The EDucational Anthropology of Vietnamese for early age Children in Ethnic Minority Area in Vietnam

Author: Nguyen Thi Que Loan, Nguyen Thi Ha, Le Thi Thu Huong, Vu Thi Thuy, Cao Thi Thu Hoai (University of Danang – Vietnam)
Speaker: Nguyen Thi Que Loan, Nguyen Thi Ha
Topic: Language, Community, Ethnicity
The GLOCAL CALA 2022 Poster Session

Abstract

As a multi-ethnic country, Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups, each of which has its own language. After the success of the August Revolution, Vietnamese (also known as Mandarin – the language of the Kinh ethnic group, an ethnic group accounting for 85.3% of the population in Vietnam) was chosen as the national language and used in educational institutions in Vietnam. In ethnic minority areas, due to the fragmented terrain, sparse population, and difficult traffic, the Vietnamese government has opened schools with compound classes to create favorable conditions for students from far villages and hamlets to go to school.

Preschool education is the first level of education in the national education system in Vietnam. With compound classes at preschool sites, teachers have to teach to different students from ages, perceptions, ethnic and language. So what is the reality of teaching Vietnamese to children in pre-schools in ethnic minority areas? What difficulties do teachers face in the teaching process? What is the solution to solve those difficulties? To answer these questions, we carry out this study from an anthropological perspective through two qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Keywords: Vietnamese language, Ethnic minority areas, Children, Compound class, Preschool education.