Aislinn Kelly
2023 WISLI Vietnamese Student
Why did you choose to study at WISLI? What motivated you to choose our program?
The excellent reputation of WISLI drew me to the Vietnamese language program at SEASSI. I know many people (professors whose secondary languages are really important to their research) who have successfully studied less commonly taught languages at UW-Madison, so I knew that it would be worth it to find funding for this program since it was my best chance to get started with the language. The fact that it was a summer intensive and held online was also very important to me since I am a PhD student, a role that makes it difficult to navigate language courses during the regular school year.
How has learning a less commonly taught languages enriched your personal and professional life?
It’s opened up an entire world of literature that I previously had no ability to read or even find. I’m not only talking about the kinds of diaspora literature I study in my professional life but also Vietnamese language novels, mystery stories, important children’s literature, and folktales. I’m also very excited to be able to speak with my aunties in Vietnamese. Studying Vietnamese at SEASSI and with the extremely knowledgeable instructors Cô Diệp and Cô Hồng got me excited about language and literature again–this program reminded me why I enjoy studying language; it reignited that spark in me.
What about WISLI/UW-Madison stands out to you?
The longevity of the less commonly taught languages programs. These are not courses that have popped up overnight but rather ones that the university and the instructors have invested time, funds, and attention for years. I can look forward to studying Vietnamese more in the years to come at Madison.
How do you plan to apply proficiency of your target language and cultural skills to your personal/professional journey?
My goal was to learn enough Vietnamese to navigate the moments of bilingualism in diaspora Vietnamese literature. I think I have more than met that target and want to use the foundation to continue to learn and work up to reading full books in Vietnamese–for fun and then seeing where it could take my research as well. Learning pronunciation properly was also a main target of mine, and I feel much more comfortable now with pronunciation.
What were some of the highlights of your program? What events did you particularly enjoy?
I enjoyed the language tables–these were really like an extra class. During the language table (held over zoom since the Vietnamese course was entirely online), the professor leading it that day would introduce new vocabulary and grammar structures. And I relied on some of these grammar structures in my presentations and homework. The language tables were meant to appeal and be useful to both first and second year students, so I learned a lot that pushed me beyond my comfort zone and challenged me in ways I really loved. I particularly enjoyed that the focus of the language tables was not only fun new vocabulary about food and travel but also pronunciation (via tongue twisters), grammar structures, and more advanced linguistic understanding (such as learning the rules of Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary which incidentally was like a lesson in understanding how to use a dictionary).
What role did the WISLI Tuition Scholarship play when you were making decisions? How would you encourage other students who might be interested in the scholarship to apply?
The WISLI Tuition Scholarship was central to my decision to study at SEASSI. Without it, the tuition would have been a hardship that was hard to justify. Without the tuition scholarship, I would not have been able to devote my full attention to language study this summer. It seems obvious, but I would encourage other students to apply because it’s always worth it to try for funding. There is no drawback to applying for the WISLI Tuition Scholarship. The process was not difficult or confusing.
What advice would you give to students who want to study the same language as you?
Spelling is everything and tone markers are not extraneous but rather a key part of spelling. Use a word processor that has Tiếng Việt as an option because the constant red underlining makes proof-reading your own writing very difficult on the eyes. In addition to practicing your typing ability, write by hand as well.
What is your favorite expression in the language you studied this summer?
Tiếc quá! It means “so regret” and expresses regret when you have to turn down an invitation. It’s nicer than outright refusing the invitation. I love the sound of it and the sentiment. It was also important to me to learn the phrase “ăn giỗ,” meaning “to commemorate a death anniversary.” The timing was perfect. This phrase came up in class a few days before the death anniversary of my grandmother. Knowing the phrase in tiếng Việt helped me feel closer to the anniversary preparations than ever before.