From SOMEONE WHO WAS ONCE IN YOUR SHOES:
let me SHOW you how to learn viet.
the Language Lab
If you’re wondering why it’s called Liz’s Language “Lab”, it’s because the way I’ve gotten to where I am today with languages has all been thanks to experimentation. Like in a lab!
I didn’t really know what I was doing, but instead of going straight to textbooks or schools, I tried different things and was able to find what worked better and faster.
I like to describe my approach as a bit like how a baby learns their first language. Immersion and learning in context is key to maximize retainment and to stay focused on what will actually be useful for your everyday life.
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by :)
I’m Liz and I’m here to help you finally learn Vietnamese! And I mean for real this time.
Specifically to those who were born and raised abroad by Vietnamese immigrant parents:
I know what it’s like to be at a phở restaurant and wish you could order in Vietnamese without embarrassing yourself, or to be at a family gathering and hear all of your relatives chatting away in Vietnamese but only being able to pick out bits and pieces, or to even fully understand what someone says to you in Vietnamese but somehow only be able to respond in English. It kinda sucks. Well, what I can say to that is.. I get it. But it isn’t too late to change things!
I was in your shoes for most of my life with refugee parents who somehow picked English up fast enough to raise me with it. This is something I’m super grateful for as it saved me the struggles of having parents who can’t speak English, but it also led to a part of me always feeling disconnected from my own culture. This really hit when we'd go to Vietnam and I couldn't communicate with relatives, couldn't understand the conversations around me, and it especially hit when my grandma passed, leaving me with the realization that I would never have a single conversation with her.
about me
It wasn't until the pandemic that I decided I would really try to learn Vietnamese. I wanted to become at least conversationally fluent, focusing on what would be useful for me. In about a year, I reached my goal while also learning to fully read and write. During this process, I realized a passion for language and teaching.
In hopes to pursue this passion, I want to help anyone and everyone struggling to learn Vietnamese, whether it be because you want to reconnect with your roots, better communicate with your family, or simply because it's a beautiful language. Particularly for Southern Vietnamese, I know first-hand how hard it is to find decent resources out there. And even then, it's not easy figuring out where to start and how to stay motivated — especially when you're doing it alone.
If you're wondering about my credentials, I don't have any formal education or experience. I’m not fluent, so I know your struggles and I know what you’re going through, but I was able to overcome them and I know you can too!
To describe my own level, I’m around an intermediate for speaking and listening (still improving every day!), can comfortably read and write in Vietnamese, and I have a pretty good toolbox for language learning in general. I am fully self-taught and familiar with both the Southern and Northern accents, though my parents are from the South.
So, whether you're a beginner or maybe you can speak but just never learned to read or write, feel free to reach out! I strive to cater to each individual's learning goals, so just get in touch and we’ll figure out whether I'm a good fit for you.
I’ve gained a few students so far and it's been a lot of fun, so just hoping more out there are willing to take a chance on me!
If you got this far, thank you so so much for reading!
For more answers on what I do, check out my FAQs page.