Vietnamese English Majors' Perceptions of American Family Values as Portrayed in the Movie The Godfather

Abstract

In recent years, English has played an increasingly important role in language teaching and learning. In Vietnam, although most students begin learning English in high school, many still feel helpless and unprepared when it comes to speaking English or understanding the cultures of English-speaking countries. This challenge is particularly evident among English-majored students. This study aims to analyze how the movie The Godfather shapes Vietnamese English-majored students’ perceptions of American family values. Using a thematic analysis method with qualitative data, the study included an interview consisting of six questions conducted with five Vietnamese English-majored students at CTU to collect data. The data were analyzed by transcribing the interview recordings and applying thematic analysis to identify common themes among the participants regarding their perceptions of American family values after watching The Godfather. The findings revealed that participants had both different and similar understandings of American family values after watching The Godfather Part I by Francis Ford Coppola (1972), as the film depicts American family values through the communication patterns portrayed in the movie. Participants expressed that they were able to understand and interpret the American family values presented in the film. Additionally, they could point out the differences and similarities between Vietnamese family and American family values. Last but not least, they also found it interesting to use movies as an effective medium for exploring American cultural norms. In light of these findings, the study provides implications and recommendations. It suggests that movies can shape students' understanding of cultural values in America and recommends incorporating movies into English language teaching, especially for fostering cultural understanding. Suggestions for further studies are also addressed to build on the results.