Vinny Nguyen

Vinny Nguyen participated in the 2024 CLS Spark Mandarin program hosted by the LTL School in Singapore. This summer, he is continuing his language studies as part of the 2025 CLS Mandarin cohort in Taipei, Taiwan. Nguyen is currently pursuing a BS in political science and economics. His professional endeavors are to become a Political Foreign Service Officer and promote equitable economic development and resilient trade policy across Southeast Asia. He is also deeply committed to advancing awareness of public health challenges in the Vietnamese American community.

Why Chinese?

I wanted to learn more about the influences of Chinese language and culture on my Vietnamese heritage and develop a useful asset for my future profession in U.S.-Asia diplomacy work.

A Favorite Idiom

耐心 - (nài xīn) The literal translation is “enduring mind” or “enduring heart”.

Career Goals

After CLS, I’ll finish college and then pursue a Master’s in international security studies. I hope to become a Foreign Service Officer and use my Mandarin abilities to strengthen defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and meaningfully engage with many of our Taiwanese partners.

CLS’s Impact

Unfortunately, my institution does not offer Mandarin language instruction, so without CLS, I would not have been able to begin my immersive language learning experience. The Critical Language Scholarship has not only provided me with an opportunity to develop a crucial professional asset, but also an opportunity to build meaningful and lasting ties with Taiwanese locals.