Open language classes every summer
According to the Khmer pagoda in Bau Son hamlet, Chau Thanh commune, Vinh Long (formerly Da Loc commune, Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh ), Khmer language classes are held every summer to help students, monks, and ethnic people preserve their traditional language.
Khmer language class at the pagoda in Bau Son hamlet, Chau Thanh commune, Vinh Long
PHOTO: DUC LINH
Mr. Kien Se Ray, a Khmer language teacher at the pagoda in Bau Son hamlet, said that he teaches according to the educational program. Students and monks from grade 1 to grade 5 learn basic Khmer language, from grade 6 they start learning Pali - Khmer language. The students study the 7-year program, each year studying 9 months; studying 2 sessions a day to complete the Pali language program. After that, they will be organized to take the graduation exam.
Khmer language is taught to ethnic minorities at Khmer pagodas in Vinh Long province.
PHOTO: DUC LINH
"Children only come to summer school to learn their mother tongue and learn about their ethnic customs. Not only this pagoda has classes, other pagodas also have similar classes and they are completely free," Mr. Kien Se Ray added.
Mr. Kien Se Ray, Khmer and Pali-Khmer teacher at the pagoda in Bau Son hamlet
PHOTO: DUC LINH
Son Thi Nhu Y, a 7th grade student at Chau Thanh Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, Tra Vinh (formerly) said: "I have been studying at the pagoda for the first 2 months of summer until now. During the study, teacher Kien Se Ray taught me each stroke of the letter, how to read and pronounce my mother tongue, helping me understand more about the letters, as well as how to pronounce them correctly."
The time for teaching and learning Khmer language for students during the summer lasts from 2 to 3 months. Each class has 30 to 50 students. Through the summer class, students can speak and write basic Khmer language.
Many monks also participate in learning Khmer language.
PHOTO: DUC LINH
Monk Son Hoang Nhat Luan, who is practicing at the Khmer pagoda in Bau Son hamlet, excitedly said: "I am taking a Khmer writing class. At first it was very difficult to learn, but during my time studying here, I have been able to pronounce more accurately and write many Khmer characters that I could not write before."
Many policies support Khmer language teaching
Mr. Thach Boi, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long, said that Tra Vinh province (old) has more than 1 million people, of which the Khmer people account for 31.53%. The province has 383 religious establishments, including 143 Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas with about 3,300 monks. Every year, about 2,500 Khmer students study at colleges and universities at educational and training establishments in the province; maintaining a student population of about 77,000 Khmer students at all levels, accounting for about 35% of the total number of students in the province.
Many Khmer ethnic students attend free summer classes to learn more about their "mother tongue"
PHOTO: DUC LINH
In addition to the common schools in the whole province, Tra Vinh province (old) also has 8 ethnic boarding schools, 1 Pali - Khmer intermediate school; Southern Khmer Language - Culture - Arts School and Humanities under Tra Vinh University .
"The Central Government has a policy of teaching ethnic minority languages to students studying at general schools in the national education system, structured in the general curriculum in the form of periods/week. Accordingly, for many years, Tra Vinh province (old) has been organizing Khmer language teaching for students at general schools. Every year, there are about 120 schools organizing Khmer language teaching, with about 160 teachers and over 20,000 students studying. Teachers receive salaries from the state budget," Mr. Thach Boi added.
Son Thi Nhu Y is excited about her "mother tongue"
PHOTO: DUC LINH
According to Mr. Thach Boi, regarding the teaching and learning of Khmer language, the province creates conditions for organizing teaching in many forms suitable to the conditions and learners to serve the requirements of local socio-economic development, contributing to preserving and promoting the language and writing of the ethnic group.
Specifically, the Khmer language supplementary teaching during the summer for students at Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples, each year opens about 1,100 classes, corresponding to 1,100 teachers, with over 20,000 students attending. The province supports the purchase of textbooks, documents, teaching and learning tools, and supports salaries for teachers. The policy to support teachers of Khmer language culture supplementary teaching at Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples is 35,000 VND/teaching period.
Many monks are excited to learn the writing of their compatriots.
PHOTO: DUC LINH
In addition, the province also facilitates the organization of teaching the Pali - Khmer program at Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas. According to the survey results in 2023, 108/143 Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas have opened Pali - Khmer classes. The whole province has opened 212 classes; there are 6 subjects taught with 115 sub-subjects structured from grade 1 to grade 12; each class teaches an average of 884 periods (the lowest class has 539 periods, the highest class has 936 periods); there are 3,794 students. This is a special form of education and training in the form of socialization. The number of existing teachers basically meets the current teaching requirements.
Vinh Long always creates many favorable conditions and policies to preserve and promote the language of the Khmer people.
PHOTO: DUC LINH
Teaching Khmer language and writing at Khmer pagodas not only contributes to preserving the national cultural identity, but also serves as a bridge to help the young Khmer generation understand the culture, customs and practices and contribute to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of their nation.
The work of preserving and conserving the language of the Khmer ethnic group has always been of interest to Vinh Long province. This is also a vivid demonstration of the spirit of solidarity, respect and preservation of cultural heritage in the community of Vietnamese ethnic groups.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vinh-long-gin-giu-phat-huy-ngon-ngu-khmer-cua-dong-bao-dan-toc-nhu-the-nao-185250801121907532.htm
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