Learn to be a Korean bride

Practical

Attending the Korean language class opened at the 8/3 Employment Service Center (Hai Duong Women's Union), we can see the positivity and diligence of the women in the class. Everyone listens attentively to the lectures, regularly interacting with the teachers and classmates to improve their speaking and listening skills. On weekday mornings, the center has classes on Korean language and culture for women to attend.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Le said that she was appointed by the Consulate (Ministry of Justice of Korea) to the center to teach Korean language as well as culture, customs and habits to Vietnamese women who are married or intend to marry Koreans. This activity has been going on for 10 years. Hai Duong is one of 4 provinces and cities in the country licensed to open the class. This is a meaningful activity of the Korean Government to equip Vietnamese women with basic knowledge when marrying Korean men to avoid disagreements about language, customs and habits. "Many conflicts arise from language differences, the two sides do not understand each other, cannot explain to each other their thoughts and wishes, leading to conflicts accumulating. The class was opened to overcome these limitations," Ms. Le said.

Each class lasts for 4 months, with 40-45 students. In addition to learning the language to communicate and express their wishes and thoughts, women also learn about culture and living habits so they are not surprised when they go to their husband's house.

In Vietnam, young people only need to say hello to older people to show respect, but in Korea, they have to kneel and bow to others. On holidays, people wear traditional hanbok costumes, so women are also taught how to dress, put on makeup, and braid their hair appropriately and harmoniously. Although a Korean meal is simple, kimchi is a must. Teachers at the center also teach students how to make kimchi to Korean standards and how to prepare other dishes from kimchi such as kimchi soup, fried kimchi, etc.

At the center, women also learn about reproduction, taking care of their own health, their children, etc. so that they can confidently enter a new life. Those who graduate from the center are provided with an address in Korea so that when they go there, if they need to find a job or need advice, they will be helped and answered.

Dream of happiness

The Korean language and culture class opened at the 8/3 Job Service Center attracts many women not only from Hai Duong but also from other provinces and cities across the country. Each person has a different situation and life, but their common goal is to dream of a better life, to marry someone who can sympathize and share with them in life. Ms. LA (born in 1982, from Bac Ninh) said that her previous marriage was not happy, she went to work in Japan for nearly 20 years. Recently, when her children were grown, she thought about her own happiness. Through relationships, she met and married her current husband, a Korean. Attending the class, Ms. LA realized the great difference between Vietnamese and Korean culture. “Although I have lived abroad for many years, I still do not understand much about Korean culture and language. I find the class really useful, providing us with basic knowledge so that when we go there, we will not feel confused and can immediately integrate with our husbands and their families.”

In addition to learning about the living habits and lifestyle of Korean people, Ms. NTL (Chi Linh) also made many friends in class and the center shared with her addresses to help Vietnamese people in Korea. Ms. L. said: “The center provides us with reputable addresses that can help, advise, and support us if we encounter any unexpected events. I find this activity really meaningful, helping us feel more secure when in a foreign land.”

Hopefully, the knowledge and skills that Vietnamese women learn from the "Learning to be a Korean bride" classes of the 8/3 Job Service Center will help them in life, so that they can have the life they truly dream of.