Youth in HCM City now whisper in each others’ ears that there is a place in the city where they can learn foreign languages and don’t have to pay a single dong: September 23 Park, called westerners’ park.

As such, September 23 Park has become a sort of foreign language centre.

The people who go there regularly are students of universities and junior colleges. After four pm everyday, students walk in the park, sit on park benches, or do physical exercises with foreigners to make new foreign friends.

Thanh Truong, a student of the HCM City Economics University, said: “I feel my English is still very poor, though I am finishing university this year. I have to go to the park to learn English more intensively. Here, in the park, I can practice English because I have the chance to talk to foreigners and I don’t have to pay.”

Phuong Thao, a student of Nguyen Tat Thanh Junior College, related that she was very shy when she first came to the park and talked to a foreigner. Thao later met some people who also came to the park for the same purpose, and they have been close friends since.

“We have come here every day for one week, and I have become more confident. Foreigners prove to be very friendly. They know that our English is poor so they always try to speak slowly and repeat words, so that we can understand everything. And they always say ‘very good’ to encourage us,” Thao said.

Sonny Smith, US, 35, said that he has been very impressed by the dynamism of Vietnamese youth. Vietnamese students prove to be very eager for knowledge, while their knowledge is very good. He admitted that he sometimes does not know things Vietnamese students ask about the US.

Besides English, HCM City’s youth also talk in French, Chinese and Korean languages. Students talk about themselves, their studies and jobs, and are ambassadors for Vietnam, “a very beautiful country in the world”.

VietNamNet/TP

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