Vietnamese Language Program Outline
Note: All Language Courses must be taken for a letter grade, without exception. Students may not take language courses for either R-Credit or Pass/Fail.
First-Year Vietnamese I & II (VIET UN1101 & UN1102)
The goal of First-Year Vietnamese is to develop students’ foundational communicative competence in Vietnamese. The course emphasizes the integrated development of the four skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—within meaningful cultural contexts. Through communicative tasks, guided practice, and in-class dictations, students apply language skills in practical and real-world situations.
By the end of the sequence, students are expected to reach the Novice High to Intermediate Low level on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, corresponding approximately to CEFR A1–A2. At this level, students can handle simple conversations, exchange basic information, and produce short, structured texts on familiar topics.
Second-Year Vietnamese I & II (VIET UN2201 & UN2202)
Second-Year Vietnamese builds on the foundational skills developed in the first year and aims to strengthen students’ communicative abilities across all four skills. Students engage with cultural, social, and contemporary topics through compositions, dictations, discussions, and interpretive tasks. Exposure to the three major regional accents of Vietnamese (Northern, Central, and Southern) prepares students for real-world communication across different linguistic contexts.
By the end of the sequence, students are expected to perform at the Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High level (ACTFL), roughly equivalent to CEFR B1. Students can participate in sustained conversations on familiar topics, narrate and describe in multiple time frames (with emerging control), and comprehend main ideas in authentic materials.
Third-Year Vietnamese I & II (VIET UN3301 & UN3302)
Third-Year Vietnamese focuses on advancing students’ interpretive and presentational skills through authentic texts and multimedia materials, including newspapers, academic readings, and video content related to Vietnamese society and culture. Students refine their ability to analyze, synthesize, and discuss complex topics while expanding their academic and professional vocabulary.
Upon completion, students are expected to achieve the Advanced Low to Advanced Mid level (ACTFL), corresponding approximately to CEFR B2. At this level, students can narrate and describe in major time frames with greater accuracy, handle paragraph-length discourse, and comprehend extended authentic texts and spoken discourse.
Mixed Advanced Vietnamese I & II (GU4401 & GU4402)
Mixed Advanced Vietnamese is designed for students who have completed six semesters of Vietnamese or demonstrate equivalent proficiency. The course emphasizes advanced interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication skills through task-based projects, academic discussions, and engagement with literary and scholarly materials.
Students are expected to perform at the Advanced Mid to Advanced High level (ACTFL), with opportunities to approach the Superior level, roughly equivalent to CEFR B2–C1. The course prepares students for academic research, professional communication, and advanced cultural literacy suitable for post-secondary study in the humanities and social sciences.
