Teacher in Ky Son honored as national outstanding teacher: 'You have to work hard at your job'

P.V: You are a Thai teacher and grew up in Quy Hop district. What made you come to the high border area of ​​Ky Son and stick with this land from 1998 until now?

Teacher Truong Thi Lan: In 1998, I graduated from the University of Foreign Languages ​​and after that, I thought that since I was a mountain person, I would go to Ky Son to serve my fellow mountain people. At that time, I was only 23 years old, so my thoughts were very simple and I believed that all the difficulties and obstacles due to cultural and lifestyle differences could be quickly overcome.

The first year I went to Ky Son, the road was still very difficult, not as wide as it is now and it took 2 to 3 days for a bus to come. However, perhaps because I was born in a difficult area, these obstacles never discouraged me and I was determined to stay in Ky Son.

PV: In the 1990s, a Thai female student choosing and pursuing a career in education certainly faced many difficulties?

Teacher Truong Thi Lan:I grew up in Chau Loc commune (Quy Hop) in a family of 5 siblings and I was the youngest, the only child to finish grade 12, go to university and later have a stable job.

Before that, my brothers all studied under the 10-year program but only studied until grade 7 (end of secondary school) and then dropped out. The people where I live are farmers, some of whom have never left their village growing up, so they all thought that even if they went to school, they wouldn't be able to find a job. Most of us young people were like that. Moreover, at that time, most families were in difficult circumstances, so it was very difficult to support a child to go to school... My father didn't study much, but he was a party member so he had progressive thoughts, always wanted me to study well to have an education, a career and move towards better things.

To get to university, I also encountered many difficulties. During my years studying at the village school, where I lived, there was no electricity, many nights I had to use oil lamps to study. At that time, although I wanted me to study well, I also realized my father's doubts, perhaps sometimes he thought that a girl from a remote area could study at a higher level was a far-fetched thing. Understanding and loving my father, I considered that as a motivation to try hard to study.

PV: English Pedagogy is still chosen by many students up to now because it is quite "hot". But more than 20 years ago, choosing a majorforeign languageNot much, especially for an ethnic minority student. Can you share about this?

Teacher Truong Thi Lan:That day, after finishing secondary school in the village, I passed the entrance exam to Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School and I was the only one in the whole commune who returned to the province to study. This was probably my luck in my first stage of life. The Ethnic Boarding School left me with many memories despite the many difficulties that day. But thanks to the care and love of the teachers, we grew up.

Personally, I used to think that I should pursue Medicine to fulfill my family's wishes, then I thought that I should pursue Finance - Accounting. But then, I chose Education because I was influenced by my teacher, who was a Russian teacher at the Provincial Boarding High School for Ethnic Minorities. I studied Russian. When I applied to the Pedagogical College, I only applied for Foreign Languages. However, the admission notice said English Education. I have been attached to the English teaching profession since that fate.

The first days of school were full of confusion because I didn’t know any English. But with great effort, by the final year I was one of the good students in the class to compete in the Faculty’s English competition.

PV: English is not an easy subject for students in Nghe An, especially in the mountainous districts, and it is still difficult up to now. So, 25 years ago, when you first came to Ky Son to teach English, teaching and learning must have been much more difficult?

Teacher Truong Thi Lan:I have a close friend who used to teach in Ky Son and before I came here to teach, he told me that it was very difficult and hard up here. In fact, the first time I came to work was also the first time I went to Ky Son. At that time, before me, there was an English teacher from the lowlands who came to reinforce but only stayed for a short time and then returned.

Our school at that time consisted of both middle and high school and I was assigned to be the homeroom teacher of class 6B. In my first year of teaching, the school temporarily stopped teaching English so I was assigned to teach Civic Education, which was very difficult...

Many people have asked me, given all these difficulties, if I have ever wanted to return to my hometown. But I have never thought of that. I want to stay here to explore, to experience, and more simply, I want to teach, to be a teacher.

I also have special feelings for the students here. Most of them are ethnic minorities, so teaching English takes a process, and some of them can't even speak Mandarin fluently.

When I first started learning English, there were lessons where the students laughed out loud when they heard the teacher reading English because it was so strange. At those times, I thought that difficulties would come to me because I was the one imparting knowledge, but the students were not ready to absorb the knowledge that the teacher imparted.

To help students understand the subject, I always try to say that if they get used to the new subject, they will love it. I also do not put pressure on students but also encourage them, advising them that if they speak Mandarin well, they will be able to speak English well in the future.

Perhaps, teaching English in lowland schools, in favorable areas, will have many different methods. But in our school for many years now, we have been persistent in taking students as the center and teaching students in the right way, and the result is the progress of the students... After 4 years of returning to the school, I have had students win the Encouragement Prize at the Provincial Excellent Student Competition. Although this is a very modest result, it is a sweet fruit for both teachers and students to strive for.

PV: In addition to being in charge of the English department, you are also the President of the school's Trade Union. In a school in a remote area, you must have many meaningful and practical activities?

Teacher Truong Thi Lan:As a high school with more than 90% ethnic minority students, the input quality is very low, therefore, to ensure students have solid knowledge to participate in the high school graduation exam, every year our school always builds appropriate measures to supplement students' knowledge through free tutoring sessions.

Usually starting from March until the national high school graduation exam, my colleagues and I have coordinated with professional groups to organize free night classes for grade 12 students. The school's union has also coordinated with local units to continuously organize the program "Accompanying the candidates" for 7 years with free meals for candidates and their families taking the exam.

In addition, we have many other activities such as Gratitude; social activities, mutual love and support among cadres, teachers and workers through the programs "Union Shelter", "Supporting union members and students in difficulty"...

PV: This year, you are one of the few teachers nationwide selected and honored by the Education Trade Union.National Outstanding TeacherWhat does this mean to you?

Teacher Truong Thi Lan:I think it is a favor for me and an honor, because among thousands of union members across the country, the things I have done are really small and if I can do it, others can do it too.

The award is a motivation for me in the upcoming journey and a great gift not only for myself, my family and the school. The award is also a recognition for me after nearly 30 years of working in the profession. A teacher is someone who imparts knowledge to students and so far, with my thoughts and passion, I have contributed a small part to my students.

During many years of teaching, I have not set a goal for this or that award. For me, if I am a teacher, I must take care of my job and be passionate about it. A teacher must be a teacher, a mother, a sister, and a relative to her students. In addition to teaching knowledge, a teacher must also teach them life skills, must know how to share and sympathize with students, especially students in mountainous areas. When students are close to their teachers, they will feel at home and then they will truly consider school as their second home.

PV: Thank you for the conversation!