Vietnamese Studies

Study programme Vietnamese Studies offers systematic training of specialists on Vietnam, Vietnamese language, culture and specifics of Vietnamese communities abroad. The study aims at active mastering of Vietnamese (at B1 level of CEFR) and an ability to analyse historical, cultural, geographical, economic and political context intended for language services and expert consultations. The programme is based on philology, and further focuses on history, culture, literature, economic and politic issues and the Vietnamese culture in Czech Republic. Basic knowledge of philology, linguistic analysis and linguistic terminology is particularly accentuated during the study. Scholarly collaboration in Vietnam is ensured by the Vietnam National University. In addition to the involvement of Vietnamese instructors, also student study stays in Vietnam will deepen their cultural experience. Graduates are well equipped for practice by a large language acquaintance and their own experience and findings acquired in Vietnam, which they can contextualize thanks to the large theoretical knowledge. A wider scientific outlook is provided by comparative linguistics and additional information concerning other (mainly South-East) Asian regions, which will give an advantage to future specialists, interpreters, publicists and scholars.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• prove language proficiency on B1 level of CEFR in both spoken and written communication
• explain the phonetic and grammatic features and vocabulary of Vietnamese using terminology of general linguistics
• apply knowledge of Vietnamese culture, literature and etiquette in communication with Vietnamese people
• explain the facts, data and phenomena from Vietnamese culture, history, geography, economy and society, to compare them with data from related countries in the region and in a discussion explain reasons of differences
• by particular examples identify and interpret high-risk factors of development of Vietnamese economy, politics and international relations

Graduate of bachelor study programme Vietnamese Studies is prepared for work of an expert on Vietnamese language, Vietnam and South-East Asia. Thanks to a wider philological basis and factographic knowledge on Vietnam, graduates will find jobs in tourism and travel services, as instructors of language schools, specialist editors in publishing houses and journalism, as museum curators or employees of cultural institutions. Thanks to the additional focus to the analysis of political environment, geographical data and Vietnamese economy, the graduate of Vietnamese can find favourable positions in government offices, foreign business, Alien Police or agencies and NGOs focused on help to foreigners and ethnic minorities.

Practice of length at least 250 hours will start from the second year of study and will take place at possible future employers including academic institutions, NGOs, government offices and private companies. A part of partners has been already arranged, but a student can find his own practice upon arrangement. The practice is compulsory for students of single major programme and students of maior study programme. Evaluation will be provided upon a confirmation and a questionnaire filled in by the employer.

A bachelor's thesis has a standard length of 72000 to 90000 characters including all parts of the document. The thesis proves an ability to collect, classify and critically analyse data concerning selected philological or non-philological issues (i.e. history, culture, geography, economics, literature). The theses can be exceptionally based on data collected through a fieldwork. In three consequent semester phases, the thesis includes: 1) elaboration of project of the thesis on the selected topic, 2) a discussion (of selected parts) of the project and an individual elaboration of the whole thesis including formulation of conclusion or final assessment, 3) consultation of possible suggestions, corrections, final adjustment and submission.

Graduate of the study programme can continue in the follow-up master's programme and later a doctoral degree study of related philological programmes and combined study programmes. A follow-up master and doctoral programmes of Vietnamese Studies will be introduced gradually.