How I did it: 19 years, because that's how old I am and I feel that learning a language is an on-going process. So I don't expect to finally "achieve" my goal. It's still rather difficult for me, but it's just the accent marks and signs that throw me off.
Otherwise, if you hand me a vietnamese newspaper, i could majority of the words. So I guess you can also state that I am better at reading, than I am at writing at the moment.
As for both though, I'm really trying to continue to learn. This is important to me, because one of my fears is to slowly loose my ability of speak the Vietnamese language, my own language. I want to pass on this ability to my children. Teach them how to read, write and speak Vietnamese. So that's why I'm striving to keep learning this wonderful native tongue.

Lessons & tips:

• Take Vietnamese classes offered at school.
  
• Go to areas with tons of Vietnamese people just talking away.
  
• Talk to friends and family consitantly in Vietnamese.
  
• Take a trip to Vietnam!

Resources: My family and friends actually helped me a lot with this learning process.

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Jan 29, 2009, 03:21PM PST | 0 comments | 3 cheers