News

2007.1128

Language Knowledge Becomes More and More Important for Taiwanese and Vietnamese As Their Relationship Is Getting Closer

By Sabrina Lin Campus Reporter Language comprehensive ability in both Mandarin and Vietnamese are getting more and more important as the relationship between Taiwan and Vietnam is getting closer and closer, Dean of International Affairs Chuang Kun-liang (莊坤良) said during the Vietnamese Cultural Festival at the International Lounge this noon. "Vietnamese can be a hot and popular language for Taiwanese people, too, if you are interested in working or doing business in Vietnam," Chuang said. Chuang said that more and more Taiwanese visitors would visit Vietnam while there are also more and more Taiwanese businessmen would work there as well.  Being able to speak the language will help understand and merge into local culture.  He mentioned that in Vietnam these days, a college graduate who is able to speak Mandarin would become a hot candidate for many companies to recruit for competitive positions, now that there are more and more business activities between two countries. "In Taiwan, most students would choose Japanese, French, Spanish, etc. to be their second languages in addition to English.  Why not learn Vietnamese?  This would be a brand new alternative and fresh idea for sure," Chuang said. Following Japanese culture activity last week, a group of Vietnamese students were introducing their homeland to their friends here at National Taiwan Normal University, as Vietnamese culture was the highlight of this week's international cultural activity, a weekly event which was hosted by the Office of International Affairs(OIA).  Traditional Vietnamese costumes, food, and local scenery attractions in Vietnam were presented or shown by pictures during the gathering at the lounge this noon. "People usually see us as an undeveloped country but it is not as what they think," said Tran Thi Viet Hoa (陳氏越華), a sophomore from Department of Chinese.  "I would sincerely invite them to Vietnam and experience the life there.  For those who have been to Vietnam before, I would like them to see the difference between now and what we were in the past."