Students passionate to ethnic minority languages through Geopark education in schools

With the close collaboration between the Management Board of Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark and Cao Bang Provincial Department of Education and Training, a movement to promote indigenous language teaching and learning has been launched and widely expanded, inspiring students to take pride and interest in their own mother tongues. Having more than 95% of the population being ethnic minority groups, mainly Tay, Nung, H’mong, Dao, San Chi, and Lo Lo, Cao Bang possesses a rich and invaluable linguistic and cultural heritage. As many ethnic languages are facing the risk of disappearing among younger generations, concrete measures have been introduced to revitalize the pride and awareness of students about preserving their native languages.

Ethnic language preservation as a chapter of Geopark education has been part of both formal and informal education in schools. This topic is integrated into interdisciplinary lessons in literature, history, and local historical studies. Other efforts include extracurricular communication sessions, field trips to traditional craft villages, where students interact with artisans and elders in ethnic languages to learn about traditional crafts and indigenous know-how. Through the “Geopark Ambassador” Club activities, students have carried out communication activities such as picture exhibitions, wall newspapers, stage performances, and video clips in ethnic languages shared on the club’s fanpage. Another way that students conducted for on-site communication of the Geopark sites is using phonetic spelling of ethnic languages to introduce the sites, which make learning more engaging for students.

In secondary and high schools in Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark territory, ethnic language preservation activities have been implemented in diverse, creative, and vivid ways, attracting a great number of students. For example, Cao Bang Provincial Boarding High School for Ethnic Minorities organized a painting contest themed “Culture and Language in the Geopark territory”, in which each painting has a brief description in an ethnic language. The video competition titled “Proud of Non nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark” is another highlight. Each video clip is narrated in one of the local ethnic languages with Vietnamese subtitles. These activities demonstrated students’ joint efforts to preserve and promote their own ethnic languages.

Thach An High School students initiated welcoming new students in bilingual Vietnamese-Tay at the 2025–2026 school year opening ceremony. As most of the students belong to ethnic minority groups, the use of their native languages created a warm, familiar atmosphere while fostering awareness and responsibility toward traditional cultural values. In addition, students enthusiastically produced weekly radio bulletins in Tay language about language preservation activities, which were broadcast at school and shared on social channels for outreach to the community.
Hoa An High School organized an exhibition titled “The Beauty of Tay Brocade Weaving in Nam Tuan Commune, Hoa An District, Cao Bang Province,” where students experienced and honored the traditional craft. The introduction of the traditional craft, products and cultural values was in the Tay ethnic language. Moreover, during the 15-minute homeroom period (before the first lesson of the school day starts), “Geopark Ambassador" Club members regularly organized a fun “Guess the word” game in the Tay language, creating a joyful learning atmosphere while helping students learn ethnic language.

Another engaging way to preserve ethnic languages that students have implemented is keeping their native languages alive through traditional Tay folk music such as Then and Luon songs. For instance, the “Geopark Ambassador” Club of Ha Lang High School has been successful in gaining strong support from students, parents, and the community.

Through their passion and joint efforts to preserve their traditional languages, students have become active ambassadors, spreading love and responsibility for ethnic minority languages, cultural values, and the spiritual essence of their heritage. Their activities have also contributed to promoting tourism, sustainable development associated with safeguarding and promoting indigenous cultures in Non nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark territory.