Hi Annie !, I started studying Vietnamese when I was 33 just after i met my now wife. I used TH-cam, Hello Talk, real class room lessons here in Australia, and even classes with Yen online from your school. All up I studied consistently (nearly everyday) for about 4 years..but then it got to a point where i could not progress any further and came to the conclusion the only way for me to become fluent and expand my vocabulary, improve my listening & pronunciation would be to live in Vietnam and with that not happening anytime in the future I decided to cease studies, but I am OK with that and I am super proud of myself for reaching the level I am at ! , I achieved my objective which was to be able to communicate to my wife's parents and brothers and sisters whenever we visit Vietnam, and I still surprise people with my Vietnamese when the right opportunity comes my way, so I am happy, thankyou :).
Finally you are back with a video again since long time 🙏😊 i just bought your 2 beginner books and started to learn southern Vietnamese. The reason is that i meet a nice woman from Vietnam online and i went to Bao Loc City just 1 month ago. I meet her and her family/ friends, and really fall in love with the country and people🥰🇻🇳
Language is the key to understanding people. When you go outside of your own boundaries in language and culture, a whole new world emerges. Language also creates an identity in the culture as well. It's like you're saying "I get you".
Annie, I like you very much because I discovered your channel a long time ago when you were very young, with little means but with a lot of teaching, you are one of the first TH-cam channels to learn Vietnamese, and you help for free Vietnamese people abroad to learn their original language, plus you are very humble and very respectful. Thank you for all you do, and I wish you health and happiness.
Annie, I'm glad I found your podcast from the very day you started. Because you have put forth a variety of interesting and funny social, political, technical dialogs, I've learned so much more than from the books and CDs I previously purchased. Vietnamese is so challenging, and in fact easier to read and write than to hear, understand and speak. I've listened to a number of non 'bản xứ' speakers but many of them are less than fluent when involved two-way dialog. When studying a far you can only achieve a minimal level of fluency. I feel one must be in country for a number of years actively 'interacting' with native speakers to obtain even a minimal level of fluency. I owe this all to your podcasts. Thank you.
I mostly used your website and videos and a few other sources to study Vietnamese. I recently visited VN with my Vietnamese girlfriend. I was able to say a few things to her family and was able to understand some of what they were talking about. It helped a lot and made me feel more like part of the family. Thanks Annie! You’re the best teacher!
I am in category 2 Annie & am currently learning on my own right now to advance my vocabulary as well as read and write. Been watching all of your videos and appreciate all that you do!!! Your awesome:)
I'm not a heritage speaker of Vietnamese but study it because it's my husband's heritage language, which we want our child-on-the-way to have access to too. I grew up in a multilingual household (my parents' heritage languages also don't match the national languages of where they grew up too), and in addition I also went to after school lessons and weekend school lessons for my parents' heritage languages. My language schools unfortunately had a lot of child abuse issues that eventually lead to them being shut down by the time I was an adult, and I had a terrible time with them. But, I can say that I'm proficiently fluent in them and even work as a translator now! So I don't regret it, and nowadays there are so many more options for children to get formal lessons in their respective heritage languages too! The schools I went to were strict, but I visited a new school my cousin-in-law sent her children too and it was much more child friendly and many of their graduated students are proficiently fluent too! I guess what I'm trying to say is that formal lessons don't have to be a struggle if lesson planning is made more accessible for kids! Although I'm pretty sure kids will complain about extra school anyways, haha XD
I studied with Annie back in 2015 at her old office on Vo Van Tan (bike street). She was such a great teacher and I learned so much in such a short space of time. I left VN in 2016 so have forgotten a lot now, but hope to move back next year, so watching these videos to jog my memory 😂
Finally I wanted to tell you that I made an attempt to get you as my teacher about 2 years ago but was told that you were no longer available. I was sadden and took on a different teacher but I felt that she was not suitable for me. I decided to move on. However, I am still a premium subscriber. I use your videos as supplements to my current lessons. I find them to be valuable as they are based on real life scenarios. Just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for being part of my journey.
