Vietnamese language exam attracts many candidates across Japan

The 8th Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test was held at Osaka University (Japan), organized by the Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test Association (VTS) in collaboration with Osaka University, the Center for Vietnamese Studies, the Vietnam-Japan Economic Cooperation Promotion Association (VJECPA), and Kanda Tokyo Foreign Language Academy.

This year's exam received a large number of participants from various regions across Japan, with candidates from 20 regions.

Vietnamese language proficiency test room (Level B) in Osaka, February 9th.

This year, there were 100 candidates registered for the A-level exam, 58 candidates registered for the B-level exam, and 7 candidates registered for the C-level exam.

The oldest candidate is 70 years old, registering for levels A and B, while the youngest candidate is 8 years old, registering for level A.

The exam fee for Level A is 5,000 Yen, Level B is 9,000 Yen, and Level C is 11,000 Yen. A candidate can take both levels of the exam at the same time.

The majority of applicants are people who want to work in fields related to the Vietnamese language or whose parents are of Vietnamese origin.

In addition, many people said they learned Vietnamese because they have Vietnamese friends or have visited Vietnam and love the country, its people, and especially its delicious food.

Kagawa Naho, 18 years old, whose mother is Vietnamese, expressed her desire to learn Vietnamese so she can communicate with her mother and maternal grandparents, as well as pursue a career related to the Vietnamese language in the future.

As for Nakamura Yuki, this is her second time taking the Vietnamese language proficiency test in Osaka, with the hope of working in Vietnam and learning Vietnamese well.

The oldest contestant was 70-year-old Yanagichi Taiyo, who said he frequently visits Vietnam because he has many Vietnamese friends. He enjoys life in Vietnam and his goal in learning Vietnamese is to integrate into the country where he hopes to live long-term.

The Vietnamese language proficiency test is considered a linguistic bridge between the two countries in the context of Vietnam-Japan relations being upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Furthermore, with the growing Vietnamese community in Japan, the need for communication in their mother tongue has become increasingly important and urgent within Vietnamese families.

According to Professor Shimizu Masaki, Head of the Vietnamese Department at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Osaka University, and Chairman of the Examination Board, the Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test has been held since 2020 with the aim of promoting, teaching, and learning Vietnamese in Japan. It is expected that this Vietnamese language test will be recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam in 2026.

Ms. Le Thuong, Principal of Cay Tre Vietnamese Language School and Director of the Center for Vietnamese Studies, the co-organizer of the exam, said that with the desire to spread and elevate the Vietnamese language in Japan, the Center organizes many activities related to the Vietnamese language in the Kansai region, including the Vietnamese language proficiency exam.

This exam is held regularly in February and August each year, attracting a large number of candidates from areas near Osaka.

Kenji Tomita, President of the VTS Association and former Head of the Vietnamese Department at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Osaka University, has a deep love for the Vietnamese language and culture.

After retiring, he dedicated himself to contributing to the development of Vietnam-Japan relations by organizing Vietnamese language proficiency exams, hoping to promote Vietnamese language learning for second and third-generation children of Japanese families with Vietnamese parents, as well as for Japanese friends who love the Vietnamese language.

Professor Tomita stated that the VTS Japan Association was established with the mission of promoting and developing various exchange activities between the two countries through activities aimed at improving the level of Vietnamese language education and research, thereby contributing to the development of education and academia in Japan as well as to international understanding and friendship.

According to the plan, the 9th Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test will take place in August 2025 in Osaka and Tokyo.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ky-thi-tieng-viet-thu-hut-dong-dao-thi-sinh-tren-khap-nhat-ban-303759.html