This is a conversation I heard often growing up. As a little girl, I wasn’t always motivated to learn Vietnamese. I’d ask to go to the temple or look through a Vietnamese dictionary with my aunt, but nothing came of it. I picked up simple words and phrases and tried responding to my mom in Vietnamese when I could. She encouraged me, and I tried my best with what I understood. Even though I wasn’t fluent, being surrounded by family and Vietnamese culture always felt like home. At family functions, I felt a sense of belonging. But in middle and high school, I cared more about fitting in. Back then, embracing my culture didn’t feel like it ‘fit,’ and I pushed it aside. It wasn’t until after college that I realized how much I’d been missing. That sparked my motivation to reconnect with my culture and language. I know some might feel frustrated seeing someone like me who didn’t fully embrace the culture. I can understand that—it might seem like I neglected something important. But I’m here now, learning and reconnecting as an adult, and that matters. I also don’t want anyone to feel angry at my great-aunt, my mom, or me. These conversations are normal in multicultural families and come from care, not judgment. My family dynamic might have been different, but it’s part of my story, and I hope this video resonates with others on a similar journey. You can’t force a child to learn a language, but I’m grateful my mom spoke to me in Vietnamese and encouraged me. Growing up as a Vietnamese-American in a multicultural household wasn’t always easy to navigate, but it shaped who I am today. Now, I’ve chosen to learn Vietnamese as an adult. It’s a gift to my future and a way to honor my past. The journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s mine. And it’s ongoing. Let’s keep the comments encouraging for me and anyone wanting to learn their language.
#vietnamese #languagelearning