I am a category one. I heard the video. I am one of those people that initially couldn’t really speak much. Now I can speak it and read/write but I am continuing studying. Hearing this I feel sad and depressed I can’t speak Vietnamese as well as I want to. And it isn’t my fault that it just never really happened. All I wish is that people are more understanding of such circumstances and don’t give people like me shit for things out of my control. That being said I’m learning right now and it is worth it.
5:01 Hi dear, I’m a 53 years old French guy born in Paris in 1971 from Portuguese parents. I’ve been living in Vietnam since 2008. I married in 2008 with a 33 years old divorced Vietnamese woman who had a 10 years old daughter, I raised her as a father. She’s actually living in Canada after successfully passed her exams 2 years ago. 😊👍 My wife and I had twins in 2008 (1 boy and 1 girl), they’re 8 years old now. They speak Vietnamese with her mother and at school, but English with me, despite my mother tongue was French and Portuguese. 😅 They’ll learn those languages later if they want. For now, the priority is English and Vietnamese. 😊👍🇺🇸🇻🇳 Hi from Can Tho. 🤗♥️🇻🇳
Chào Anh! (Annie) Em có học tiếng Việt cho bảy mươi ngày. I purchased your books in hopes on continuing this language journey. Cảm ơn :) I fall into category 2 but with Spanish. I have coworkers that speak Vietnamese and I love vietnamese food. So one way I can pay respect to Vietnamese culture is to understand the language and hopefully pass it down
Category 4; learned how to read and write really late at 25 - fluency tends to get overlooked in terms of just how hard it was to do what I did at so old an age. Foundationally however it came down to how much I think of the environment here in America which is to say my family always hated it. A lot of kid stuff is trying to fit in and play nice but I never did. So it's trying to place yourself apart that pushed me then and later on. I'm in a position where I can read books in Vietnamese well enough to be distinguishing though it's still mostly children's books and news reports. I'm happy with where I'm at but there's pretty much nobody else like me.
Hi Annie, I’m 34yo, half French / half Vietnamese here. I think I’m between Cat 1 and 2 cause I grew up in France but with my Vietnamese mum and VN grandparents. However they didn’t raise me in VN and it is now very frustrating not being able to speak my second heritage language… They used to spoke 80% FR + 20% everyday VN but I only answered in FR. They never pushed me to answer in VN. On the other hand, they were always speaking to each other in VN so I could hear/listen to them everyday. I’m still listening when my mum speak to an auntie or uncle etc. Thus I can pick some words and understand casual things. For couple of years now, I’m very tempted to learn VN but apps only teach using the int/northern accent while my family is from the south. My mum would kill me if I answer with another accent.. I become a mum 6months ago and it feels also sad than I can’t pass this language to my baby although I can share other part of the culture such as the values, education, food etc. Just found your channel recently so maybe this is it :). It would bring so much joy to surprise my mum and talk to her in VN while she is still around and connect with the VN family which is in Saigon and scattered all around the world.
I want to start by saying that I love all of your videos. This one has to be one of the most interesting ones. Apparently this video is targeted towards those who are of Vietnamese decent but ere born or raised in a foreign country outside of Vietnam. Well, I am not one of them but am one who was married to a người Việt gốc hoa who came to America many years ago. After many years, I have decided to learn the language about three years ago. From that perspective, I guess I am in category one even though I am not Vietnamese. I am not happy to be in that category. I wished I had made the choice of learning the language many years ago so that I could have immersed myself into the my wife’s family and the Vietnamese culture better. To answer the final question, if I were to have another child, I definitely would send him or her to learn the language in a formal setting. There is a price to pay, but if the child starts young, it won’t be as steep and will be worth it. The child will most definitely appreciate it when he or she reaches adulthood at some point in life.
I liked your videos better when you didn't whisper and didn't talk so slowly. Why did you decide to change the tone & speed of your voice in your videos?
