Vietnamese Language Program

Welcome to the Vietnamese Language Program at Columbia University.

Vietnamese is spoken by more than 96 million people in Vietnam and by vibrant diaspora communities across the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia. In the United States alone, over 1.5 million people identify as Vietnamese or Vietnamese American, including a growing community in the New York metropolitan area. Historically and culturally, Vietnam has long served as a dynamic crossroads connecting East and Southeast Asia. Today, Vietnam continues to play an increasingly important global role as a member of ASEAN and one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia.

Established in Fall 2018, the Vietnamese Language Program at Columbia provides students with a comprehensive pathway to develop linguistic proficiency alongside cultural and historical literacy. The program is directed by Nguyễn Phương Chung, whose professional background includes university-level instruction in Vietnam and intensive diplomatic language training at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi following Foreign Service Institute (FSI) standards.

The Vietnamese Language Program adopts a communicative, proficiency-oriented approach grounded in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, with performance outcomes aligned broadly with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Instruction integrates interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication through task-based learning, authentic materials, and real-world language use. Students develop proficiency across listening, speaking, reading, and writing while gaining familiarity with regional linguistic variation and contemporary Vietnamese society.

We currently offer First Year Vietnamese I & II (no experience necessary), Second Year Vietnamese I & II (placement exam required), Third Year Vietnamese I & II (placement exam required) and Mixed Advanced Vietnamese I & II (placement exam required). The program supports learners at multiple entry points, including beginners, heritage learners, and advanced students conducting research using Vietnamese-language primary sources.

The Vietnamese Language Program collaborates closely with Columbia’s Vietnamese Studies initiatives, co-founded by Professor Liên-Hằng T. Nguyễn (History) and Professor John Phan (EALAC). Columbia is now one of the only institutions to offer a unified graduate program on Vietnamese history, culture, and literary criticism, from premodern to contemporary times.

Beyond the classroom, the program enriches Columbia’s academic community through conversation tables, cultural events, guest lectures, collaboration with student organizations, community outreach, and professional development workshops for Vietnamese language educators.

The program’s long-term goal is to strengthen Columbia’s position as a leading center for Vietnamese language instruction and Vietnamese Studies, serving undergraduate students, heritage learners, and graduate researchers alike.

For more information about the Vietnamese Language Program, please contact Nguyễn Phương Chung — cn2496@columbia.edu.

For information about Vietnamese Studies at Columbia University, please contact Professor John Phan — john.phan@columbia.edu.