Open ethnic language classes

Every summer, the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Ca Mau province coordinates with units and localities in the province to organize Khmer and Chinese classes for ethnic minority children at pagodas, Salatels, schools and houses where many ethnic minorities live.

To effectively teach and learn ethnic languages, the unit closely coordinates with the Department of Education and Training in estimating costs; preparing content, programs, documents and other necessary conditions to organize training classes and improve pedagogical skills for teachers of ethnic languages.

In addition, the province also provides funding for teachers and teaching points for Khmer and Chinese characters according to regulations. At the same time, it supports textbooks and learning tools for students learning Khmer characters during the summer.

“Every year, the province allocates a budget of over 1 billion VND to maintain and organize about 100 classes teaching Khmer and Chinese characters, with more than 3,000 students participating who are ethnic minority children. This is a policy of profound humanistic significance, contributing to the preservation and promotion of national cultural identity, strengthening solidarity among ethnic communities in the province.

"Rewards for individuals with outstanding achievements in the work of mobilizing and teaching Khmer and Chinese characters are also carried out regularly and promptly," informed Mr. Huynh Cong Thieu, Head of the Ethnic Affairs Department, Department of Ethnic Affairs and Religions of Ca Mau province.

Serymengcol Pagoda (Rach Giong Pagoda), located in Duong Dao Hamlet, Ho Thi Ky Commune, was built in 1788 and is one of the ancient pagodas in Ca Mau.

For many years, this place has been chosen as a place to teach Khmer ethnic children during the summer. Mr. Thach Truong, one of the three teachers in charge of teaching in the pagoda, said that he has more than 20 years of teaching Khmer to his ethnic children and loves this job very much.

"My main purpose in teaching is to help Khmer children learn their mother tongue and preserve the cultural identity of the Khmer people," Mr. Thach Truong shared.

Monk Le Thien Tri guides students to write Khmer.

“At first, when learning the language, children are still confused and often mispronounce words, so I have to patiently teach each sentence and word. In addition to class time, I also encourage parents to regularly teach and communicate with their children in their mother tongue at home to help them progress quickly,” said monk Le Thien Tri, who teaches literacy at Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda (Lien Hoa Tu), An Xuyen Ward.

Awareness of learning national script

Venerable Duong Quan, abbot of Komphirsakorprêkchru pagoda (Xiêm Cán pagoda), Hiep Thanh ward, said: Teaching Khmer in the summer has become an annual tradition, supported by Buddhists, and the children of the hamlet study very actively. The pagoda has many trees and a spacious campus, so it is convenient to open classes to teach Khmer. This activity aims to help children learn to read and write Khmer, preserving the national cultural identity.

Most ethnic minorities in Ca Mau province are very interested in preserving their language and writing, so they actively send their children to learn their ethnic language. Huu Phuong Dong, Ho Thi Ky commune, Ca Mau, said that every summer he often attends Khmer language classes. He really likes learning ethnic languages and actively studies to contribute to preserving the cultural identity of his ethnic group.

“At first, learning to read felt strange and difficult, but after a few weeks, I started to get used to it. The teachers and monks were very enthusiastic and taught in an easy-to-understand way, so I learned quickly. Now I can read and say some basic communication sentences. Next summer, I will continue to go to school to be able to speak and write Khmer fluently,” Phuong Dong shared.

Ms. Son Thi Phe, a resident of Phuoc Long commune, said that last summer she sent her two grandchildren to Moniserey Sophon Cosdon Pagoda (Co Don Pagoda) in the commune to learn to read and write. After the course, her grandchildren were able to read and write some basic Khmer sentences and words.

“As an ethnic person, I must know my own language. In my daily life, I often communicate with my children and grandchildren in their language so that they are aware of the need to preserve their mother tongue. Next summer, I will continue to send my children to school until they know their own language well,” said Mrs. Phe.

A Khmer language class at Rach Giong Pagoda, Ca Mau.

“Although the summer Khmer language teaching time is usually only 2 months, it will help children gradually get used to the intonation, writing and pronunciation of the ethnic language. Children who study hard and regularly communicate with their families in the Khmer language at home will progress quickly.

Here, the monks and teachers not only teach the children to read and write, but also teach them some traditional customs and cultures of their ethnic groups, teach them manners, respect their grandparents and parents; teach them to love, unite, and help each other to progress together with their siblings and friends," said Mr. Thach Truong, a teacher at Rach Giong Pagoda.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/giu-gin-tieng-noi-chu-viet-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-o-ca-mau-post759529.html