Hi Annie !, I started studying Vietnamese when I was 33 just after i met my now wife. I used TH-cam, Hello Talk, real class room lessons here in Australia, and even classes with Yen online from your school. All up I studied consistently (nearly everyday) for about 4 years..but then it got to a point where i could not progress any further and came to the conclusion the only way for me to become fluent and expand my vocabulary, improve my listening & pronunciation would be to live in Vietnam and with that not happening anytime in the future I decided to cease studies, but I am OK with that and I am super proud of myself for reaching the level I am at ! , I achieved my objective which was to be able to communicate to my wife's parents and brothers and sisters whenever we visit Vietnam, and I still surprise people with my Vietnamese when the right opportunity comes my way, so I am happy, thankyou :).
Read Vietnamese wit me
Finally you are back with a video again since long time 🙏😊 i just bought your 2 beginner books and started to learn southern Vietnamese. The reason is that i meet a nice woman from Vietnam online and i went to Bao Loc City just 1 month ago. I meet her and her family/ friends, and really fall in love with the country and people🥰🇻🇳
Language is the key to understanding people. When you go outside of your own boundaries in language and culture, a whole new world emerges. Language also creates an identity in the culture as well. It's like you're saying "I get you".
Annie, I like you very much because I discovered your channel a long time ago when you were very young, with little means but with a lot of teaching, you are one of the first TH-cam channels to learn Vietnamese, and you help for free Vietnamese people abroad to learn their original language, plus you are very humble and very respectful. Thank you for all you do, and I wish you health and happiness.
😊 read Vietnamese with me
Annie, I'm glad I found your podcast from the very day you started. Because you have put forth a variety of interesting and funny social, political, technical dialogs, I've learned so much more than from the books and CDs I previously purchased. Vietnamese is so challenging, and in fact easier to read and write than to hear, understand and speak. I've listened to a number of non 'bản xứ' speakers but many of them are less than fluent when involved two-way dialog. When studying a far you can only achieve a minimal level of fluency. I feel one must be in country for a number of years actively 'interacting' with native speakers to obtain even a minimal level of fluency. I owe this all to your podcasts. Thank you.
I mostly used your website and videos and a few other sources to study Vietnamese. I recently visited VN with my Vietnamese girlfriend. I was able to say a few things to her family and was able to understand some of what they were talking about. It helped a lot and made me feel more like part of the family. Thanks Annie! You’re the best teacher!
😊 hi, visit my channel to read Vietnamese with me
I am in category 2 Annie & am currently learning on my own right now to advance my vocabulary as well as read and write. Been watching all of your videos and appreciate all that you do!!! Your awesome:)
I'm not a heritage speaker of Vietnamese but study it because it's my husband's heritage language, which we want our child-on-the-way to have access to too. I grew up in a multilingual household (my parents' heritage languages also don't match the national languages of where they grew up too), and in addition I also went to after school lessons and weekend school lessons for my parents' heritage languages. My language schools unfortunately had a lot of child abuse issues that eventually lead to them being shut down by the time I was an adult, and I had a terrible time with them. But, I can say that I'm proficiently fluent in them and even work as a translator now! So I don't regret it, and nowadays there are so many more options for children to get formal lessons in their respective heritage languages too! The schools I went to were strict, but I visited a new school my cousin-in-law sent her children too and it was much more child friendly and many of their graduated students are proficiently fluent too! I guess what I'm trying to say is that formal lessons don't have to be a struggle if lesson planning is made more accessible for kids! Although I'm pretty sure kids will complain about extra school anyways, haha XD
I studied with Annie back in 2015 at her old office on Vo Van Tan (bike street). She was such a great teacher and I learned so much in such a short space of time. I left VN in 2016 so have forgotten a lot now, but hope to move back next year, so watching these videos to jog my memory 😂
Finally I wanted to tell you that I made an attempt to get you as my teacher about 2 years ago but was told that you were no longer available. I was sadden and took on a different teacher but I felt that she was not suitable for me. I decided to move on. However, I am still a premium subscriber. I use your videos as supplements to my current lessons. I find them to be valuable as they are based on real life scenarios. Just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for being part of my journey.
I am a category one. I heard the video. I am one of those people that initially couldn’t really speak much. Now I can speak it and read/write but I am continuing studying. Hearing this I feel sad and depressed I can’t speak Vietnamese as well as I want to. And it isn’t my fault that it just never really happened.
All I wish is that people are more understanding of such circumstances and don’t give people like me shit for things out of my control.
