VHC Vietnamese Language School

Both my 10-​year-​old son and I have studied Vietnamese for more than 5 years at the VHC Vietnamese Language School in New York City and I have always been impressed with the quality of the teachers and the course offerings. The children’s class introduces the Vietnamese language and culture via songs, games and in-​class and homework exercises. The teachers are excellent role models for my son and I admire the way they convey the language and traditions of Vietnam in ways that engage him. As for my adult class, this is a school for the motivated student who can commit some time every day to practice and homework. Classes use a textbook or handouts or both depending on the class and teacher. My teachers have been accessible, encouraging and very patient during my struggle to learn Vietnamese and for this alone I give the school high marks.

This is quite possibly the only Vietnamese language center available in all of New York City. I think there are some language programs offered at the local Vietnamese churches and Buddhist temples for their members but the VHC Vietnamese Language School is open to the general public.
Classes are offered on Saturday afternoons or Monday nights. Classes are divided into either children or adult. We meet once a week. I enrolled for two semesters, starting with the beginner’s class and ending with the advance level. As a native speaker, I never knew how to officially read and write. Taking the VHC classes allowed me to learn the basics of reading and writing Vietnamese. I also learned about the Vietnamese culture and met some fellow classmates who are now my really good friends.
I highly recommend taking the classes to either brush up on what you already know or start from scratch. The teachers will work with you to ensure you meet your learning objectives.

The NY Vietnamese School is the first and only school in the New York City area of its kind, promoting the Vietnamese language, culture, and community. People who are able to come here are likely to get a good dose of the language and have an opportunity to meet a lot of new faces from all walks of life.
Tuition was only $ 50 when it first opened, but now is currently at $ 100 a term for adults and $ 75 for kids. For NYC and all academic institutional standards, that is still considered quite the bargain. The teachers will vary each term as most of them are teaching on a volunteer basis, but all are native speakers usually from Vietnam.
The classes are segmented into different levels separated by age groups. There are 3 levels for Adults (I, II, III) and one for children. Class materials are minimal, mostly it boils down to class participation and a lot of hands on learning.
The Vietnamese language can be a difficult one to master. Though New York is not crawling with a large Vietnamese community like Houston, TX /​Orange County /​Portland, OR, there is always a need to learn specialty languages that may become useful down the road. And here at the Chinatown YMCA, the Vietnamese language journey can begin.