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-   -   website or app for learning Vietnamese (https://www.fodors.com/community/asia/website-or-app-for-learning-vietnamese-1110967/)

susiesan Jun 3rd, 2016 10:02 AM

website or app for learning Vietnamese
 
I would like to start learning some Vietnamese for my trip there in February. Does anyone have a suggestion for a web site or app that is good for self teaching Vietnamese? Also a good translation or dictionary English to Vietnamese app besides google translate.

Cam o'n.

CaliforniaLady Jun 3rd, 2016 02:11 PM

My son uses Rosetta Stone religiously, for wherever he is going. It seems to work pretty well, as he can speak decently when we travel. They do have a version for Vietnamese.

susiesan Jun 5th, 2016 06:37 AM

I hear Rosetta Stone is good but you have to buy it and it is quite expensive. I'm looking for something free. This will be very casual travel Vietnamese I want to speak. There are some videos on youtube that go over the pronunciation.

progol Jun 5th, 2016 07:41 AM

I haven't used this yet, but it looks like a good site for your interests:

https://www.duolingo.com/

susiesan Jun 5th, 2016 11:36 AM

progol: I looked at that site and it might be fine or learning words but I need help with pronunciation too. Not sure I trust the google translate computer voice speaking Vietnamese words correctly.

progol Jun 5th, 2016 03:05 PM

Try Mango languages, if it is offered through your library system:

https://www.mangolanguages.com/libra...ble-languages/

My husband was using it to learn some basic Italian conversation, but I see that it lists Vietnamese. He signed up through our local library system but it looks like it's available through other library systems as well.

susiesan Jun 5th, 2016 06:09 PM

Yes, my local library does have mango. I forgot about that. I'll give it a spin.

susiesan Jun 6th, 2016 07:02 AM

My library doesn't use mango anymore. They have an online course called pronunciatior. I'll give that a try.

CaliNurse Jun 6th, 2016 11:23 AM

Great idea, Susiesan.

I used "Evrydayviet.com" listening to Donna via youtube on my iPhone,then transcribed the pronunciation for myself. Note: the variety of pronunciations of VNese words was surprising, region to region.

Pimsleur has cheapo but perfect adequate--for tourist purposes-- versions of language courses. Check their "quick and simple" series, available online from Walmart.( I used one for Swahili and had great fun with people thinking I was fluent. Amazing what a few well-pronounced phrases can do!)
Don't know if that Pimsleur series avail as apps-I bought the CDs and listened in my car.
The VN one costs less than $15 on the walmart website.

susiesan Jun 6th, 2016 11:42 AM

calinurse: I have bookmarked everydayviet.com and will try to learn a few words or phrases everyday.

I'm going back and forth with CVT about the itinerary and hotel choices. As it stands now I am in Ninh Binh 3 nights and Mai Chau 2 nights. I am thinking about cutting out one day here and returning to Hanoi a day earlier, giving us a total of 3 full days in Hanoi, 1 at the beginning and 2 at the end. What do you think?

deptrai Jun 6th, 2016 08:11 PM

Lots of learning videos on Youtube. I suggest learning to count to ten. If you can do that, its pretty easy to go to 100. If your native language is non-tonal (like English), Vietnamese is kind of tricky, because it has six tones.

I studied at a community college and have many Vietnamese friends to practice with. It didn't hurt growing up in Little Saigon. I've been to Vietnam four times and can get by just fine.


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