That being said I’m learning right now and it is worth it.
There’s nothing to be sad or depressed about! I learned English as an adult and I’m aware I will never be native-like, but it is certainly worth it.
5:01 Hi dear, I’m a 53 years old French guy born in Paris in 1971 from Portuguese parents. I’ve been living in Vietnam since 2008. I married in 2008 with a 33 years old divorced Vietnamese woman who had a 10 years old daughter, I raised her as a father. She’s actually living in Canada after successfully passed her exams 2 years ago. 😊👍
My wife and I had twins in 2008 (1 boy and 1 girl), they’re 8 years old now. They speak Vietnamese with her mother and at school, but English with me, despite my mother tongue was French and Portuguese. 😅
They’ll learn those languages later if they want. For now, the priority is English and Vietnamese. 😊👍🇺🇸🇻🇳
Hi from Can Tho. 🤗♥️🇻🇳
Annie is back! episode 2 part 5 welcome back again
Chào Anh! (Annie)
Em có học tiếng Việt cho bảy mươi ngày.
I purchased your books in hopes on continuing this language journey. Cảm ơn :)
I fall into category 2 but with Spanish. I have coworkers that speak Vietnamese and I love vietnamese food. So one way I can pay respect to Vietnamese culture is to understand the language and hopefully pass it down
I love your videos! So glad I came across them again through the TH-cam algorithm. How come you don't post as frequently anymore?
Category 4; learned how to read and write really late at 25 - fluency tends to get overlooked in terms of just how hard it was to do what I did at so old an age. Foundationally however it came down to how much I think of the environment here in America which is to say my family always hated it. A lot of kid stuff is trying to fit in and play nice but I never did. So it's trying to place yourself apart that pushed me then and later on.
I'm in a position where I can read books in Vietnamese well enough to be distinguishing though it's still mostly children's books and news reports. I'm happy with where I'm at but there's pretty much nobody else like me.
Thank you for sharing your story!
Hi Annie, I’m 34yo, half French / half Vietnamese here. I think I’m between Cat 1 and 2 cause I grew up in France but with my Vietnamese mum and VN grandparents. However they didn’t raise me in VN and it is now very frustrating not being able to speak my second heritage language… They used to spoke 80% FR + 20% everyday VN but I only answered in FR. They never pushed me to answer in VN. On the other hand, they were always speaking to each other in VN so I could hear/listen to them everyday. I’m still listening when my mum speak to an auntie or uncle etc. Thus I can pick some words and understand casual things. For couple of years now, I’m very tempted to learn VN but apps only teach using the int/northern accent while my family is from the south. My mum would kill me if I answer with another accent..
I become a mum 6months ago and it feels also sad than I can’t pass this language to my baby although I can share other part of the culture such as the values, education, food etc. Just found your channel recently so maybe this is it :). It would bring so much joy to surprise my mum and talk to her in VN while she is still around and connect with the VN family which is in Saigon and scattered all around the world.
I want to start by saying that I love all of your videos. This one has to be one of the most interesting ones. Apparently this video is targeted towards those who are of Vietnamese decent but ere born or raised in a foreign country outside of Vietnam. Well, I am not one of them but am one who was married to a người Việt gốc hoa who came to America many years ago. After many years, I have decided to learn the language about three years ago. From that perspective, I guess I am in category one even though I am not Vietnamese. I am not happy to be in that category. I wished I had made the choice of learning the language many years ago so that I could have immersed myself into the my wife’s family and the Vietnamese culture better. To answer the final question, if I were to have another child, I definitely would send him or her to learn the language in a formal setting. There is a price to pay, but if the child starts young, it won’t be as steep and will be worth it. The child will most definitely appreciate it when he or she reaches adulthood at some point in life.
My friend is Vietnamese she S she speaks
u did this Channel really serious and long time
I love you Annie 😊😊
Hosseini is one of my favorite authors all time.
dont leave us mom :(
❤
I liked your videos better when you didn't whisper and didn't talk so slowly. Why did you decide to change the tone & speed of your voice in your videos?
Thank you for your feedback. I didn’t mean to change my voice. I’ll try to speed it up next time!