Over recent years, many young people in Da Nang have shown a keen interest in participating in the numerous free of charge courses in foreign languages and other necessary life skills.  Indeed, these courses have given them a good opportunity to enhance their knowledge in an exciting and stress-free learning environment.

Student Dung (right) happily receiving a certificate of finishing her Japanese course

Since February 2014, the University of Da Nang and the Japan Centre have jointly offered a programme of free Japanese language courses for students from the university. 

To date, 60 students have finished their one-year-long courses, and their Japanese listening, speaking, reading and writing skills have improved significantly.

Tran My Dung, a second-year student from the Faculty of English Language at the city’s University of Foreign Languages, finished her course with good study results.  She remarked that the course helped to enhance her Japanese pronunciation and communication skills.  In particular, she was very impressed by the Japanese teachers’ innovative teaching methods which focused on promoting learning through Japanese songs, thereby enhancing learners’ listening skills and helping them to learn new words in a comfortable and relaxed manner.

26-year-old Mai Ba Phuc, a graduate from the Faculty of Graphic Design at the University of Architecture, has taught calligraphy free of charge to lovers of this type of visual art for the past 3 years.  Phuc is now an employee of the Truong Hai Group, but he has a strong passion for calligraphy.  

To date, Phuc has run over 20 calligraphy courses, with each taking between 20 and 30 students.  Interestingly, these classes are usually held at a variety of locations, including Phuc’s own home on Nui Thanh, the 29 March Park and local coffee shops.

Since 2012, the Da Nang Youth Union has operated 12 free of charge courses for a total of 152 Year 5 to Year 9 poor local pupils with poor study results in order to help them improve their academic performance.  These charitable classes are taught by young teachers from Thanh Khe District and by outstanding students from local universities.

Free vocational training courses have also been organised by the Da Nang Youth Union for those who have dropped out of school.