Curriculum CET's Vietnam Immersion carefully balances Vietnamese language, Vietnamese Studies courses and service learning opportunities. It also emphasizes students' individual needs by offering course choices and independent study.During the fall and spring semesters, CET's Vietnam Immersion is a fifteen-week program based in Ho Chi Minh City and includes a seven-day study tour to north and central Vietnam. Throughout the program, students study Vietnamese language and undertake a required seminar that surveys
contemporary Vietnam, a required independent study project or service learning placement, and one
other core Vietnamese Studies class. Past elective classes offered include: Environmental Sustainability in Vietnam, Modern Vietnamese History, Economic
Development in Vietnam, The War with America, and Vietnamese Literature. All of the special
topic courses are taught in English by American or Vietnamese faculty.
Introduction to Vietnamese Studies: A Survey CourseThis seminar is an introduction to the broad field of Vietnamese studies. It
will provide students a holistic understanding of Vietnam which includes:
history, literature, economics, philosophy, and more! Led by the CET Vietnam
Program Director, this course uses a unique format which engages foreign and
local experts. Readings from a variety of disciplines, lectures by both the
Program Director and guest speakers, and frequent discussions inspire students
to evaluate their experiences in Vietnam using a multi-faceted approach. Taught
in English. 3 hours/week.
Hours: 3 per week. Recommended credits: 3 (fall and spring); 2 (summer).
VS310. Independent Study or Service Learning Placement Before
students depart the United States, they work closely with CET and their
home institution advisors to design their independent study projects or
to find a suitable service learning placement. Students are strongly encouraged to do one or the other,
but do have the option of doing both. We encourage students to choose
between the two because we find that focusing on one allows students to
maximize the benefits of their work and make the most of their time in
Vietnam. For
an Independent Study, students may suggest specific materials for their
topics, as well as methods of study. Methods of evaluation are
determined by CET and our faculty. Instructors are chosen for the
tutorials based on their teaching experience and level of expertise.
Some students may use this course as the basis for undergraduate and
graduate theses research. For a service learning placement, students
work in an organization in Ho Chi Minh City and must meet a set of
requirements in order to receive credit.
Hours: 3 per week for Independent Study. About 6 per week for Service Learning Placement, thought these hours vary. Recommended credits: 2 (fall and spring); 1 (summer).
For more information on Service Learning Placements, click here.
Students select one course from the available courses each term. All of the special topic courses are taught in English by American or Vietnamese faculty.
VS320. Modern Vietnamese History This
course begins with an exploration of Vietnam's pre-colonial history,
and then focuses on the impact of French colonization, the
resistance war against French occupation, and the war with America.
Students also study more recent Vietnamese history, such as the
post-war era, military conflicts with China and Cambodia, and the
"renovation" period.
Hours: 3 per week (fall and spring). Recommended credits: 3.
VS321. Environmental Sustainability in Vietnam This course provides students with the concept
of sustainability, the state of the Vietnamese
environment, causes of environmental degradation in Vietnam,
and efforts towards environmental sustainability in Vietnam. In addition, students have
to explore HCMC environmental problems, suggest measures to overcome these
problems, and carry out a small project in HCMC on sustainability assessment.
Hours: 3 per week (fall and spring). Recommended credits: 3.
VS322. Economic Development in Vietnam This course aimed to expose you to the processes, resources, policies of economic development of Vietnam essentially since its Independence so far. The course is designed to familiarize you in historical context with the policies and resources of economic performance in the war, under centrally planned economy and in transition period of the country. The course also helped you to understand in comparison with socialist economic principles with capitalist economic ones that have exercised in Vietnam, their strengths and weaknesses.
Hours: 3 per week (fall and spring). Recommended credits: 3.
VS323. A Taste of Vietnam This seminar course will investigate cultural relationships to food in Vietnam. Students will become familiar with Vietnamese food and the history of Vietnamese food. Notions of culture, politics, taste, authenticity, emotions and memory will be invoked through readings and eatings. Students will learn about the history of popular Vietnamese essentials such as Nuoc Mam (fish sauce), as well as, analyze the influence of colonialism, globalization and other cultures on Vietnamese food.
Hours: 3 per week (fall and spring). Recommended credits: 3.
VS325. Vietnam's Contemporary Art
This survey course will frame and contextualize the contemporary art scene in Vietnam, from painting to performance. Students will meet local artists, visit local galleries, watch videos, attend performances and access images of Vietnamese contemporary art. Students will be expected to interview and write about a Vietnamese contemporary artist and their practice. Readings will introduce students to the challenges facing modern art in Vietnam as well as present the works of numerous Vietnamese and Viet-Kieu artists.
Hours: 3 per week (fall and spring). Recommended credits: 3.
VS326. Vietnamese Literature This
course gives an overview of Vietnam's rich literary traditions.
Included will be discussion of Vietnamese creation myths, some of
Vietnam's famous classic works, the influence of French colonialism,
and the 1920's "new poetry" movement. The class will also focus on
modern works.
Hours: 3 per week (fall and spring). Recommended credits: 3.
All language courses include one hour per week of one-on-one tutorial. During a one-on-one tutorial, teachers identify an individual
student's problems with pronunciation, tones, fluidity and diction and
use drills to help reduce their occurrence.
VL100. Intensive Beginning Vietnamese This
course is an intensive introduction to Vietnamese grammar and speaking.
Students also focus on their reading and writing skills.
Hours: 10 per week (fall and spring); 15 per week (summer). Recommended credits: 9 (fall and spring); 6 (summer).
VL200. Intensive Intermediate Vietnamese Prerequisites: Knowledge of level 100 or one year of college Vietnamese or the equivalent. Students'
knowledge of Vietnamese grammar, sentence patterns and vocabulary is
strengthened. Students should prepare to use Vietnamese as the primary
mode of communication.
Hours: 10 per week (fall and spring); 15 per week (summer).
Recommended credits: 9 (fall and spring); 6 (summer).
VL300. Intensive Advanced Vietnamese Prerequisites: A minimum knowledge of level 200 or two years of college Vietnamese or the equivalent. Conducted
in Vietnamese, students are expected to discuss in Vietnamese the
materials they have read. Expository writing is also required.
Hours: 10 per week (fall and spring); 15 per week (summer).
Recommended credits: 9 (fall and spring); 6 (summer).
NOTE: Due to enrollment in some levels, a student may meet only
one-on-one with a teacher for all language classes during a term. As this is
more demanding of the students, these classes will meet fewer hours.
Summer Term CET's
summer Vietnam Immersion program is based in Ho Chi Minh City and
includes various cultural activities and excursions. The summer term
offers more hours of Vietnamese language study per week than the fall
and spring program. See course listings above for summer course contact hours and recommended credits. The summer curriculum includes:
Intensive Beginning, Intermediate, or Advanced Vietnamese. Language classes include one hour per week of one-on-one tutorial.
Seminar: Introduction to Vietnamese Studies: A Survey Course
Heritage Learners Every term CET
accepts students into its programs who have gained Vietnamese language
skills from their home environment. These students - many of whom have
advanced oral skills but beginning writing skills - have special needs
in the classroom. CET successfully tailors classes to meet these
students' needs. Feel free to call CET if you are concerned about
getting the appropriate language instruction!
Credit & Transcripts Upon written
request, CET and Hong Bang Private University issues official
transcripts listing each course taken and the number of hours attended.
Credit for the program must be requested from the student's home
institution and will be granted at the institution's discretion. CET students generally receive a full semester's worth of credit for their semester abroad. Transcripts for any CET program that a student has
attended will not be issued if the student has a remaining account
balance.
