Is Continuing Vietnamese suitable for all intermediate learners?
On the back cover of Continuing Vietnamese, it says: “specifically designed for intermediate learners who wish to achieve full fluency of the language”. Now, this seems interesting since the writer is mentioning 2 key points here: “for intermediate learners” and “to achieve full fluency”. Therefore, as I understand, this book covers multiple levels: It will help learners from intermediate Vietnamese to advanced language and finally to native-like.
Overall content:
Authors: Binh Nhu Ngo, PhD; Level(s): intermediate to native-like; Year of publication: 2015; Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Detailed explanation delivered in English. If you are a detail-oriented person or if you find it fun to compare language points, this book is made for you! For example, in English, “run” can go with both people and road. The book will explain if it’s the same in Vietnamese.
There is also a Culture note section after each lesson. I greatly appreciate that.
Regarding the topic of each lesson. I’m pleased to see that the transition is smooth like baby’s skin. First lesson is Travel & Geography, second lesson is Housing , third is Education, etc… Have you noticed the flow? Plan your travel first, then get to Vietnam. Finding a place to stay could be your next step…
Exercise wise, it’s wonderful that Continuing Vietnamese includes corresponding exercises to grammar/ word usage points. SEPARATEDLY, the difficulties level of these exercises here are moderate and suitable. Unfortunately, the author has decided not to include the correction. That will hinder people who buy the book for self-study.
Biggest cons:
Language points (grammar and word use) Ironically, although the exercises and explanation themselves are great, multiple detailed language points JAMMING in one lesson is another reason that makes me doubt the appropriateness for the intermediate level. Later lessons don’t reinforce “old knowledge” from previous lesson either. Please, don’t misunderstand me, I love love love how detail the explanation is. However, jamming more than ten word usages and grammars in one topic could overwhelm the learners. One might argues that we can divide the points and teach them in separate lessons. Yes, that’s what I’m doing. If your teacher is also doing that, do aware that we are doing extra work to fill in and rearrange the flow of materials.
While the grammar and word usage exercises are nice, the reading practice is too difficult for “normal” intermediate. Reading exercises from the book contain words and jargons that even native Vietnamese rarely use. Additionally, the length of the reading exercises could also creates mental strain. Right from the first lessons, the texts are more than a page long. It doesn’t help when the number of new words proportionally increases with how long the article is.
Solution:
Frankly speaking, many of the things I mentioned above can be solved by retargeting learners. From my experience, an “intermediate learner” is someone who can ask and answer basic straightforward questions in survival context. Continuing Vietnamese has gone passed that. Although the topics covered seem necessary in everyday life, the linguist points discussed are much more difficult and trivial.
Verdict:
Great book for ADVANCED students and up, someone who can do autonomous learning. Not for “normal” intermediate level. Note: All images are taken from e-commerce sites: Amazon, Tuttle Publishing.
