Team

Cô Trang and the Vietnamese program’s teaching assistants.

Trang Tran

Visiting Lecturer in East Asian Studies

Xin chào! I’m Cô Trang, and I’ve been teaching Vietnamese at Brown since 2021. My journey started in the Mekong Delta (An Giang and Cần Thơ), took me to the Midwest (Madison, WI) for grad school (go Badgers! 🦡), and eventually brought me to sunny Rhode Island.

I first came to the U.S. through the Fulbright Program in 2016 to teach Vietnamese. I loved American classrooms, especially the energy and curiosity students bring to language learning. Since then, I’ve been exploring how to make Vietnamese fun, meaningful, and accessible for all learners, whether you’re heritage, non-heritage, curious, or just here for the vibes (and maybe the food 🍜).

At Brown, I teach all four levels of Vietnamese (VIET 0100 to 0400), mixing in culture, music, memes, and real-life practice. I work with a fantastic community of students and colleagues to grow Vietnamese language education in the U.S., especially as part of GUAVA (Group of Universities for the Advancement of Vietnamese Abroad).

Outside of class, you’ll probably find me cooking up something delicious (yes, I take “cơm tấm” and “bánh xèo” very seriously), hitting the volleyball court or badminton gym with my family, or catching a sunset at one of Rhode Island’s gorgeous beaches.

If you’re interested in Vietnamese, come say “xin chào”! You don’t need to be fluent, just curious. Let’s learn and laugh our way through this language together.

trang_tran@brown.edu

Teaching assistants

Vu Anh Minh Le

Undergraduate TA

Hi! I’m Minh, a first-year at Brown (Class of 2030). I’m from Vietnam, but I’ve lived in a lot of countries, including the US, Australia, and Switzerland, so I’m really glad to find such a vibrant Vietnamese community here at Brown. Vietnamese is my first language, so I’m happy to help with anything in class, especially tones and pronunciation. Outside of TAing, I’m part of Full Stack at Brown, so if you’re in the club too, let’s connect! Feel free to reach out if you ever want to practice Vietnamese.

Khanh Van Nguyen

Undergraduate TA · Wiki Nguyen

Hi! My name is Wiki Nguyen and I’m a sophomore intending to concentrate in APMA-Bio! Growing up in Poland, I was surrounded by a large Vietnamese diaspora and was glad to find the same community at Brown. Even though I’ve only been a TA for the Viet courses, I have also been able to learn a lot about the language and culture since coming to Brown. Beginning this year, I will be the graphic chair for VSA, so I invite you all to keep up with our Instagram to see what events we have coming up 🙂 I’m also involved with the cooking club as I love experimenting with Polish and Vietnamese cuisines. I hope you enjoy taking the class!

Past TAs and UTRAs

Brian Huynh Undergraduate TA / UTRA, Summer ’24

Hi everyone, I’m Brian, a senior concentrating in APMA-ECON graduating in Spring 2026! I was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, but I am a heritage speaker, growing up speaking southern dialect Vietnamese in my household. Academically, I was a student in the Intermediate Vietnamese class my freshman year, a TA for all Vietnamese classes my sophomore year (and now this year!), and a research assistant for Cô Trang my sophomore summer! Throughout my time at Brown, I’ve also been involved on the VSA E-Board as a First-Year Representative, Culture Chair, Treasurer, and now Senior Advisor! You may also find me TAing for Financial Accounting, lounging around Zinneken’s, or just enjoying campus. If you have any questions about Vietnamese (or APMA-ECON), feel free to reach out!

Havi Nguyen UTRA, Spring ’25

Hi there, I’m Havi :)! I am a junior studying computer science, interested in human computer interaction and how to design technology to be accessible for all audiences. In my freshman year I took Viet100 and Viet200, and continued to be involved in the Vietnamese community at Brown through the Vietnamese Student Association. In spring of ‘25 I am helping develop the Vietnamese program’s website and working on publishing it.

Quynh Mai UTRA, Spring ’25

Quynh contributed to the program as a UTRA in Spring ’25.

Demi Le UTRA, Fall ’24

Hi, my name is Demi Le. I’m from Ha Noi, Vietnam and Vietnamese is my first language. I am now a student of class 2027 studying APMA-CS. I love nature, the outdoors and like to do ballroom dancing and read whenever I have the time. It is my ultimate goal to get a life outside of CS for rock climbing, hiking, traveling, and learning new things!

Huyền Lê UTRA, Fall ’24

Hi, I’m Huyền! I’m a sophomore at Brown (class of ‘27) concentrating in visual art and education studies! My hobbies mostly include things within the creative realm (drawing, writing, and listening to music), but I also enjoy playing video games and overanalyzing media.

Caroline Zhang UTRA, Fall ’24

Hi! I’m Caroline, a senior majoring in APMA-CS at Brown and Painting at RISD!

Lucy Nguyen UTRA, Summer ’24

Hello, I’m Lucy, a rising senior at Brown University with a love for learning languages and designing digital products. Growing up, I spoke some Vietnamese in the Southern dialect but wasn’t very confident in it. This year, I took VIỆT100 and VIỆT200 as part of the introductory courses in the Vietnamese language program, and it was a great experience. I got to use my new language skills with my family and met some wonderful people along the way. Since the program is still relatively new, I wanted to help out by working on the curriculum and designing this website. I hope this website enhances your experience and exposure to the Vietnamese language program. When I’m not coding or designing, I enjoy watching K-dramas, drinking matcha, baking, playing games, and hanging out with friends.

Giang Le Undergraduate TA, Spring ’25

Hi! I am Châu Giang (Cellina), originally from Hà Nội, Việt Nam, where I spent the first 18 years of my life. I’m a first-year student at Brown (Class of 2028), concentrating in Biochemistry and Chemistry. I’m particularly fascinated by the cultural diversity of Việt Nam, with a strong interest in the traditions and lifestyles of our many ethnic communities.

Madeline Dalfiume UTRA, Spring ’24

I graduated from Brown in 2024 with my Sc.B. in Biology. I will be going to veterinary school starting in August 2025. I was involved with the Vietnamese program from its inception in 2021 until my graduation. Despite having a parent from Vietnam, I grew up with very little exposure to the language. Thus, I felt driven to learn as much as possible in my short time at Brown. I participated in as many activities outside of class as I could, from attending language tables and office hours to translating stories and working on cô Trang’s textbook. Eventually, I also decided to pursue the Certificate in Intercultural Competence with Vietnamese as my focal language. In December 2024, I went to Vietnam for the first time and got to see Vietnamese squirrels!

Macilee MacKenzie UTRA, Spring ’24

Hi, I’m Macilee! I’m concentrating in Computer Science and graduating in December 2025. I didn’t know any Vietnamese prior to taking the beginner and intermediate courses with cô Trang. Through my involvement with the UTRA and volunteering, I’ve been able to contribute to the program by designing a website and making learning materials more accessible. I love the community that cô Trang has created within the Vietnamese program at Brown, and it’s been a great experience to help support its continued growth!