Overcoming language barriers to reach and stay in the hearts of the people

Listen to people speak, speak so people understand

One day in early October 2025, Mr. Dinh Hoang Anh (born in 2002, H're ethnic group, residing in Tmang Gheng village, An Vinh commune) discovered an air gun hidden in a crevice in the rock while working in the fields, so he immediately called Lieutenant Colonel Bang Trong Ta - Deputy Chief of An Vinh commune police. During the conversation, the two spoke both Mandarin and H're.

Mr. Dinh Hoang Anh came to meet Lieutenant Colonel Banh Trong Ta - Deputy Chief of An Vinh Commune Police to hand over his weapon. **Photo: NVCC**

“Previously, Mr. Ta often went to the village to propagate and explain the regulations on handing over weapons. He knew and spoke the H're language, so the villagers liked him; if they needed news or help, they would come to him,” Mr. Dinh Hoang Anh shared.

Mr. Ta's chance to learn the H're language was quite coincidental. In 2019, while working at the An Tan Commune Police (former An Lao District), during a reconnaissance mission, Mr. Bành Trọng Tá met and asked for directions from an old H're woman.

She answered in H're, which confused him. Then she spoke in Mandarin and encouraged him that if he wanted to, he could learn H're too.

Major Do Hoa Binh , Deputy Chief of Ia Pa Commune Police, talks with prestigious people and Jrai women working for the Fatherland Front in the villages. **Photo: NVCC**

“After that, I tried to learn the H're language by myself by chatting and communicating with colleagues, village elders and prestigious people in the village; at the same time, I participated in the H're language training class for officials and teachers working in the area. Up to now, I have been confident in communicating with people, which has made my work easier, especially when An Vinh commune has 96.5% of the population being H're,” said Mr. Ta.

In the western region, Ia Pa commune has more than 70% of the population being Jrai; in some remote villages, many people do not speak the common language fluently. To facilitate propaganda and mobilization work, Major Do Hoa Binh, Deputy Chief of Ia Pa Commune Police, self-studied and improved the Jrai language.

Major Do Hoa Binh - Deputy Chief of Ia Pa Commune Police participates in volunteer activities in Mo Nang 2 village, Ia Pa commune. **Photo: NVCC**

Mr. Binh confided: “At first, I only learned a few words of greeting. Then every time I went back to the village to talk with the villagers, I learned a little more. Especially, after completing the Jrai language training course organized by the Provincial Police, my ability to use Jrai language improved significantly.

When people hear officers and soldiers greeting them in their own language, they become more open, so propaganda and mobilization work is more effective.

Training staff to improve work efficiency

To meet practical requirements, in recent years, the Provincial Police have paid special attention to teaching ethnic languages to officers and soldiers, especially those who regularly have direct contact with the people. From 2016 to present, the Provincial Police have opened 13 classes to teach Jrai and Bahnar languages to 571 officers and soldiers.

The curriculum is applied according to the regulations of the Government and the Ministry of Public Security . In addition to equipping language skills, the classes also provide knowledge about customs, habits, cultural beauty and lifestyle of ethnic minorities.

As one of 50 graduates of the Jrai language course 3 (from April to August 2025), Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Cu - Deputy Chief of Chu Se Commune Police said that he and his teammates were fully trained in listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, while also learning about the traditional culture of the Jrai people. This knowledge has been very helpful in practical work.

“Being able to use the language and understand the lifestyle of the villagers, I feel more confident every time I return to the village. In return, the villagers also love and are more open to the officers and soldiers of the Commune Police. When propagating and disseminating the law or guiding administrative procedures, I can help people write and fill in information accurately and according to the rules,” Lieutenant Colonel Cu shared.

Lieutenant Colonel Ninh Thi Minh Hoa, Head of the Personnel Organization Department (Provincial Police), said that officers and soldiers proactively learning ethnic minority languages and participating in training courses brings many practical meanings. In areas with a large number of ethnic minorities, especially in complex areas, understanding the language, customs, and psychology of the people is the "key" to improving service quality and the effectiveness of propaganda and mobilization.

By being close to and understanding the people, cadres and soldiers can promptly grasp their thoughts and aspirations, detect and prevent plots and activities of hostile forces; contribute to maintaining political security and social order and safety at the grassroots level, creating favorable conditions for socio-economic development and consolidating national unity.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/vuot-rao-can-ngon-ngu-de-den-va-o-lai-trong-long-dan-post568909.html