About the Brockport Vietnam Program

The Brockport Vietnam Program in Danang provides participants an international adventure in an exciting, safe, friendly, and historically rich community with a political system and social traditions that are fascinating. Participants will take classes in language, culture, politics, and history from professors that also teach at Danang University (the state university), Duy Tan University (a private university), and The School of Politics (a state political education institute). Each institution will expose students to different philosophies and teaching approaches in Vietnam. Students also perform community service at a variety of locations including a group home for disabled children, nursing home, teaching English to local students, etc.

Vietnam Program Handbook (pdf): VietnamHndb.pdf

Click here to read a blog by a student who recently studied in Vietnam.

Danang is the capital of Central Vietnam, about 400 miles midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The small city is on the shore of the beautiful South China Sea and the Han River. It is a safe, tropical, quiet city that reflects a rich culture and tradition. Once the scene of a massive US military build-up, it now welcomes the Brockport Vietnam Program and its students as friends. The city is proximate to the mountains, seashore, museums, historical sites, tropical forests, recreational facilities, and a variety of fascinating activities. English is a fast-developing second language in the city. Americans are welcomed, not with a recollection of the past, but with a focus on the present and the future. Exciting shopping, recreation, eating, and social resources are everywhere.

Visit the city website:

http://www.ubnd.danang.gov.vn/TabID/70/default.asp

The Brockport Vietnam Program offers you the opportunity to:

• Build bridges of friendships between our two nations.
• Live and study in a vibrant developing city in a comfortable yet challenging academic atmosphere.
• Improve your understanding of Vietnamese Language, Culture, History, and its traditions.
• Study Vietnamese language at any level of proficiency.
• Be privately tutored in Vietnamese Language outside of regular instruction.
• Receive instruction in courses specifically designed for program participants in English.

Your experience in Vietnam will:

• Provide the opportunity to experience the satisfaction of helping local Vietnamese through community service sponsored by US charitable fund http://www.danangquangnamfund.org.
• Foster development of a deeper understanding of yourself and Vietnam.
• Change your view of the world.
• Change the world.

In Vietnam you will:

• Live with other program students in our spacious program house with modern facilities (internet, air conditioning in bedrooms, some ensuite bathrooms, lounge with TV, VCR, and Karaoke, etc...).
• Enjoy home cooked meals by program staff (breakfast, lunch and dinner), daily room and linen cleaning, daily laundry service.
• Receive comprehensive orientation from Resident Director and Vietnamese staff upon arrival.
• Enjoy an extensive program of field trips and excursions.
• Have numerous and continual opportunities to interact with local Vietnamese and participate in traditional ceremonies and holiday celebrations.

Housing & Orientation

Housing:

The Brockport Vietnam Program is housed in a building which includes housing for the student participants. The building is air-conditioned. The students share double bedrooms. Television, radio, telephone, recreation, and computer services are available. Meals (included in the cost) are prepared by the staff, and laundry will also be done by the staff.

Orientation:

Orientation materials will be provided to each participant after acceptance and enrollment in the program. These consist of basic English-Vietnamese language materials, cultural and historical information, and detailed materials to assist in preparation for the experience in Vietnam. A one-week orientation program will be completed during the first week in Danang to familiarize students with the community, resources, and other relevant information.

Cost

Fees for the Brockport Vietnam Program

Spring 2013 Undergraduate Budget: Spring 2013 Undergraduate Budget: INCLUDES:

• TUITION (at Brockport for 15 credits)
• HOUSING (in double occupancy rooms) in Vietnam during the whole time program is in session
• ALL MEALS
• Program acceptance fee
• Pre-departure orientation materials
• A pre-program on-site orientation program
• All course textbooks
• Brockport's Study Abroad Office Services (including the presence of our Vietnam-based Resident Director and six-person staff)
• Field Trips

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Health Insurance*
• Various campus-specific fees** (college fee, technology fee, etc.)
• Passport
• Visa
• Personal / Miscellaneous Expenses
• Transportation

This estimate does not include the purchase of clothing; travel in Vietnam outside of the excursions/field trips organized by the program.

The actual amount that you will spend depends heavily on your style of living, and will vary with each individual's personal spending habits, entertainment preferences and travel choices.

Financial aid applies towards fees

*SUNY regulations require that participants in Overseas Academic Programs have "adequate" insurance coverage. Students whose current health insurance is not "adequate" may purchase appropriate coverage for $477.00 per semester (this is the current cost and is subject to change).
**Varies depending on the SUNY campus at which the participant pays tuition.

The cost (and items included in the cost) as listed on the website are subject to change and should be considered estimates. Final budget sheets will be mailed to the student prior to departure and usually upon acceptance.

Courses

Courses:

Click on an outline for more information:

Language Course Outline: language.pdf

Culture Course Outline: culture.pdf

Politics Course Outline: politics.pdf

Community Service Course Outline: cs course outline.pdf

History Course Outline: history.pdf

Credits:

Students earn 15 credits (divided between the seminars and the community service activities) for a spring, summer or fall semester of participation. All credits earned in the Brockport Vietnam Program will be counted towards undergraduate degree requirements for graduation. Non-SUNY students and students who wish to use these credits for their academic major and/or minor should consult with their home campus academic departments prior to participation.

Letter grades for the courses taken will be transmitted to the participant's home campus Registrar via the Brockport supplement at the conclusion of the semester. Graduate students who wish to contract through the program to use the program for additional research activities may do so.

Curriculum:

Each participant will take courses in language, culture, history, and politics from professors from Danang University (the state university), Duy Tan University (a private university), the School of Politics (a state political education institute), and other Vietnamese scholars. Each of these professors will expose students to different philosophies and teaching approaches in Vietnam. These seminars will take place for three hours a day, Monday through Thursday. Participants will also engage in educational activities by providing service in the community for two hours or more four afternoons per week, M - Th. There are occasional weekend service activities. These activities may range from work in a group home for disabled children; in a local nursing home; food and clothing distribution in poor, mountainous villages; service in urban or rural healtlh clinics; etc. Also, each student will spend one hour each week teaching English to local university students in a community continuing education program in Danang. There will be a road trip of Vietnam from Danang to Hanoi and another to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Dates

DEPART DATE:                          Thursday, January 3rd, 2013
Arrive Danang:                          Friday, January 4th, 2013
Depart Ho Chi Minh City:        Saturday, April 20th, 2013
Arrive New York:                       Saturday, April 20th, 2013