Last time, we all knew about Jackie’s trip to the Mekong Delta, the trip that made her so happy and gave her an opportunity to see the progress in her Vietnamese. Back to Ho Chi Minh City now, let’s see if she has more confidence with the language.

It was bound to happen eventually. This is getting harder! I find myself unable to understand Vietnamese unless I consciously push the button in my brain that allows for comprehension.

I get why Vietnamese people can't understand me sometimes! I often need a few seconds to adjust, soak it in, and then, hopefully, I can do something with it.

I carried on a full-length conversation with a family member of a Vietnamese acquaintance of mine the other day, but I felt too much of it was me nodding, feigning comprehension, and responding with phrases that I hoped were appropriate. Luckily, the obstacles are something I want to push through.

Once my class at VLS ends, I'm going to have to take another (or take it over? I don't feel ready for the next step!).

Not fully grasping the conversations I take part in is so frustrating and leaves me so curious. The same thing has happened with every other foreign language I've studied – speaking is always the hardest aspect of mastering a language for me.

I'm hoping being in the actual environment this time will break the pattern. Fingers crossed!

Jackie

This material is provided by the Vietnamese Language Studies Saigon (VLS).