Danang University of Education

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Strengthened Vietnam-Laos friendship at UD-UED

Bringing dreams and ambitions of the bright future, Lao students studying at the University of Danang - University of Science and Education (UD-UED) have overcome culture and language barriers, confidently integrated into and adapted to a new environment. In the journey of acquiring knowledge, Lao students have always received the sharing and kind help from lecturers and students of UD-UED.
Vietnamese and Lao students in the Vietnam – Laos Culture Festival
Supporting each other in communication
Thammavong Bouakhai (born in 1984) currently a student majoring in Theory and Methodology of Teaching Physics, UD-UED said that she had faced obstacles in managing and adapting to a completely new living and learning environment when coming to a "foreign land" for the first time.  “My Vietnamese is still limited, so I have many difficulties in listening and pronunciation. Teachers in Laos teach Vietnamese with a northern accent, while teachers in Da Nang teach with a central region accent. The difference in accents between the two regions unintentionally created a barrier in learning a new language for me”, Bouakhai shared.
Coming to Vietnam at the right time when Da Nang city was implementing strict social distancing because of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Thammavong Bouakhai could not go out to exchange and chat with native speakers to improve her communication skills. Therefore, before the classes took place, she directly got the content of the lecture, documents, etc. from the teachers for reference and research. This way enabled Bouakhai to absorb knowledge easily and master the lessons faster and more effectively in class.
Carrying a dream of becoming a teacher to give knowledge and care to children, Inthachak Vanida (born in 1999), a student majoring in primary eduation shared: "At first, I did not understand Vietnamese, was afraid to speak and was afraid that other people would be bothered talking to me". But fortunately, during her studying, she always received enthusiastic help from Vietnamese students and teachers. Her Vietnamese listening and speaking skills were gradually improved. In addition to that, in group discussions, Lao students received support from Vietnamese students in implementing ideas, exchanging and exploiting information, giving opinions, presenting contents…
Xeo Van Hong, a member of the Dormitory Self-Management Team, said: “I always actively texted and asked Lao friends about their study and activities at the university. I showed them how to say some basic communication sentences, traditional customs... to enable them to understand the culture and lifestyle of the Vietnamese people. In addition, I organized exchange and chat activities to create solidarity and a good relationship with Lao students”. According to Hong, in the new academic year, the team supported the work of welcoming new Lao students to the dormitory. We helped the arrange the rooms, creating favorable conditions for them to live and study comfortably.
Anousit Vannaphone, Chairman of the Lao Students' Union at UD-UED said that new Lao students coming to Da Nang to study always received support from Vietnamese students. After a while, the Laotian students gradually became confident and integrated into their new life. “I always encourage them to speak more, find a Vietnamese friend to chat with to help them improve their Vietnamese speaking skills," Anousit Vannaphone shared.
Cultural exchange for strong connection
In the spirit of friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, UD-UED always creates a playground with meaningful programs and activities for Lao students. In the atmosphere of welcoming the New Year of Tiger 2022, the university organized an activity to cook banh chung, banh tet for Lao students and Vietnamese students to celebrate Tet away from home at the dormitory. "The most memorable memory is that Lao-Vietnamese students participated in the traditional festival of water splashing held in 2021", Vannaphone shared. In particular, at the Vietnam - Laos Culture Festival on the occasion of the Bunpimay -Laos’ Traditional New Year and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Laos relations (1962 - 2022) taking place in early April, Vietnamese - Lao students participated in cultural activities, folk games,...
Moreover, the close relationship between Vietnamese and Lao students is also shown through sharing in difficult times. During the time of social distancing, Laotian students isolated in the dormitory were promptly encouraged and received help from Vietnamese teachers and friends.
MA.Huynh Bong, Deputy Head of Department of Student Affairs, UD-UED said that at the time of social distancing, the university's leaders and the dormitory management board mobilized all resources to support Laotian students staying in Vietnam and at the same time, strongly appealed to sponsors and benefactors to raise a fund of more than 100 million VND to support them. In addition, during the time of Lao students’ studying at the university, the Youth Union coordinated with the dormitory management board to create conditions for them to communicate and make friends with Vietnamese students, helping them to enhance Vietnamese skills.
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