Introducing a new program for young Viet-Ams: SYA-VN

Friends and colleagues,

I’ve been in Ha Noi since June, and just opened the school year for our program “School Year Abroad” (www.sya.org) two weeks ago. Will go until June next year… and the goal is to continue long after that. SYA was started in 1964, but Viet Nam and Japan are the 2 new additions with year-round programs. Right now, it operates in 6 countries (France, Italy, Spain, and China.)

The program would be tailor-made for Viet-Ams in 11th and 12th grades in high school, who do not speak Vietnamese well and would like to study it to speak fluently in one school year. Without losing any time with the U.S. curriculum (we have teachers from the U.S. to take care of these subjects and schedule SAT and other tests and college admission counseling)…. sort of like the Junior Year Abroad in colleges, but more intensive and I’d say more effective as well (students live with Vietnamese families in Ha Noi, not in a dorm; and I personally supervise the Vietnamese language classes.)

For many of you who are my friends, colleagues or former students, this program came too late… and I dare say many of you wish that it was here when you were in high school.

But all is not lost.  You can help your younger siblings, nieces & nephews, or simply your friends’ children who are in this situation (Viet-Am without fluent Vietnamese) by letting them know of this opportunity.

The website is     www.sya.org and it should answer most of their questions.  Anything else, they can email me.

Thanks and hoa binh,
Vu-Duc Vuong
Resident Director, Viet Nam
SCHOOL YEAR ABROAD
vdv@sya.org —  www.sya.org

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