What difficulties do Vietnamese students face when learning Japanese?

According to JICA, the motivation of Vietnamese students to learn Japanese decreases somewhat during the learning process, especially at higher levels.

Volunteers from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently held their annual meeting to promote the development of Japanese language education in Vietnam. The program took place over two days (July 10th and 11th) at Da Lat University, Lam Vien Ward, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province.

Hesitation to talk to foreigners.

Here, eight JICA volunteers involved in Japanese language teaching, along with 12 Vietnamese Japanese language instructors working at universities in Vietnam – who are also daily colleagues collaborating with the JICA volunteers in Japanese language classes – analyzed the common difficulties faced by Vietnamese students when learning Japanese.

JICA volunteers report on their activities and share common difficulties faced by students in Vietnam when learning Japanese.

PHOTO: JICA

Twelve Vietnamese Japanese language instructors are currently teaching at the following universities: University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi; University of Foreign Languages ​​- Vietnam National University, Hanoi; University of Hanoi; University of Hai Phong; University of Quy Nhon; University of Foreign Languages ​​- Hue; University of Foreign Languages ​​- Da Nang; and University of Da Lat.

You may also like

With the explosion of AI, is the information technology industry still attractive?In the 2026 admissions season, many universities will continue to expand their training programs in fields related to AI, data, and semiconductors. Prior to that, in 2025, more than 54,000 candidates registered Computer Science and Information Technology as their first choice, an increase of over 2,000 candidates compared to 2024.

Grade 10 Exam - How to prevent grades from becoming a nightmare at age 15The 10th grade entrance exam is not only a significant milestone but also poses many psychological challenges for a considerable number of students, even at a young age when they are still too young to fully understand the complexities of life.

Students who do not confirm their enrollment in grade 10 will lose their eligibility for admission.From 1:30 PM on June 25th to midnight on June 27th, students admitted to 10th grade at high schools in Hanoi must complete the enrollment confirmation procedures.

JICA volunteers noted that each university where they work has different teaching materials, curricula, Japanese language textbooks, and training objectives. However, common problems include students facing difficulties in Japanese conversation classes. Common issues include shyness in communication, inaccurate pronunciation, and reluctance to speak with foreigners. The Japanese volunteers also observed that students' motivation to learn Japanese in Vietnam decreases somewhat during the learning process, especially at higher levels.

To make Japanese language classes more engaging.

What are the solutions to these problems? JICA volunteers, along with Vietnamese Japanese language instructors, organized a workshop to share experiences and knowledge to improve the quality of conversational Japanese lessons. Simultaneously, they sought solutions to increase class engagement, improve assessment methods, create conversational Japanese exams, and enhance students' motivation to learn Japanese. Case studies were also presented to draw lessons learned.

Japanese language education is one of the key areas that JICA's Volunteer Dispatch Program focuses on supporting. Currently, JICA is deploying 10 volunteers specializing in Japanese language education to work in Vietnam.

Japanese volunteers and Vietnamese Japanese language instructors held group discussions to find ways to improve the quality of conversation lessons.

PHOTO: JICA

Mr. Kobayashi Yosuke, Chief Representative of the JICA Vietnam Office, emphasized JICA's commitment to continuing to support Vietnam's development of Japanese language education and contributing to Vietnam's socio-economic development through grassroots activities carried out by volunteers at the local level.

You may also like

What careers are young Americans flocking to after dropping out of college?More and more Americans are looking at the cost of education and questioning whether a college education is still the only option for building a stable life.

Choose your subject combination when entering 10th grade:In recent years, a new feature of the 2018 General Education Program has meant that the 10th grade admissions process is no longer limited to simply determining which school students are accepted into, but also opens up a new "problem": choosing subject combinations.

Vietnamese university leaps to the top of the world's most impactful universities ranking for sustainable impact.For the first time, Vietnam has 17 representatives in the Times Higher Education's ranking of the world's most impactful universities, the highest number ever, and most have moved up in the rankings.

The JICA Volunteer Program in Vietnam began in 1995, and this year, 2025, marks its 30th anniversary.

The first three Japanese volunteers sent (in 1995) were volunteers in the field of Japanese language teaching; they were assigned to Hanoi National University, Foreign Trade University, and Hanoi University of Foreign Languages.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sinh-vien-viet-nam-gap-kho-gi-khi-hoc-tieng-nhat-185250711204558158.htm