This is the product of a decade-long research project conducted by the two authors to bring the Vietnamese language and culture closer to those who want to learn the Vietnamese language, culture, and the people of Vietnam. These books will also aid many generations of Vietnamese children in Germany.

Three books were introduced to the Vietnamese community in Berlin in particular and Germany in general. This set of books consists of Vietnamese-German idioms and proverbs Die Heuschrecke tritt den Elefanten oder David gegen Goliath (Locusts kick Elephant or David against Goliath), Modernes Vietnamesisch 1 and Modernes Vietnamesisch 2 (Modern Vietnamese 1 and 2).

The first book, containing about 1,500 common idioms and proverbs, was the first bilingual book of idioms and proverbs to be published in Germany. These are idioms and proverbs drawn from reality, through many different periods, even new variations of idioms that are widely used are also updated in this book.

The two modern Vietnamese books are written on different topics, not only making it easy to learn Vietnamese and learn about Vietnamese culture but also containing a lot of up-to-date information about Vietnam in various fields. These two books are suitable for German language levels from A1 to C2.

In addition, the two authors also systematically introduce Vietnamese phonetics, including exercises and recordings of native voices. This intro can be downloaded free of charge.

Language teacher Ms. Viet Ngo Thi Bich Thu with her husband Prof. Dr. Martin Großheim. Photo: VNA

Ms. Bich Thu, a Vietnamese lecturer at many universities in Germany, said that idioms and proverbs are an integral part of Vietnamese and that foreigners also want to understand and use Vietnamese fluently. To do that, they must understand and know how to use Vietnamese idioms and proverbs.

Stemming from the enthusiasm and love of Vietnamese culture of the two authors as well as the students' need to learn about Vietnamese idioms and proverbs, Ms. Thu and her husband realized that it was necessary to quickly write and publish such books. This book series is suitable for both Germans who want to learn Vietnamese and the Vietnamese culture as well as Vietnamese who want to learn about the German people's outlook and culture through similar idioms and proverbs.

The German-Vietnamese Bilingual Book Series. Photo: VNA

Meanwhile, Mr. Großheim, currently a lecturer in Vietnamese History and Southeast Asian History at Seoul National University (Korea), said that idioms and proverbs reflect some important aspects of the Vietnamese culture. These books are written to help readers better understand the Vietnamese language and culture.

The author used contrast and comparison as the main methods to find equivalent idioms and proverbs in German, to help readers understand the meaning and in-context usage of the two languages. With Vietnamese idioms that have no equivalent in German, the authors use hermeneutical methods to clarify, help readers understand, and use them easily and effectively.

According to Professor Großheim, understanding idioms and proverbs will also help us better understand the two cultures, with many similarities and differences. Regarding the two books "Modern Vietnamese 1 and 2", Professor Großheim emphasized the need for a modern Vietnamese textbook in the context of the increasing demand for learning Vietnamese and the Vietnamese culture in Germany. Besides, the second and third generations of Vietnamese born and raised in Germany also need to be cared for and taught Vietnamese in a methodical way.

However, the standard Vietnamese pronunciation is extremely difficult for foreigners. Two modern Vietnamese books contribute to solving this problem, helping readers learn all four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Vietnamese by topic, and the topics are carefully translated and explained in German.

In order to get materials for the books, the author and his wife have returned to Vietnam many times, traveled to different regions to gather more information, and take pictures for their books.

Since the authors are language teachers who have been teaching languages to Germans and foreigners as well as Vietnamese people at universities for decades, the content in these books is a quintessential distillation of what people have learned. Professor Großheim said that this is the first time that these books have been officially introduced to the Vietnamese community in Berlin as well as Germany as a whole.

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