How to Improve Your Vietnamese Language Skills?

Whether you are planning to learn the Vietnamese language to work and live in Vietnam or you want to master the language and become a translator in the near future, the 8 tips we mention in this post will surely help you improve your Vietnamese significantly.

#1. Do Some Research Beforehand

Before you decide whether to invest time and money into learning the Vietnamese language, you should do proper research on the language and Vietnamese culture. Having an overview of the language helps you see clearly what challenges you will face when learning it or how long it will take you to master the language. Such information plays an important role in reducing your chance of quitting midway.

If you wish to know more about Vietnamese, check out our useful tips.

It is also crucial to define your purpose for learning the Vietnamese language. Do you learn it for education and career purposes or because of your love for this country?

#2. Learn the Right Words at the Very Beginning

A common mistake that many learners make while learning Vietnamese is to focus too much on grammar or vocabulary while ignoring pronunciation. As an obvious result, they can read and write in Vietnamese but lack the ability to make a proper conversation in this language. They either pronounce words incorrectly, making it hard for others to guess what they are trying to say or have no courage to speak in the Vietnamese language at all.

So make sure to allocate time evenly for all four core skills – listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

#3. Make the Most of Free Learning Resources

Learning the Vietnamese language in classrooms is not an ideal solution for many busy people, especially when they compare the time, effort, and money they pay with the knowledge they gain from these language courses. To put it simpler, they consider it a poor return investment.

If you are also a busy bee who can’t commit to going to classrooms on a regular basis, there are still various ways you can do to improve your Vietnamese language skills. And most of them are free.

You can try out some free apps to learn the Vietnamese language. Here are some of our suggestions:

• Ling App is suitable for beginners who want to learn Northern Vietnamese.
• Duolingual works better if you have already some basic knowledge of the Vietnamese language.
• Lingo Deer has a flashcard feature that you can use to review your Vietnamese vocabulary.

Another free learning resource you should not miss is Youtube. There are many quality channels that teach you Vietnamese on this platform. You can check out Tieng Viet Oi – Vietnamese Lessons and Learn Vietnamese With Annie.

We also recommend you join Vietnamese learning groups on social media (especially Facebook) where you can discuss any issues you have while learning this language and sometimes, get free learning materials and tips from other learners.

#4. Start Thinking in the Vietnamese Language

Most beginners create a sentence in their native language and then translate each word into Vietnamese. This process takes a lot of time and thus, it is impossible for you to have a smooth conversation with others in Vietnamese.

We all talk to ourselves and have monologues going through our heads in our native language. Now, instead of your native language, you should start thinking in Vietnamese. It is hard at first, but it can definitely boost your language reflex in a short period of time.

#5. Practice, Practice, and Practice

The basic rule of learning any language is to interact with it on a regular basis. Vietnamese is no exception. If you want to master the Vietnamese language, which is considered one of the most challenging languages to learn in the world, there is no shortcut. You need daily practice.

It is best to learn the language from Vietnamese people. So if you have a chance to visit Vietnam in person and learn, it’s the most ideal scenario. Of course, this method is costly and not everyone can afford it.

Still, it is not an excuse for you to stop the regular practice. You can simply find a learning partner for practice or do the practice yourself.

#6. Set a Goal

Setting an ambiguous goal will not take you anywhere. Instead of saying ‘I will learn Vietnamese and speak it fluently’, you should make a more detailed and measurable goal.

When do you expect to achieve your goal? and how do you know if you achieve it? Try to answer these two questions before you start learning the Vietnamese language.

This goal will give you the motivation to continue learning the Vietnamese language when you feel like quitting.

#7. Have Fun While Learning

Learning does not have to be boring and stressful. And it does not always require you to sit down, write, and learn by heart new words. You can learn while watching a movie on Netflix. Many great Vietnamese movies and TV series are available on Netflix with Vietnamese subtitles.

Through movies, you can get familiar with how Vietnamese people use words and vocabulary in daily life as well as learn the Vietnamese culture. This passive learning method will help you speak like a native.

#8. Learn One Language at a Time

If your goal is to become a polyglot and you are rushing it by learning two or three languages at the same time, you should reconsider your strategy. Sometimes slowing down is a faster way to success.

We suggest you begin with one language first. Once you have a good ground in this language, you can continue sharpening your skills for it while learning a new one.

To Wrap Up

Learning a new language is never an easy task. However, with proper learning methods and motivation, you can master any language you love, including the Vietnamese language.

If you are interested in learning more about Asian languages, don’t miss our free 53 pages of insightful language and culture tips for 10 Asian languages. Download it for free here.