An enchanting spirit shimmers like the morning dew on a lotus flower. The rice paddies stretch into the horizon, and bustled markets pulse with life. We hear the sound of our grandmother’s lullabies and fairy tales in a language that we barely hear in the modern era. Vietnam’s lively spirit flows into the future, yet our Vietnamese youth face an exciting and dangerous crossroad. Our people are increasingly torn between the magnetic pull of the globalized world and the beauty of their heritage as they grow up in an incredibly interconnected society divided by culture and identity.
There is no denying that studying abroad offers countless advantages. It’s a dream many chase, and it often promises a brighter future. Nevertheless, as we pursue a more global identity, we risk losing touch with a fundamental part of who we are. The Vietnamese language has always been more than just a communication tool; it is our literature, history, and cultural essence. It carries the shared narratives that unite Vietnamese generations and our ancestors’ poetic wisdom. So, when our future generation embraces English or other foreign languages as their primary means of expression, we must ask ourselves: what pieces of our identity are slipping away in the process?
As children spend more hours in settings where learning Vietnamese is a second priority, the depth of our language starts to fade, overshadowed by English lessons, western cultural influences, and digital media consumption. I have experienced this firsthand. As a student who spent twelve years of her life studying in two different private international schools, one British and one American, my English is, without a doubt, more proficient. It has become my second skin. This came at a cost. My Vietnamese capabilities started to erode, and I slowly became a visitor in a place that was once so familiar to me. If a Vietnamese child finds it difficult to even articulate simple ideas, they may struggle to form a bond with their family. The conversations back home that once flowed smoothly in Vietnamese now feel rigid, often replaced paradoxically by a foreign language. Family gatherings that once resonated with laughter and the rhythmic exchange of stories diminish in spirit. What if young Vietnamese people in the future can recite Shakespeare, but cannot have a meaningful conversation in their mother tongue with their elders?
The future may be fraught with challenges as we find our place in a world often saturated with noise. However, it is up to all of us, not just our youth, to address the situation. Families, educators, and leaders in the community must emphasize the importance of preserving our language and providing future generations with the skills they need to embrace both the global environment and their Vietnamese identity. Bilingual education can create a bridge, blending the best of both worlds. Vietnamese should be celebrated in schools alongside other languages, and the teachers should incorporate cultural lessons that are relevant to students’ current lives. Moreover, we must create spaces within our communities, be it through cultural festivals, workshops, or storytelling events, where the Vietnamese language can flourish. Let’s not forget that every word we speak in our mother tongue strengthens not only our identity but the fabric of our society. So, to anyone who is struggling to find the balance between cultures, remember: language is more than just words: it also reflects our identity. Together, we can reclaim and celebrate our languages, breathing new life into our narratives, and ensuring they echo through generations to come.
