Exciting news, everyone! Vietnamese is back!
Vietnamese at Carolina: A Look Back
The last year DAMES offered Vietnamese classes prior to the upcoming fall semester was the 2005-2006 academic year. Once taught by Professor Emeritus Eric Henry, Vietnamese was eventually phased out of the curriculum as interest in the Chinese language program boomed and funds were rerouted to support that growing interest. Dr. Henry, who also taught Chinese, was compelled to devote his time to teaching Chinese language and content courses. His other courses about Vietnamese culture, like “The Social History of Popular Music in East Asia” and “Introduction to Vietnamese Culture through Music and Narrative,” became fond memories for alums of the program.
Dr. Henry retired in 2012. He still visits campus often, however, and maintains a steady presence at local cafes and coffee shops. He’d doubtless be delighted to know that Vietnamese is rekindling within the department, soon to enthrall a new generation of college students.
What’s next for Vietnamese?
Starting this fall, DAMES will be offering VIET 101 and, in the spring, VIET 102, both semesters of Elementary Vietnamese. Next fall we’ll also be offering VIET 203 (Intermediate Vietnamese) in tandem with Elementary Vietnamese, which means that anyone who starts taking Vietnamese in Fall 2021 will be able to take the courses necessary to fulfill their foreign language requirement.
After that, only the horizon awaits. As always, student enrollment, interest, and funding will determine the path forward for Vietnamese, and with luck, Dr. Henry will pay the new classes an occasional visit to provide invaluable wisdom for the program’s future success.