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Speaking in Vietnamese with impressive ease, Valentin even exceeds the speed of many Vietnamese in conversation. Asked about his children, this son-in-law from Hanoi replied: “There are eight children” (I have eight), causing surprise before adding: “Six dogs and two cats” (six dogs and two cats). This humorous reply testifies to his excellent level of language.
This 39-year-old man nevertheless considers his Vietnamese as “normal”. “My wife says I should speak even better, because I have lived in Vietnam for 20 years, longer than in my native Romania”he confides.
Language, a surmountable challenge
Valentin is currently traveling through Vietnam. Accompanied by his wife and his dogs, this journey has lasted for about a year and a half. After 14 years in Hanoi, 5 years in Ho Chi Minh City and a year and a half traveling from North to South, he says that nothing surprises him in Vietnam anymore, apart from the daily discovery of new linguistic subtleties.
Arriving for the first time in 2004 as a scholarship student at the Diplomatic Academy (then the Academy of International Relations), he spent a year learning Vietnamese at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology. HUST) before starting his university studies.
“When I entered university, my Vietnamese was limited to basic conversations, insufficient to understand complex subjects like politics, economics or philosophy. But, over time, my language skills have improved”he says.
Valentin emphasizes that Vietnamese is relatively accessible for daily exchanges. “However, understanding Vietnamese idioms, sarcasm and jokes is a real challenge”he specifies.
He gives the example of the term “cha”who in sentences “No one wants” (no one wants) and “Who doesn’t want it?” (everyone wants) has diametrically opposed meanings. “These subtleties come over time, once you have acquired a foundation in Vietnamese, thus making learning more fluid”he shares.
Linguistically, Valentin considers that Romanian grammar is “the most complex in the world”. Today, he is fluent in three languages: Romanian, English and Vietnamese, and also understands French, Italian and Spanish.
Teaching Vietnamese
As an English teacher, Valentin explains that he uses his fluency in Vietnamese to clarify certain concepts to his students, making it easier for them to understand.
As“Vietnamese-speaking foreigner”he often surprises people with his level of language. In Ho Chi Minh City, he notices that people are less surprised by his Vietnamese than in Hanoi, but are amused by his northern accent.
“In Ho Chi Minh City, there are more foreigners who speak Vietnamese than in Hanoi, but often they only know a few simple phrases. In Hanoi, the number of foreigners who speak Vietnamese well is higher”he observes.
Valentin plans to soon open a Vietnamese class for foreigners, in addition to his English classes. As a polyglot, he believes that although many textbooks exist for teaching Vietnamese, their approach often remains “artificial”.
He aspires to teach in a natural way. According to him, certain methods seem offbeat, such as greetings “Hello. How are you ?”rarely used in everyday conversations. “This formula is rather reserved for reunions after a long absence, often with elderly people”.
He aims to make his lessons simple and intuitive, so that his students can understand a conversation between Vietnamese after their training.
Valentin visited almost all Vietnamese provinces and cities. Passionate about travel, he enjoys exploring the country that has welcomed him for more than half his life. “Vietnam is long, that’s why each province has its own characteristics, whether it’s climate, accents or gastronomy. However, one thing remains constant: the personality of the Vietnamese is cheerful, optimistic and welcoming everywhere.
When asked about his favorite dishes, he enthusiastically responds that he loves Vietnamese cuisine. “To answer this question, I should rather say the opposite. There are only two dishes that I don’t like: +tiết canh+ (mixture of pork blood and viscera chopped with herbs) and durian. The rest, I appreciate it, even the +bún đậu mắm tôm+ (rice vermicelli with fried tofu and fermented shrimp sauce)”.
Valentin also expresses his love for Vietnamese music which he finds romantic and often centered on love. “In 2004, when I arrived in Vietnam, the first songs I liked were +Hãy về đây bên anh+ (Come here with me) de Duy Manh et +Warm wind scarf+ (Warm scarf) by Khanh Phuong. Currently, I really like the singer Soobin, whom I consider to be the Bruno Mars of Vietnam”.
Regarding traffic in Vietnam, Valentin remembers his first impressions at 19: he found it “scary”due to the large number of motorcycles and reckless crossings. However, after two decades, he humorously admits: “I do the same now.”
“When you move to a new country, you have to adapt”he concludes with a smile.
Nguyen Thao – Phuong Nga/CVN
