International Understanding Education: Vietnamese Guest Speaker Shares 'Living Language and Culture' — Shimane Prefectural University Hosts Special Lecture on Diverse Perspectives

On June 10, 2026, a special lecture titled 'Language and Culture of Vietnam' was held at Shimane Prefectural University's Hamada Campus. Forty-four second-year students from the International Communication Course in the Faculty of International Relations attended a lecture by Ms. Quynh, Hamada City's international exchange officer, on the characteristics of the Vietnamese language and university life in Vietnam.

Ms. Quynh, who promotes mutual understanding between Japan and Vietnam, explained that Vietnamese is an accessible language for Japanese learners. She highlighted that Vietnamese uses an alphabet-like script, has grammar similar to English, lacks verb and adjective conjugations, and contains many words resembling Japanese kanji. She also explained that, like Japan and South Korea, Vietnam has a historical legacy of significant influence from Chinese characters, which evolved into its own unique character-based culture.

Vietnamese university life and job-hunting practices also captured student interest. Ms. Quynh, a graduate of the Japanese Language Department at Da Nang University of Foreign Languages, shared her experience of the highly competitive job market in Vietnam, despite her fluency in Japanese, English, and Chinese. Students were astonished to learn that practical work experience is essential for employment, requiring students to take relevant part-time jobs during their studies. They were also surprised by the cultural difference of mandatory military training for university students after enrollment.

Second-year student Kumiko Tokosaki from the International Communication Course said, 'Learning that Vietnam uses Chinese characters, eats rice, and has terraced rice fields helped me find commonalities between Japan and Vietnam,' expressing her growing affinity toward Vietnam.

Another second-year student, Rin Kato, said, 'Learning that military training is mandatory for Vietnamese university students made me realize anew that Japan is a peaceful country,' indicating a deeper understanding of her own country.

Additionally, Daiki Watanabe, also in his second year, said, 'Vietnam has beautiful natural scenery like Ha Long Bay and delicious food like pho. I’d love to visit Vietnam someday,' sharing his new discoveries.

Professor Mariko Eguchi, Course Director of International Communication, who organized the lecture, stated, 'The significance of learning foreign languages and cultures lies not only in “understanding others,” but also in “deeply understanding oneself and one’s own country through the mirror of others.” I hope young students will be exposed to various foreign cultures to broaden their horizons.'