tone combinationPart 9: ă, â; final consonants: m, n, nh, ng & tone combinationPart 10: iê, ươ, uô; final consonants: p, t, ch, c & tone combinationPart 11: Double vowelsPart 12: Triple vowels Part 13: Tone combination

Piloted program of the FSI Vietnamese Sound System

Piloted program of the FSI Vietnamese Sound System

The Vietnamese Sound System at FSI comprises of 25 parts:

Part 14: Vowels with final consonantsPart 15: Sound System Diagnostic Test 1; Phase 1 & 2 FeedbackPart 16: Consonants: T, Đ; T, TH; 2-Tone sequencesPart 17: Consonants: G, C; 3-Tone sequencesPart 18: Consonants: N, NH, NG; 4-Tone sequencesPart 19: 5 -Tone sequences Part 20: Tone combination & pausing; Common Problematic soundsPart 21: DialectsPart 22: Sound System Diagnostic Test 2; Phase 3 & 4 FeedbackPart 23: Musical language: song, karaokePart 24: Riddle and folk poetryPart 25: Pronunciation Contest – Jeopardy Game

Piloted program of the FSI Vietnamese Sound System

Piloted program of the FSI Vietnamese Sound System