Spreading love for the Vietnamese language in the hearts of young overseas Vietnamese

The program was held in person in Japan and connected online with a Vietnamese venue. Attendees included representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan; Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, President of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan; Venerable Thich Tam Tri, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, President of the Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Japan; Mr. Pham Dinh Thuong, President of the Association of Vietnamese People in Saitama, Head of the Organizing Committee; Mr. Tran Thanh Long and Mr. Pham Van Thinh, Deputy Heads of the Organizing Committee; Ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese, member of the competition's Advisory Board; Dr. Do Ngoc Van, Director of the Institute for Social Issues Research, Head of the Judging Panel; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Nam, linguistics expert, member of the Judging Panel; Ms. Le Thi Khanh Van, Guest Judge; and representatives from sponsoring organizations, partners, sponsors, and media outlets.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Pham Dinh Thuong, President of the Association of Vietnamese People in Saitama Province and Head of the Organizing Committee of the competition, emphasized that the Vietnamese language is not only a means of communication but also the source of national identity.

"For every Vietnamese person, the Vietnamese language is the mother tongue, the teachings of grandparents and parents, the memories of childhood, the soul of the nation, and an invisible but strong bond connecting every child far from home to their homeland", he said.

According to Mr. Pham Dinh Thuong, no matter where in the world one lives, studies, or works, the Vietnamese language will always be a bridge between the past, present, and future; between generations within each family; and between the Vietnamese community abroad and their homeland.

"We always keep in mind a very simple but profoundly meaningful message: 'Wherever the Vietnamese language is spoken, that is our homeland'", he affirmed.

According to the Head of the Organizing Committee, the competition was organized with the desire to preserve the national language, aiming to create an environment for overseas Vietnamese youth to practice their Vietnamese language skills and gain a deeper understanding of their national culture, history and traditions.

"The most valuable thing is that these young people have dared to raise their voices in Vietnamese to spread love for their homeland and inspire the community. They are cultural ambassadors, young people who are contributing to the continuation of the journey of preserving national identity with their love for their mother tongue," Mr. Pham Dinh Thuong shared.

A playground that spreads love for one's mother tongue

With the theme "Preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language - Proud of the culture of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups," the competition conveys the message "Wherever the Vietnamese language exists, that is our homeland", emphasizing the role of language in preserving cultural identity and strengthening the bond between generations of Vietnamese people abroad.

After more than three months since its launch, the Organizing Committee has received 54 entries from various locations across Japan.

After two preliminary and semi-final rounds, the 10 best contestants advanced to the final round with speeches revolving around love for the Vietnamese language, family traditions, memories of their homeland, national cultural identity, and the responsibility of the younger generation in preserving their mother tongue.

Each contestant has 5 minutes to present and 4 minutes to answer questions from the judging panel. The competition is judged based on content, Vietnamese language proficiency, public speaking skills, presentation style, and interpersonal skills.

More than just a competition of expressive skills, the final round also provided a space for cultural exchange with many artistic performances rich in Vietnamese identity, contributing to bringing the Vietnamese language closer to the Vietnamese community and international friends.

As trust in the government continues to strengthen, and supportive policies create opportunities for people to earn a living, the Dao people become more aware of their responsibilities, becoming an important force in protecting the border and ensuring peace in the frontier region of the Fatherland.

The Vietnamese language needs to be nurtured within each family

Sharing his thoughts at the program, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thien Nam, a linguistics expert and member of the judging panel, stated that maintaining the Vietnamese language for children born and raised abroad is always a challenging journey.

"Children should try to speak Vietnamese with their parents in all situations. Even if they speak slowly, they should persistently respond in Vietnamese instead of using their native language, because they are already very proficient in the language of the host country", he advised.

Drawing from his own family's experience in Japan, he recounted that even his son had refused to participate in community gatherings because he felt "very tired" trying to use Vietnamese.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thien Nam, when children reach the age of 7-8, their Vietnamese language skills often weaken if they lack a regular environment for using it. Therefore, parents' persistence in creating a Vietnamese-speaking environment at home is crucial for preserving their mother tongue.

Each contestant is a "little ambassador" of Vietnamese culture. Evaluating the quality of the competition, Dr. Do Ngoc Van, Director of the Institute for Social Issues Research and Head of the Judging Panel, expressed his emotion at the contestants' richly eloquent speeches.

"All 10 contestants were outstanding. The stories they told brought me back to my childhood, to beautiful memories of my hometown. The judges had a very difficult time choosing the winner", he shared.

According to Dr. Do Ngoc Van, the greatest value of the competition lies not in the rankings but in arousing national pride within the Vietnamese community in Japan.

"Each contestant is a 'little ambassador' contributing to the preservation of Vietnamese language and culture abroad. The certificates from the competition are not just achievements, but should be cherished as beautiful memories in your hearts", he emphasized.

Outstanding individuals were honored

 

At the end of the final round, the organizers awarded prizes to the contestants with outstanding performances in the two categories. In category A (for children/teenagers), the first prize went to Trinh Quynh Nhu (contestant number 164); the second prize was awarded to Doan Van Khoi (contestant number 133); and the third prize went to Kim Tra My (contestant number 117).

In Group B (for teenagers), Nguyen Pham Huyen (Contestant No. 158) My won first place; second place went to Nguyen Van Khang (Contestant No. 145); and third place was awarded to Bui Trung Dung (Contestant No. 136).

In addition, Nguyen Van Khang was awarded the Most Impressive Oratory Prize by the Jury, while Nguyen Mei received an Encouragement Prize.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Tran Thanh Long, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee, affirmed that the greatest value the competition brought did not lie in the prizes.

"The most valuable thing the competition has brought is not just the prizes, but the spread of a belief. The Vietnamese language will endure as long as we cherish and preserve it in every family, every classroom, every community activity, and in the hearts of every Vietnamese person".

He emphasized that each speech is a story about homeland, family, and roots, contributing to connecting generations of Vietnamese people in Japan and spreading love for their mother tongue within the community.

"The competition has ended, but the journey of preserving the Vietnamese language will continue. We hope that after today, each person will continue to be a catalyst for spreading love of the Vietnamese language in their families, schools, communities, and daily lives".

According to the organizers, the top-ranking contestants will continue to participate in the "Back to the Roots" program in Vietnam, with a series of activities to learn about the nation's history and culture, interact with students in the country, and attend the awards ceremony at the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site ( Nghe An ).

The activity is expected to contribute to fostering love for the homeland, nurturing national pride, and further spreading the message "Wherever the Vietnamese language is spoken, that is our homeland" to the Vietnamese community worldwide.