THE VIET Podcast Episode 4: Madeline Mai Nguyễn

As we approach the Ten Year Anniversary of the National Resource Center for Asian Languages, this week's episode of THE VIET Podcast focuses once again on highlighting  one of our favorite initiatives – The Vietnamese Community Literacy Project. This week we shine a spotlight on Madeline Mai Nguyễn, who has been taking weekend Vietnamese language classes since the age of six. Madeline’s story is one of inspiration and dedication. We chat with her about her journey through these language programs, what sparked her interest in learning Vietnamese, and how it has shaped her identity as a Vietnamese American.

The Vietnamese Community Literacy Project is a Vietnamese Book Writing Contest supported by NRCAL. The project aims to address the lack of authentic resources available to support Vietnamese language programs in the U.S. We currently have over 70 children’s books written for children by children. Some of the themes include: community, what does it mean to be Vietnamese Americans, Anti-Asian Hate in America, and this year’s contest focuses on "Asian American Leaders, Heroes, and Inspirational Figures in the Community".  Selected books from the competition are illustrated by the art students and alumni at Cal State Fullerton and published by NRCAL. Recognizing the lack of authentic resources available in Vietnamese, we hope that this project will generate additional resources that can be used in K-12 classrooms across the country.