CIE First Language Vietnamese (0695)
Vietnamese IGCSE First Language – Study Guide
1. Subject Overview:
Vietnamese First Language (IGCSE) focuses on developing students’ reading, writing, and comprehension skills in Vietnamese. Students will learn to:
Understand and interpret a variety of texts (fiction, non-fiction, and media).
Analyse language, tone, and the writer’s intention.
Write clearly and effectively in different text types (discursive, argumentative, descriptive, narrative, letters, articles, reports, and speeches).
Use vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation accurately.
The course emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and communication, helping students express ideas coherently while demonstrating control of the Vietnamese language.
2. Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Read and comprehend.
Understand explicit and implicit meanings.
Identify tone, attitude, and purpose of the writer.
Analyse Language
Recognize literary devices: simile, metaphor, personification, repetition, and idioms.
Explain how language creates effect and meaning.
Write Effectively
Structure different text types correctly: discursive, argumentative, descriptive, narrative, letters, reports, speeches, and articles.
Use clear and coherent ideas, with supporting evidence or examples.
Apply formal or informal tones appropriately based on the audience.
Apply Exam Techniques
Plan and organize answers.
Use command words accurately (e.g., describe, analyse, discuss, explain).
Manage time effectively during exams.
3. Key Syllabus Content
Section A – Writing Tasks
Discursive Writing: Balanced discussion, 400–500 words. Present both sides with examples.
Argumentative Writing: One-sided argument, 400–500 words. Persuasive, with clear evidence and structured ideas.
Tips: Keep introductions short, avoid personal pronouns, and support points with realistic scenarios.
Section B – Writing Tasks
Descriptive Writing: Focus on imagery, atmosphere, and the five senses. Use literary devices.
Narrative Writing: Story structure (story mountain), clear climax, 1–2 settings, 2–3 characters. Include dialogues where appropriate.
Reading & Directed Writing
Comprehension Tasks: Extract information, infer meaning, identify tone/attitude, and reference text.
Use of Language Tasks: Analyse how language influences readers, identify literary devices, and make inferences.
Directed Writing: Use material from multiple texts to write articles, reports, speeches, or letters. Consider Text Type, Audience, Perspective, and Purpose (T.A.P.P).
Tips: Use bullet points for short answers, merge ideas from multiple sources, check spelling and grammar, and manage time carefully.
4. Exam Tips
Keep introductions concise (max 5 lines).
Support ideas with realistic examples, not statistics.
Avoid vague answers; be precise and clear.
Use diverse sentence structures and punctuation accurately.
Follow word counts: 400–500 words for writing tasks, 350–500 words for directed writing.
Revise and check answers if time allows.
Written by Kaito Le