A place to spread love for Russian language and culture

Established in Hanoi on November 3, 1983, the Branch, whose full name is AX Pushkin, with its love for Russia, is now the only Branch that still exists and is operating to propagate and promote Russian language and culture in Vietnam among 10 branches in the world.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Dat, Director of Pushkin Institute.

Sharing with the Government Electronic Newspaper, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Dat, Director of the Pushkin Institute, said that the Pushkin Institute is a symbol of the friendship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation (formerly Vietnam and the Soviet Union), demonstrating the goodwill of the Party, State and Government of Vietnam towards maintaining and promoting Russian culture and language in Vietnam.

Over the past 40 years of operation, how has the Pushkin Institute supported Vietnamese educational institutions in teaching and learning Russian, contributing to strengthening the friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership, and people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries, Madam?

Director of the Pushkin Institute Nguyen Thi Thu Dat: The Pushkin Institute was formerly the Russian Language Institute of the Pushkin Institute in Hanoi. We just celebrated our 40th anniversary in November 2023. The history of a branch with such a small and modest number of staff, we think it is quite a long journey.

In the first years when the institute was newly established, there were both Soviet experts working with Vietnamese experts.

The Pushkin Institute has been operating very effectively, providing support for textbooks, reference books, specialized magazines, and teaching methods for all Russian language teaching units and facilities in Vietnam.

Through the ups and downs of history, the Pushkin Institute is currently the only unit that still exists and is operating to propagate and promote Russian language and culture in Vietnam among 10 institutes in the world. This demonstrates the sentiment and goodwill of the Party, State and Government of Vietnam towards maintaining and promoting Russian culture and language in Vietnam.

Over the past 40 years, the Pushkin Institute and its lecturers and teachers of Russian in Vietnam have been very dedicated to promoting the Russian language and culture, spreading the love of Russian language and culture to generations; and encouraging the teaching and learning of Russian in Vietnam.

The Pushkin Institute is also the only unit in Vietnam that coordinates with Russia to organize training, exams and grant international Russian language certificates to Vietnamese people, serving various purposes such as studying, working in Russia, working in the tourism sector, and Vietnamese-Russian joint ventures.

Currently, Russian is no longer the number one foreign language chosen by Vietnamese people to learn. However, the long-standing friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and the Russian Federation is constantly being strengthened and developed. In particular, language and culture are the bridges to promote comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

From 2023-2024, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation sent Russian experts to the Pushkin Institute to work and teach directly. How is this work being carried out and how effective is it , madam ?

Director of the Pushkin Institute Nguyen Thi Thu Dat: Since the visit of the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation to the Pushkin Institute, the Russian side has sent Russian experts to the Pushkin Institute to work almost continuously. The Russian experts mainly teach Russian.

Having Russian experts come to support helps the Institute expand many activities that it could not do before, or that it might have had to ask for support from other units or other universities in Russia.

Many practical and meaningful activities have been implemented after Russian experts came to support such as: Organizing the International Russian Olympiad for students of specialized high schools in Vietnam; organizing Russian communication courses; organizing courses to improve the qualifications of Russian teachers in Vietnam.

For example, this year, we have planned and organized a professional development course for all Russian teachers and lecturers in Vietnam directly at the Pushkin Institute, taught by Russian experts and lasting about 3-4 months.

This is something we have not been able to do for a long time because there are no Russian experts at the Pushkin Institute. Although we have cooperated with Russian universities, the organization of upgrading qualifications with the direct support of Russian experts in Vietnam has not been possible.

A week ago, we started a Russian language course for workers in Vietnam. Russian experts teach both in person and online. We are also organizing training for Vung Tau oil and gas staff – VIETSOVPETRO , and Russian language training for military officers.

On the occasion of the 225th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian poet Pushkin, the Pushkin Institute organized a competition that attracted the participation of many students from many countries around the world.

We hope that with the regular participation of Russian experts, the Pushkin Institute can organize more practical activities such as Russian language courses to foster life skills and knowledge about Russia for Vietnamese students before they go to Russia to study.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko and his delegation visited and worked at the Pushkin Institute in 2023.

Could you tell us more about the current and future support of the Russian Federation for the Pushkin Institute as well as the cooperation between the two sides in promoting Russian culture and language in Vietnam ?

Director of the Pushkin Institute Nguyen Thi Thu Dat: Every year, the AX Pushkin National Russian Language Institute awards 1,000 scholarships to Vietnamese students to study in Russia. At the same time, the Institute also regularly cooperates with the Pushkin Institute in Hanoi and the Russian Center for Science and Culture in providing textbooks, reference books, specialized magazines, sponsoring awards and scholarships for Russian language Olympiads, bilateral and international seminars on teaching and promoting Russian in both Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

On the side of the Institute, we coordinate very closely with the Friendship Associations of the two countries to organize propaganda activities about the Russian language to a wide range of audiences.

In the process of organizing such activities, Russian units always actively cooperate. For example, with cultural competitions or festivals, we organize them not only in person but also online for Russian educational units and institutions of other countries to participate.

Like the Vietnam - Russia Cultural Festival, which was first held in 2012 with 150 participants, by 2022 it had attracted more than 1,200 people from more than 20 educational institutions across the country. This is not only an opportunity for students to learn about Russian culture, but also an opportunity to promote Vietnamese culture to the world.

Or the Pushkin Talent Search Contest was expanded to include categories such as: Poetry reading, drama, painting, redrawing Pushkin's stories, designing costumes during Pushkin's time and costumes in works written by Pushkin... attracting more than 400 students from 14 countries to participate.

We have also sent Vietnamese students to attend short-term courses, APEC summer camps, or to Russian universities to learn more about Russian education, to have the opportunity to interact and communicate with native speakers, and to make friends all over the world.

Having been attached to Russia, the Russian language and culture since childhood, what are your memories, recollections and feelings about Russia, madam?

Director of Pushkin Institute Nguyen Thi Thu Dat: When I was in 5th grade, I chose Russian to study. Then when I went to university, I still chose Russian with the dream of becoming a Russian interpreter. Later, I became a Russian teacher.

After studying for a PhD in Russia, along with my family's tradition of being attached to the Russian language, Russian culture and Russia, I decided to apply to the Pushkin Institute to work and continue to promote the Russian language.

My family not only enjoyed Russian education, but also had close relationships with many Russian teachers and friends.

Russian people have very similar personality traits to Vietnamese people, which are hospitable, kind, humane and affectionate. Therefore, until now, I still keep in touch with teachers and friends in Russia, and whenever I need support for any work, I always receive help from them.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/noi-lan-toa-tinh-yeu-voi-ngon-ngu-va-van-hoa-nga-post385585.html