Choro ethnic community in Xuan Thanh Commune preserves traditional culture

Every evening, depending on her school schedule, Tho Minh Thy, a ninth-grade student of the Choro ethnic group in Xuan Thanh Commune, joins her friends at the hamlet cultural house or at elders’ homes to learn their ethnic language, traditional dances, and foreign languages.

Choro youth in Tan Hung hamlet, Xuan Thanh Commune, learn traditional dance at the hamlet cultural house. Photo: Van Truyen

These community classes are organized by respected elders and reputable figures within the ethnic minority community, in coordination with the Tan Hung Hamlet Working Board (Xuan Thanh Commune), to preserve the Choro language and traditional culture.

Community-based classes

The Choro people have a spoken language but no written script. While some families live in small clusters, many Choro households in Xuan Thanh Commune are scattered and interspersed among other ethnic communities.

According to Nguyen Thi Hong Nu, a reputable figure among the Choro ethnic community in Dong Nai Province, these classes were established to strengthen community ties. They cover ethnic language instruction, traditional dance, gong performance, and guidance on identifying and properly wearing traditional Choro attire, particularly targeting young people in the community.

Also, according to Hong Nu, before launching the classes, organizers held discussions with parents to explain their purpose, significance, and benefits for individuals, families, and the broader community. They also engaged directly with local youth to understand their interests, cultural preferences, and whether they had traditional costumes, mobilizing support for tailoring outfits where needed. Thanks to this proactive approach, over the past three years, the classes have become a healthy community activity and helped build a new generation committed to preserving Choro cultural heritage.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Nghi, a 10th-grade student of the Choro ethnic group, said she joined a dance class organized by reputable figures in the community and the hamlet committee three years ago and gradually developed a deeper appreciation for her ethnic group’s dances. “The dances may be simple, but they are very beautiful,” she said, adding that she has encouraged more friends to participate. During school cultural events, Choro students often come together to perform traditional pieces for the entire school.

Meanwhile, Tran Thi Kim Tuyen, a seventh-grade student of the Choro ethnic group in Xuan Thanh Commune, shared that in addition to learning dance, she attends weekend sessions to practice proper pronunciation of the Choro language. “When I came to class, I realized I was not pronouncing it correctly before. Now I am guided to speak more accurately so I can better understand and help preserve our language,” she said, noting that she writes phonetic transcriptions in Vietnamese to practice daily for easier memorization.

To encourage Choro youth to actively learn and preserve their traditional culture, whenever the hamlet or commune organizes festivals, Tet activities, or commemorative events, the hamlet committee coordinates with the Choro dance and gong teams in Xuan Thanh Commune so they can perform on stage. This undertaking not only gives Choro youth and the Choro community greater motivation, but also helps spread the beauty of local culture throughout the residential areas of Tan Hung Hamlet and Xuan Thanh Commune.

LE THI DUNG, Head of Tan Hung Hamlet, Xuan Thanh Commune

Equipping Choro youth with foreign language skills

In addition to dance classes and Choro language classes, ethnic minority youth in Xuan Thanh Commune also participate in free English classes organized by reputable individuals among the ethnic minority community and the Tan Hung Hamlet committee.

Nguyen Thi Hong Nu is a local English teacher. Because she teaches the class herself, there are no costs involved to keep it running. The students come from different age groups, but they all share the desire to listen, speak, read, and write in English. As a result, the children study diligently, and their parents also make it possible for them to attend the class.

Nguyen Thi Kim Uyen, a 7th-grade student from the Choro ethnic group in Xuan Thanh Commune, shared: I have been attending the English class in the hamlet for quite a long time. It has helped me improve my English pronunciation, use grammar more accurately, and greatly supported my regular English lessons at school.

In addition, through these cultural and language classes, Choro ethnic youth in Xuan Thanh Commune are equipped with essential soft skills, including daily communication, conflict resolution among classmates, and basic traffic safety awareness.

According to Le Thi Dung, Head of Tan Hung Hamlet, Xuan Thanh Commune, when organizing English classes and lessons on useful life knowledge, everyone hopes that young people in the area, especially children from ethnic minority groups, will study well and be confident in communication. Thereby, they will have more job opportunities in the future to first take care of themselves, lead more stable lives than the previous generation, and contribute to positive changes in their community.

By Van Truyen-Translated by Mai Nga, Minho